System and method for caller control of a distinctive ring

A method of processing a call placed by a calling party to a called telephone line in a telephone network, the telephone network comprising a first service switching point, a second service switching point and a service control point, the service control point in communication with the first and second service switching points over first and second communication paths, respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at the first service switching point an authorization code;
• including the authorization code in the query, wherein the authorization code is a unique
• code associated with the calling party, and is generated automatically or determined by
• the calling party upon subscribing to a distinctive ring control service;
• determining at the service control point whether the authorization code is valid or invalid;
• and
• providing the distinctive ring parameter if the authorization code is valid.

A system for caller control of a distinctive ring, the system comprising:

• a first service switching point serving a calling telephone line and being operable to receive from the calling telephone line a feature code and a called directory number associated with a called telephone line, and to issue a query in response to receiving the feature code;
• and
• a service control point in communication with the first service switching point over a first communication path, the service control point being operable to receive the query and issue a response to the first service switching point, the response including a distinctive ring parameter;
• wherein upon receiving the response from the service control point the first service switching point processes the call so that upon connection of the call distinctive ring parameter causes a distinctive ring signal to be applied to the called telephone line independent of services associated with the called telephone line;
• wherein the first service switching point is further operable to issue the query independent of the calling telephone line;
• wherein the first service switching point is further operable to receive an authorization code and include the authorization code in the query;
• and
• the service control point is further operable to determine whether the authorization code is valid or invalid, and provides the distinctive ring parameter only upon determining that the authorization code is valid;
• wherein the authorization code is a unique code associated with the calling party.