Importance

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Abstract

Caller identification information. e.g., the calling party number, is provided on a selective basis by the network of a carrier that does not directly contact the called subscriber at all, such as an interexchange carrier, to the next carrier carrying the call. For example, an interexchange carder would supply the calling party number to the local exchange carder (LEC) connected to a called party for an inter-LATA (long distance) call only if the called party subscribed to the interexchange carrier's inter-LATA caller identification (ID) service. Otherwise, the interexchange carder suppresses the calling party number, so that it is not supplied to the LEC. When the calling party number is supplied by the interexchange carder, the LEC would merely need to forward the number to the called station set. Such a system allows the interexchange carrier to control the providing of services that it heretofore could only assist in providing.

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First Claim