Activation of electronic lock using telecommunications network

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for activating an electronic lock in an intelligent switched telecommunications network having a plurality of Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) components. A call is received from a device communicating with the telecommunications network. The call is from a calling party to a called party. Processing of the call within the telecommunications network is suspended. A database is queried for a telephone number of the called party. The database stores telephone numbers of called parties subscribing to a lock service provided by a telecommunications service provider. The lock service allows a user to remotely activate an electronic lock using the telecommunications network. If the query is successful, processing of the call within the telecommunications network is resumed. The call is used to activate the electronic lock.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.