Telecommunication relay service assistance for incoming calls

Abstract

A method is provided in a telecommunications network for clandestinely providing a transmission relay service (TRS) to a called party (30). The method includes: receiving a first call from a calling party (10), the first call being received at a network node (40) serving a called party (30) for which the first call is intended; detecting the called party (30) answering the first call; and, determining whether or not to invoke a feature (44) supported by the network node (40). If it is determined that the feature (44) is to be invoked, then the method further includes: reserving a bridge; placing a second call to a relay center (50) supporting the TRS; obtaining an acknowledgement from the relay center (50) that an operator (52) at the relay center (50) is ready to participate in the first call; and, in response to obtaining the acknowledgement, completing the reserved bridge between the calling party (10) and the relay center (50), and establishing a TRS link between the relay center (50) and the called party (30).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.