Coverage of redirected calls

A method of remotely covering a call in a telecommunications network comprising at least two interconnected switches each serving different end-points, comprising the steps of:

• in response to a first switch invoking call coverage for a call connected to the first switch and destined for a destination end-point served by the first switch, the first switch identifying a call-covering end-point for the call from a coverage path of the destination end-point;
• in response to the first switch identifying a remote call-covering end-point for the call from the coverage path, the first switch connecting the call to a second switch that serves the remote call-covering end-point and monitoring call progress tones provided by the second switch throughout a predetermined time interval;
• in response to the first switch detecting voice frequency energy on the connection within said interval allowing said second switch to complete the connection to the call-covering end-point;
• and
• in response to the first switch failing to detect said voice frequency energy within said interval, taking down the connection to the second switch and further identifying an alternative call-covering end-point for the call.

A remote call-coverage switch, comprising

• (a) means for determining in response to the invocation of call coverage for a call whether a call-covering end-point for said call is served by a remote switch;
• (b) means responsive to said determining that said end-point is so served for extending the call to the remote switch serving the call-covering end-point;
• (c) means including a call classifier connectable on said call for determining whether voice frequency energy appears on said call within a predetermined time interval;
• (d) means responsive to the appearance of said voice frequency energy within said predetermined interval for completing said call to said call-covering end-point;
• and
• (e) means for further processing said call when said voice frequency energy fails to appear within said predetermined time interval.