Branch calling and caller ID based call routing telephone features

A controller connected within a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the controller allowing a user to obtain additional information relating to incoming calls other than Caller ID provided by the PSTN, the controller comprising:

• a processing system connected to a memory, the processing system programmed to perform the process comprising:
• receiving an incoming call from a calling party, using a communications device, intended for a user;
• detecting first information from the PSTN about the calling party, wherein the first information is provided solely by the PSTN and not provided by the calling party;
• using the first information to access second information from the memory, the second information comprising information identifying the calling party, at least a portion of the second information being previously input into the memory by the user for later association with the first information from the PSTN;
• and
• conveying to the user at least a portion of the second information so the user can associate the second information with the incoming call.

A method performed by a processing system connected within the public switched telephone network (PSTN), whereby a called party can obtain additional information relating to incoming calls when a Caller ID service provided by the PSTN is blocked by the calling party, blocked Caller ID information being transmitted within the PSTN but not transmitted to the called party, the method comprising:

• receiving an incoming call, by the processing system, from the calling party intended for the called party;
• detecting, by the processing system, first information about the calling party, the first information comprising Caller ID information that has been blocked by the calling party to prevent the Caller ID information from being communicated to the called party, wherein the first information is provided solely by the PSTN and not provided by the calling party;
• using the first information to access second information from a memory, the second information comprising information identifying the calling party previously entered into the memory, at least a portion of the second information being previously input into the memory for later association with the first information;
• and
• conveying to the called party at least a portion of the second information previously input into the memory so the called party can associate the second information with the incoming call.

A method to allow a called party to receive previously entered information relating to calls where a Caller ID service provided by the PSTN is blocked by a calling party, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the called party, a call from a calling party having a blocked Caller ID, blocked Caller ID information being transmitted within the public switched telephone network (PSTN) but not transmitted to the called party due to the calling party blocking the Caller ID service, wherein the blocked Caller ID information is provided solely by the PSTN and not provided by the calling party;
• receiving first information by a memory accessible by a processor within the PSTN relating to the calling party, the first information being previously generated by the called party and transmitted to the memory prior to the called party receiving the call;
• detecting, by the processor, the Caller ID information that has been blocked by the calling party to prevent the Caller ID information from being communicated to the called party;
• using, by the processor, the Caller ID information to access the first information in the memory relating to the calling party;
• and
• transmitting, by the processor, at least a portion of the first information to the called party.

A method to allow a called party to receive previously entered first information relating to a calling party, wherein data has been stored identifying certain information about the calling party, and wherein a Caller ID service provided by the PSTN is blocked by the calling party, the method comprising:

• entering first information by a user into a memory accessible by a processor within the public switched telephone network (PSTN) relating to a prospective calling party;
• receiving by the user a call from the calling party, the call from the calling party having a blocked Caller ID due to the calling party blocking the Caller ID service;
• and
• receiving by the user at least a portion of the first information entered by the user into the memory, the processor using blocked Caller ID information to access the first information in the memory and transmit at least a portion of the previously entered first information relating to the calling party to the user, the blocked Caller ID information being blocked by the calling party to prevent the Caller ID information from being communicated to the called party, wherein the blocked Caller ID information is provided solely by the PSTN and not provided by the calling party.