Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

A method of processing calls having caller ID blocking, the method comprising:

• receiving from a caller a first call for a called party, the first call including call signaling information, at a call processing system;
• determining whether the call signaling information includes caller ID information;
• if the caller ID information is private, during the first call instructing the caller to take a first action to unblock the caller ID information for the first call;
• after the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller ID information to the called party;
• and
• at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the called party in a future call.

A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication from a user as to whether the user requires or requests caller identification information, and storing the indication in a data store;
• receiving from a caller a first call for the user, the first call including call signaling information;
• determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;
• determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is private;
• retrieving the user indication from the data store;
• if the caller identification information is private and the retrieved user indication indicates that the user requests or requires caller identification information, informing the caller that the user requests or requires caller identification information and instructing the caller to take a first action to allow the caller identification information to be provided to the user;
• determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call;
• if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user;
• and
• receiving an indication during the first call from the caller that caller identification information associated with the caller can be provided to the user for a future call from the caller.

A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication from a user as to whether the user requires or requests caller identification information, and storing the indication in a data store;
• receiving from a caller a first call for the user, the first call including call signaling information;
• determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;
• determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is private;
• retrieving the user indication from the data store;
• if the caller identification information is private and the retrieved user indication indicates that the user requests or requires caller identification information, informing the caller that the user requests or requires caller identification information and instructing the caller to take a first action to allow the caller identification information to be provided to the user;
• determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call;
• if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user;
• and
• at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

• receiving from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information;
• determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;
• determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted;
• if the caller identification information is restricted, instructing the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user;
• determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call;
• and
• if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user;
• and
• receiving, during the first call, an indication from the caller that caller identification information associated with the caller can be provided to the user for a future call from the caller.

A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

• receiving from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information;
• determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;
• determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted;
• if the caller identification information is restricted, instructing the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user;
• determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call;
• and
• if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user;
• and
• at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

• receiving from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information;
• if the caller identification information associated with the first call is blocked, instructing the caller to unblock the caller identification information during the first call;
• after the caller has unblocked the caller identification information during the first call, performing a call processing action with respect to the first call;
• and
• at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

A computer readable medium having code stored thereon that, when executed, causes a computer to:

• receive signaling information associated with a first call from a caller for a user;
• if the caller identification information associated with the first call is blocked, instruct the caller to unblock the caller identification information during the first call;
• and
• after the caller has unblocked the caller identification information during the first call, perform a call processing action with respect to the first call,
• at least partly in response to at least one caller action taken during the first call, store in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.