Computer-implemented call forwarding options and methods therefor in a unified messaging system

A computer-implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a unified messaging system to customize facsimile forwarding parameters associated with a facsimile forwarding service, said facsimile forwarding service being configured to permit said subscriber to specify whether a facsimile received at a telephone number associated with a given account of said unified messaging system be forwarded to a forwarding telephone number associated with another facsimile receiver, said facsimile forwarding parameters including a facsimile forwarding enable option and said forwarding telephone number, said computer-implemented control center comprising:

• a subscriber communication profile database, said subscriber communication profile database having therein said account pertaining to said subscriber, said account including said facsimile forwarding parameters for said subscriber;
• a computer server coupled to exchange data with said subscriber communication profile database, said computer server being configured to visually display said facsimile forwarding parameters on a display terminal coupled to a data-centric network when said subscriber employs said display terminal to access said computer-implemented control center, said computer server also being configured to receive from said subscriber via said display terminal a first change to said facsimile forwarding parameters and to update said first change to said account in said subscriber communication profile database, wherein subsequent facsimiles to said given account are handled in accordance with parameters present in said subscriber communication profile database after said update;
• and
• wherein when said facsimile forwarding enable option is enabled and a call is received at the telephone number associated with the given account of said unified messaging system, said computer server obtains digital data corresponding to a telephone signal associated with said received call, and said computer server automatically determines whether said received call is a voice call made to said associated telephone number or a facsimile call made to said associated telephone number on the basis of said obtained digital data, and automatically forwards said facsimile call, but not said voice call, to said forwarding telephone number.

A computer-implemented method for permitting a subscriber of a call forwarding service to customize call forwarding parameters associated with said call forwarding service, said call forwarding service being configured to permit said subscriber to specify whether a call received at a telephone number associated with a given account of said call forwarding service be forwarded to a forwarding telephone number, said call forwarding parameters including a call forwarding enable option and said forwarding telephone number, the method comprising:

• providing a subscriber communication profile database, said subscriber communication profile database having therein said account pertaining to said subscriber, said account including said call forwarding parameters for said subscriber;
• visually displaying said call forwarding parameters on a display terminal coupled to a data-centric network, using a computer server coupled to exchange data with said subscriber communication profile database, when said subscriber employs said display terminal to access said account;
• receiving from said subscriber via said display terminal a first change to said call forwarding parameters, said first change to said call forwarding parameters pertains to at least one of said call forwarding enable option and said forwarding telephone number;
• updating said first change to said account in said subscriber communication profile database, wherein subsequent calls to said given account are handled in accordance with parameters present in said subscriber communication profile database after said update;
• receiving a call made to said associated telephone number;
• obtaining digital data corresponding to a telephone signal associated with said received call made to said associated telephone number;
• ascertaining whether the call made to said associated telephone number represents a facsimile call or a voice call on the basis of said obtained digital data;
• and
• forwarding the call made to said associated telephone number to the forwarding telephone number only if the call made to said associated telephone number is a voice call and said call forwarding option is enabled.

A computer-implemented method for handling routing of a telephone call, the method comprising:

• receiving a telephone call;
• obtaining digital data corresponding to a telephone signal associated with the received telephone calls
• determining whether the received telephone call is a facsimile call or a non-facsimile call on the basis of the obtained digital data;
• and
• forwarding the received telephone call to a first forwarding telephone number only if the received telephone call is a non-facsimile call and a non-facsimile forwarding option is enabled.