Communications monitoring and control system

A method for processing a communication directed to a called party having a first calling line and a second calling line, said called party being connected to a second party through said first calling line, comprising the steps of:

• receiving said communication;
• calling said called party on said second calling line;
• receiving an indication from said called party to connect said called party to said second calling line;
• in response to receiving said indication to connect, connecting said called party to said second calling line and advising said called party of said communication;
• receiving disposition information regarding said communication, said disposition information comprising a request for monitoring said communication;
• in response to receiving said request for monitoring, routing said communication to a message service and establishing a one-way connection from said communication to said called party, whereby said communication routed to said message service may be monitored by said called party through said one-way connection.

A method for processing a communication directed to a called party, comprising the steps of:

• receiving said communication;
• determining the location of said called party;
• calling said called party at said location in response to said step of receiving said communication;
• receiving an indication that said called party has answered:
• requesting disposition information from said called party, said disposition information comprising an acceptance of said communication, a rejection of said communication, and a request for monitoring said communication;
• in response to receiving said acceptance of said communication, establishing a two-way connection between said communication and said called party;
• in response to receiving said rejection of said communication, routing said communication to a message service;
• and
• in response to receiving said request for monitoring said communication, routing said communication to said message service and establishing a one-way connection from said communication to said called party, whereby said called party may monitor said communication.

An apparatus for allowing a called party to selectively monitor a communication comprising:

• means for receiving said communication directed to said called party;
• means for determining the location of said called party;
• means for calling said called party at said location in response to receiving said communication;
• means for requesting disposition information from said called party, said disposition information comprising a request for monitoring said communication;
• and
• means for routing said communication to a message service and for establishing a one-way connection from said communication to said called party in response to receiving said request for monitoring said communication.

A method for a called party to respond to an incoming communication, comprising the steps of:

• responding to an indication that said communication has been received, said communication being directed to said calling party:
• receiving an announcement of said communication;
• making a decision whether to accept said communication or to reject said communication;
• providing disposition information, said disposition information comprising an acceptance of said communication and a request for monitoring of said communication;
• if said decision is to accept said communication, then providing said disposition information indicating an acceptance and then receiving said communication;
• if said decision is to request monitoring of said communication, then providing disposition information indicating that said communication is to be routed to a message service and that a one-way connection from said communication to said called party is to be established, and then monitoring said communication through said one-way connection from said communication.

A method for a called party to selectively monitor an incoming communication, said called party having a first calling line and a second calling line, said called party being connected to a second party through said first calling line, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a notice of said communication on said second calling line;
• providing an indication to be connected to said second calling line;
• after connection to said second calling line, receiving an announcement of said communication on said second calling line;
• making a decision whether to monitor said communication;
• and
• if said decision is to monitor said communication, then providing a request to monitor said communication on said second calling line and monitoring said communication through a one-way connection from said communication on said second calling line.

In a public switched telephone network, a communications monitoring system for allowing a called party to selectively monitor a communication from a calling party, comprising in combination:

• a switching point operative to provide an identification number of said communication;
• a database functionally connected to said switching point and responsive to said identification number to provide handling instructions to said switching point;
• and
• a service node functionally connected to said switching point;
• whereby said switching point is responsive to said handling instructions to provide said communication to said service node, said service node is responsive to said communication to request call information from said database, said call information comprising a registered location of said called party;
• in response to said service node receiving said call information from said database, said service node calls said called party, requests disposition information from said called party, and receives said disposition information, said disposition information comprising a request to monitor said communication;
• in response to said service node receiving said request to monitor, said service node routes said communication to a message service and establishes a one-way connection from said communication to said called party so that said communication routed to said message service may be monitored by said called party through said one-way connection.