Validating a forward-to-number within a mobile telecommunications system

A system for validating a directory number for a call forwarding feature within a telecommunications system, said system comprising:

• means for receiving a request to activate said call forwarding feature from a mobile station;
• means for receiving said directory number from said mobile station over a connection-less communications link;
• and
• means for validating said directory number by communicating between a mobile switching center (MSC) associated with said mobile station and a local exchange serving said directory number, said communicating being automatically initiated by said MSC following receipt of said directory number from said mobile station and prior to the call forwarding feature being activated by said telecommunications system;
• wherein said means of validating further comprises a means for automatically transmitting an application layer connection-less signal encapsulating said directory number from said MSC to said local exchange to request said local exchange to verify the validity of said directory number.

A system for validating a forward-to-number from a mobile station, said mobile station served by a mobile telecommunications network, said system comprising:

• a connection-less communications link for transporting a forward-to-number from said mobile station to said mobile telecommunications network;
• and
• a validation module for validating said forward-to-number by automatically communicating said forward-to-number with a local exchange serving a telephone terminal associated with said forward-to-number;
• wherein said validation module comprises means for automatically establishing a speech connection between said mobile station and said telephone terminal to enable verbal verification.

A method for validating a forward-to-number for a call forwarding feature, said method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a forward-to-number from said mobile station to a mobile telecommunications network serving said mobile station via a connection-less signal;
• establishing a first speech connection from a mobile switching center within said mobile telecommunications network to said mobile station automatically following said transmitting step;
• automatically establishing a second speech connection from said mobile switching center within said mobile telecommunications network to the telephone terminal associated with said forward-to-number;
• and
• connecting said first speech connection with said second speech connection.

A method for validating a forward-to-number for a call forwarding feature, said method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a forward-to-number from a mobile station to a mobile telecommunications network serving said mobile station via a connection-less signal;
• transmitting an application-layer connection-less signal encapsulating said forward-to-number requesting verification to a local exchange serving said forward-to-number;
• and
• receiving a result of said verification from said local exchange.