Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus and processes for downloading data corresponding to forwarding information, e.g., a forwarding telephone number, from either a central office or from the telephone of a called party. In one embodiment, a central office downloads data corresponding to forwarding information to a calling party using, e.g., FSK signaling techniques. The calling party preferably receives the downloaded data corresponding to the forwarding information using a call information detector/receiver, e.g., a Caller ID receiver. In another embodiment, the telephone corresponding to a called party answers the incoming call and downloads data to the calling party relating to forwarding information, e.g., a forwarding telephone number. Preferably, the data is transmitted from the called party to the calling party after the called telephone answers the call using DTMF tone encoding techniques. The DTMF tones may correspond to digits of a forwarding telephone number and may be recorded as part of an audible outgoing greeting message. Alternatively, the DTMF tones may be regenerated for each telephone call using a DTMF generator. The forwarding telephone number is preferably stored in the calling telephone for use in a subsequent dialing of the forwarding telephone number, and also for future retrieval in the event that the user again calls the same original telephone number to avoid repeated listening to outgoing greeting messages the next time you call or repeated reception of downloaded data corresponding to a forwarding telephone number.

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First Claim