Method and apparatus permitting notification and control of blocked incoming calls over a data network

In a public switched telephone network (PSTN) providing telephone link blocked call redirection, a method permitting notification and control of redirected calls over a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a message over said data communications network containing a subscriber dial number and a unique data network address;
• storing said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address;
• receiving a telephone call forwarded by the PSTN;
• obtaining dialed number information from the PSTN;
• comparing the dialed number information to stored subscriber dial number information;
• and
• for matching number information, providing a call waiting message to said data network addressed to said unique data network address corresponding to the dialed number information.

In a public switched telephone network (PSTN) providing telephone link blocked call redirection, a method permitting notification and control of redirected calls over a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

• activating blocked call forwarding for a subscriber telephone link having a subscriber dial number associated therewith;
• providing a second dial number corresponding to a subscriber proxy for redirection of blocked calls to said subscriber telephone link;
• using said telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via said data communications network;
• receiving a unique data network address from said DCS;
• and
• establishing a data path over said data network to said subscriber proxy and providing said proxy with said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address.

Apparatus including computer readable media having structure storing computer executable instructions comprising:

• means for using a telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via data communications network;
• means for receiving a unique data network address from said DCS;
• means for establishing a data path over said data network to a subscriber proxy;
• and
• means for using said data path to provide said proxy with a message containing a dial number and said unique data network address.

Apparatus including computer readable media having structure storing computer executable instructions comprising:

• means for receiving a message over a data network containing a subscriber dial number and a unique data network address;
• means for storing said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address;
• means for receiving a telephone call forwarded by a public switched telephone network (PSTN);
• means for obtaining dialed number information from the PSTN;
• means for comparing the dialed number information to stored subscriber dial number information;
• and
• means for, for matching number information, providing a call waiting message to said data network addressed to said unique data network address corresponding to the dialed number information.

Apparatus including computer readable media having structure storing computer executable instructions comprising:

• means for activating blocked call forwarding for a subscriber telephone link having a subscriber dial number associated therewith;
• means for providing a second dial number corresponding to a subscriber proxy for redirection of blocked calls to said subscriber telephone link;
• means for using said telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via a data communications network;
• means for receiving a unique data network address from said DCS;
• and
• means for establishing a data path over said data network to said subscriber proxy and providing said proxy with said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address.