MXPA98010246A - Flame transfer operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an incoming call (34) made to a primary telephone number subscribing for a calling transfer call service feature, a first switching node (12 (1)) query (36) a database ( 20) to recover (38) at least one transfer number to a secondary. The first switching node then sends signals (46) to other switching nodes (12) in the telephone network (10) to establish an output branch (48) to each secondary number telephone. The signals transmitted by the first switching node further (50) direct each of the other switching nodes in the network to inhibit the initiation of any of the characteristics of the call transfer service associated with the secondary number telephones, the signals can also be include an indicator of the transfer service and a counter (80) that identifies the previous call transfer number that has occurred in connection with the originally received call. If the counter exceeds a preset threshold (100), the other switching nodes reject another transfer of the call (10).

Description

TRANSFER OF CALLS OPERATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to telephone networks and, in particular, to transfers of calls made to a secondary number in response to an incoming call made from the telephone network to a primary number, and in addition to the effect of controlling the initiation of the service characteristics of a secondary number after a call transfer.

Description of the Related Art Many people today have a telephone for business use (office), a telephone for domestic use, and a mobile phone (cellular) to use when they are out of their business or home. Some people also have multiple offices and / or homes each again being associated with a particular telephone. It is a common practice that each of. A person's telephones are unfortunately assigned by the telephone service provider with a different telephone number. For a caller to maximize their chances of reaching a person, he or she must know or be able to search each of those people's telephone numbers (home, office and mobile) and then connect in multiple calls to those numbers . This manual method of looking for numbers and calling is inefficient and often ineffective. A known solution addressed to this problem involves allowing a specific person, through the use of a call sending operation and also in response to an original call made to a first number, to redirect the call to a specified secondary number, An inconvenience associated with this solution is that the call can only be sent to some other pre-specified number, so the person must know where they are going to be located to have any subsequent incoming calls actually sent. Another drawback is that the telephone associated with the first number is derived by the call sending operation and thus can not be answered by the person while the sending feature is initiated. Still another drawback is that many systems do not facilitate remote initialization and deactivation of the sending feature, thus requiring the person to have access to the telephone for the first number to specify a new second sending number. Another known solution addressed to the problem provides specialized call handling equipment on each telephone. Using a secondary telephone line or a three-way calling feature. The specialized equipment responds to an incoming call by simultaneously or sequentially alerting the called primary telephone and a remote (secondary) telephone specified by the subscriber. A call connection is then completed by the equipment to the first of several telephones alerted to be answered. The drawbacks associated with this solution include: only a limited number of phones that can be alerted; the installation of specific circuits, expensive for the user, in the primary caller location; and subscription to an additional line or calling feature in three ways. Yet another solution addressed to this problem uses the telephone switch to respond to an incoming call made to a primary telephone number by simultaneously and / or sequentially calling one or more specified secondary numbers. This is known in the art generally as a call transfer operation, and in particular as a multiramal (or multi-destination) call. When an incoming call is received on the telephone switch, it recognizes that the dialed primary number of the call provider is associated with a subscriber who wants a multiramal call. The switch responds to this by routing the incoming call over a number of different output branches to the plurality of telephones at specific numbers of the subscriber. The first of the telephones connected to the output branches to respond is then connected by the switch through the received incoming call, and the rest of the output branches are disconnected. Call transfer caller operations from and under the control of the telephone switch (in lieu of a subscriber-specific primary call location) provides flexibility in call options and successfully solves many of the problems associated with call handling solutions. previously mentioned calls and routing. However, the call transfer caller controlled by the telephone switch is not free of any aspect or communication problem. One or more of the secondary numbers specified for use in making the call transfer in response to an incoming call to the primary number may be associated with and in this way may initiate its own service features controlled by the telephone switch. In many cases, however, it is not desirable that these service characteristics be initiated in response to calls comprising one of the outbound branches in a call transfer call operation. This is especially true with respect to service features that provide another simple or multi-call call transfer operation following a previous call transfer call operation. For example, if a voice mail box is associated with a particular secondary number specified in a call transfer caller list associated with a primary number, this may be preferable to the incoming call made to the primary number that triggers a call. transfer is not connected (transferred) to voicemail for the secondary number. Instead, preference would be given to dealing with the other options of the caller of the first transfer call, and in addition to that any message on the other hand is left in a voice mailbox (if any) associated with the originally called primary number. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for effecting control over the initiation of service characteristics of a secondary number during or as a result of the previous operations of the call transfer caller.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In a telephone network including a plurality of switching nodes, a first of one of the switching nodes receives an incoming call dialed to a primary telephone number. Responding to the incoming call, the first switching node determines, by consulting a database, where the telephone associated with the primary number subscribes to a service feature of the call transfer caller (such as multi-call or multi-call). branch). If so, at least one secondary telephone number subject to the operation of the call transfer caller is retrieved from the database. The commands are then sent by the first switching node to other switching nodes in the network on signaling links to place voice trunks in at least one output branch connected to the telephone associated with each of the recovered secondary telephone numbers. The transmitted commands include a control command directing each of the other switching nodes to inhibit with respect to the transferred call the initiation of any call transfer service feature associated with the secondary telephone numbers. Alternatively, or in addition, the control command further includes a transfer inhibition, call forwarding feature identifier and a redirection information counter identifying the number of prior call transfers which must occur in connection with the originally received call. If the counter exceeds the preset threshold, the other switching nodes reject another transfer of the call. This feature serves to protect against cyclic transfers of endless calls or excessive numbers of transfers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention can be gained by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where: FIGURE 1 is a simplified block diagram of a telephone network in which the operations of the call transfer caller are supported. FIGURE 2 is a flow chart for telephone network operations and call handling to inhibit secondary number call transfer caller operations according to the present invention, and FIGURE 3 is a flow chart for operations of the telephone network and call handling to restrict caller call transfer operations in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The reference is now made to FIGURE 1 where a schematic diagram of a telephone network 10 including a plurality of interconnected switching nodes (SN) 12 is shown. The switching nodes 12 may comprise any of a number of devices known telecommunications switches, including those commonly used and known in the art to provide digital or analog land lines or cellular telephone service to a plurality of subscriber telephones 14. The switching nodes 12 are interconnected by communication via signaling links 16 and trunk 18. The main voice paths 18 provide voice and data communications paths used to carry subscriber communications between the nodes 12. The signaling links 16 carry command signals between the nodes 12 used to place and detach communications links of voice and data on the main routes is voice 18, and for requesting and controlling special service characteristics to subscribers 14. Switching nodes 12 are connected to a database 20 (or perhaps to plural databases if necessary) also by signaling links 16. The signaling links 16 in this case carry command signals used to locate subscribers and pre-route subscribers. In the case of a landline telephone network, the database 20 comprises the database at the switching control point. For a cellular telephone network, the database 20 comprises the local location recorder in which the number telephone for the called mobile station is assigned. The data base (s) 20 store information related to subscriber's telephones 14 containing subscriber telephone numbers related to an identification of certain service features in which subscribers associated with the telephone numbers are entitled to the use. Such service features may include: waiting for calls, three-way calls, paging or locating people, voice mail, call forwards and multi-branch calls. The latter three as service features comprise examples of call transfer service features. It will be understood that the network probably includes many more than just a database 20, and that multiple databases (not shown) within the network are also interconnected by signaling links (such as links 16) carrying command used for the same purposes as mentioned above. With respect to the examples of call transfer service features, the voice mail service feature comprises taking and storing for a later retrieval by the subscriber of a recorded voice message in response to an incoming call made to an incoming call. subscriber number telephone. The call sending service feature comprises an automatic transfer of an incoming call made to the subscriber number telephone to another number specified by the subscriber. The multiramal call service feature comprises calling a plurality of specified numbers of the subscriber in a simultaneous or sequential manner in response to an incoming call made to a subscriber number telephone. Other types of call transfer service features are known to those skilled in the art. Telephone switching nodes 12 (and their associated databases 20) which facilitate the service feature of the call transfer call to their landline or cellular subscribers are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. ,206,901 to Harlow, et al. describes a method and apparatus for alerting multiple telephones as an incoming call, and thus implements multi-branch calls. The telephone switching node 12 handles the incoming call by consulting the database 20 to retrieve routing instructions for the call and comprises an identification of a plurality of telephones to be alerted. Responding to one of the identified telephones that answer the alert, the incoming call connects to the answering telephone and all other potential connections are dropped. It is not a requirement for the purposes of effecting the multi-branch service feature that the plurality of telephones identified in the routing instructions are served by the same switching node 12 that initially received the incoming call and initiated the multi-branch call. In addition, dedicated service nodes can be used when needed. The plurality of telephones identified in the routing instructions can be alerted by the telephone switching node 12 during the multi-branch call operation simultaneously or sequentially according to the wishes of the called subscriber. Voicemail and call forwarding transfers are well known in the art. The multi-branch call operation, which may not be well known, can be better understood by referring to a specific example. Suppose that a telephone call made to a primary number (associated with the telephone 30 for the called party) is originated by a calling party from the telephone 32 and is received in the switching node 12 (1). Responding to the reception of this incoming call (on the incoming branch 34), the switching node 12 (1) queries 36 the database 20 (with the signal sent from an initial database to other databases -not shown - if necessary) to locate the called mobile subscriber and determine if the called party subscribes to any service feature. The recovered features 38 are then processed by the switching node 12 (1) in another handling of the incoming call. If one of the recovered service features 38 comprises the so-called multi-branch, the switching node 12 (1) is further provided in response to the query with multi-branch routing instructions containing a list of secondary telephone numbers to be called, as well as an indication of whether a sequential or simultaneous call will be made. Similar routing instructions are retrieved if the service feature 38 comprises a voice mail call or send. Suppose now that the list of secondary telephone numbers identifies telephones 40, 42 and 44 for multi-branch call. The switching node 12 (1) then sends commands 46 over the signaling links 16 to the other nodes 12 to establish (in sequence or simultaneously) a plurality of output branches 48 on the main voice paths 18 for connection to and alert telephones 40, 42 and 44 associated with the secondary numbers listed. The first of the telephones 40, 42 or 44 to be answered is then connected by the switching node 12 (1) via associated output branch 48 to the incoming branch 34 to complete the call connection between the caller and the called party. It will be recognized that one or more of the telephones identified in the routing instructions of the call transfer service feature can itself be associated in the same or another data base (s) 20 with a service transfer characteristic of calls like a voice mail box, forwarded calls, multi-branch calls or similar. When a telephone contains the primary number for an incoming call, the initiation of the service characteristics selected by the subscriber is desired and implemented by the switching node 12. When the telephone contains a secondary number called together with the condition of an operation of call transfer call, on the other hand, it is not always desirable that the call transfer service feature be initiated. Instead, in certain selected cases it may be preferable that any of the call transfer service features associated with a number telephone for a secondary telephone called during a call transfer call operation be ignored or inhibited since initiation. To facilitate control over the initiation of call transfer service features during call transfer call operations, the switch nodes 12 are further configured to generate a 5-0 control command (which may comprise an additional command or a parameter within command 46) for • transmission over signaling links 16 (comprising the protocol links SI-41 and CCITT7 / ANSISS7 TUP / ISUP) specifying that the outgoing branches of the transferred call are not for invoking any of the associated call transfer service features in the database 20 with the telephones for the called secondary numbers. The switching nodes 12 respond to the reception of command 46 by connecting to the main voice path and alerting the telephone associated with the called secondary number. In response to the control command 50, no analysis of the secondary number database 20 is made by the switching node 12 for the purpose of identifying a call transfer service characteristic because the call that is being processed is part of a Previous call transfer call operation (and restricted service). However, the switching node 12 may continue to provide other service features (such as call waiting or three-way calls), not involving a call transfer, to the secondary number telephone called during the transferred call. In the case where the call is not answered, the switching node 12 aborts and returns to control over the call to the switching node where the incoming call is received (preferably, originally received). The execution of the control by the switching node on the initiation of the service characteristics of secondary telephone numbers using the message 50 can be better understood with specific reference again to the aforementioned multi-branch call example. The switching node 12 (1) receives the list of secondary telephone numbers to be called, as well as an indication of whether any sequential or simultaneous call is going to be made (the multi-branch routing instructions). In this example, the list of secondary telephone numbers identifies telephones 40, 42 and 44 for multi-branch calls. The switching node 12 (1) then sends commands 46 over the signaling links 16 to the other nodes 12 to establish (sequentially or simultaneously) a plurality of output branches 48 over the main voice paths 18 for connection to and alerting the telephones 40, 42 and 44 associated with the secondary numbers listed. In addition to or as a parameter within the commands 46, the switching node 12 (1) also sends the control command 50 specifying that the output branches 48 of the multi-branch call are not to invoke any transfer service characteristic of associated calls in database 20 with telephones 40, 42 and 44 for called secondary numbers. In this way, if the database 20 registers a voice mail call transfer service feature associated with the telephone 40, this feature is not implemented by the switching node 12 (3) with the reception of the output branch 48 (1) of the multi-branch call. In the same way, if the database 20 registers a call forwarding service feature associated with the telephone 42, this feature is not implemented by the switching node 12 (4) with the reception of the output branch 48 (2) of the multiramal call. Further, if the database 20 registers a multi-branch call service feature associated with the telephone 44, this feature is not implemented by the switching node 12 (2) with the reception of the output branch 48 (3) of the multi-branch call initiated by the switching node 12 (1). As described above, the first of the telephones 40, 42 or 44 to be answered is then connected by the switching node 12 (1) via the associated output branch 48 to the incoming branch 34 to complete the call connection between the caller and the called party. Reference is now made to FIGURE 2, where a flow chart for the operation of the telephone network during a call transfer call operation with the controlled initiation of the service feature of the secondary number according to the present invention. In step 60, a call to a primary number is originated over the incoming branch and in step 62 it is received by the switching node. The network tries unsuccessfully to send the call to the primary subscriber. This failure can be indicated by a timeout, or by a redirection request IS-41, or by an ISUP call release message. The switching node then determines, in step 64, whether the called party associated with the dialed primary number subscribes for the call transfer calling service feature. If not, the incoming call is also handled in a manner well known to those skilled in the art (step 66). If the answer is yes, the switch node queries the database, in step 68, to retrieve routing instructions comprising the secondary number (s) that the call is to be transferred, as well as an indication (in connection with a multi-branch call) of whether or not goes to make a sequential or simultaneous call. The messages are then sent in step 70 to other switching nodes in the network over the included signaling links, according to the routing instructions retrieved to establish one or more output branches on the main voice routes to the telephones for the calls. secondary numbers. Also in step 72 a control message (separated from or as a parameter within the message in step 70) is sent by directing each of the switching nodes to inhibit the initiation of any call transfer service feature associated with the telephones of secondary numbers. This message may include a transfer counter parameter and service identifier, if necessary. The telephones for the secondary numbers are then alerted in step 74. The switching nodes then test in step 76 a reply of the telephones alerted, and the incoming call is completed in step 78 for that secondary number telephone answer. The reference is now again made to FIGURE 1. To further facilitate control over the initiation of call transfer service features during call transfer call operations, the switching nodes 12 are configured maintaining the registration of the number of the transfer operations "of calls that have been initiated by responding to an original incoming call, and for storing in a counter 80 associated with the control command 50 the recorded number of call transfers executed earlier.The command 50 and the counter 80 are transmitted on the signaling links 16 (containing IS-41 and CCITT7 / ANSISS7 TUP / ISUP protocol links.) The switching nodes 12 respond to the receipt of the counter 80 by comparing the call transfer value stored in it with a preset threshold. If the stored value exceeds the threshold, no analysis of the database 20 of the secu Standard for purposes of identifying a call transfer service feature is made by the switching node 12, because the call has already been transferred so the system considers to be too many times. The switching node 12 can, however, continue to provide other service characteristics (such as call waiting or three-way calling), not involving a call transfer, for the secondary number telephone called during call transfer. The control operation by the switching node on the initiation of secondary number telephone service features using the counter 80 can be better understood with specific reference once again to the example of the aforementioned multi-branch call. The switching node 12 (1) receives the list of secondary telephone numbers that can be called, as well as an indication of whether the call will be made sequentially or simultaneously (the multi-branch routing instructions). In this example, the list of secondary telephone numbers identifies telephones 40, 42 and 44 for multi-branch call. The switching node 12 (1) then sends commands 46 on signaling links 16 to other nodes 12 to establish (sequentially or simultaneously) a plurality of output branches 48 on the main voice paths 18 for connection to and alerting telephones 40, 42 and 44 associated with .los. secondary numbers listed. In addition to, or as a parameter within the commands 46, the switch node 12 (1) further sends the control command 50 specifying that the output branches 48 of the multi-branch call are not to invoke any of the transfer characteristics of associated calls in the database 20 with the telephones 40, 42 and 44 for the called secondary numbers, and a counter 80 with a value of one (indicating that only one transfer has been initiated with respect to the original call). Suppose now that the switching node 12 (3) ignores (perhaps through a processing error) or has not been updated to respond to the 50 inhibitor command. In this way, if the database 20 registers a call forwarding service feature (by specifying the telephone 42) associated with the telephone 40, this feature would be improperly executed by the switching node 12 (3). The commands 46 are then sent to establish an output branch with a switching node 12 (4). In addition to, or as a parameter within the commands 46, the switching node 12 (1) also sends the control command 50 and a counter 80 with a value of two (indicating that a second transfer has been initiated with respect to the call original). Responding to the reception of the transferred call, the switching node 12 (4) compares the value of the counter 80 with its pre-set threshold value. If this threshold value were one, the value of the counter would exceed the threshold and the switching node 12 (4) could not implement any more call transfer service feature. Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 wherein a flow diagram for the operation of the telephone network during a call transfer call operation with the controlled initiation of the secondary number service feature is shown, according to the present invention. A call to a primary number on the incoming trunk originates in step 82 and is received by the switching node in step 84. The unsuccessful network tries to deliver the call to the primary subscriber. This failure can be indicated by a waiting time, or by a redirection request IS-41, or by a release message of the ISUP call. The switching node then determines in step 86 whether the called party associated with the dialed primary number subscribes for a call transfer calling service feature. If not, the incoming call is also handled in a manner well known to those skilled in the art (step 88). If the answer is yes, the switch node queries the database in 'step 90 to receive recovered routing instructions containing the secondary transfer-to numbers (s). The messages are then sent in step 92 to other switching nodes in the network over the signaling links included in accordance with the routing instructions retrieved to establish one or more output branches over the main voice routes to telephones for numbers secondary A counter and service indicator are also sent in step 94 (separated from, or as a parameter within the message of step 92) identifying the number of transfers executed for the originally received call. A transfer inhibitor can also be sent with this message. The switching nodes then test in step 96 whether a call transfer is initiated by the call. If not,, the call is handled in a conventional manner (perhaps by a reply or the initiation of another of the call service features) in step 98. If the answer is yes, the switch node tests in step 100 whether the value of the counter exceeds a preset threshold. If not, the process returns to step 90 to implement the transfer and the counter value is increased by one to reflect the occurrence of an additional transfer. If the answer is yes, the transfer is inhibited in step 102. An additional benefit of using the counter 80 in the monitoring of call transfers is that it is possible to avoid situations of call transfer cycles. By monitoring the value of the counter 80, a switching node can infer from a large number registered therein that the published call has been involved in an infinite cycle of transfers (ie, A specifies B as its subscriber resend-a, B specify C as your subscriber resend-to, and C specify A as your subscriber resend-to). Such situations must be identified and interrupted, or the infinite cycle of transferred calls will quickly occupy all the calling circuits in one or more switching nodes causing congestion of the switch. In connection with one embodiment of the present invention, the existing messages and the parameters set to be used within a digital telephone network can be adopted and possibly adapted to provide the control messages 50 and the counter 80. For example, for a telephone network terrestrial, digital, the Initial Address Message (IAM) message of the user part of the existing integrated services digital network (ISDN-UP) message: communication about the signaling links can be modified to providing the transfer inhibition parameters, service identifier and redirection information (containing the control messages 50 and the counter 80) necessary to inhibit the initiation of the call transfer service characteristics of secondary telephone numbers of the switching node. In addition, for a cellular telephone network, these parameters may also be included in specified IS-41 messages (such as the location request, transfer to requested number and routing request messages) to the signal switching nodes of these instances together with an operation call transfer where nc will initiate the service characteristics of transferring calls to a secondary number telephone. Although a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the appended Drawings and described in the aforementioned Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention, as established and defined by the following claims.

Claims (33)

1. A method for controlling the initiation of service characteristics to a secondary number telephone during a call transfer call operation, consisting of the steps of: in response to receiving a dialed telephone call to a primary telephone number subscribing for a call transfer service feature, retrieving at least one secondary number telephone associated with the primary number telephone; establish a call transfer through at least one switching node to a telephone for each of the plurality recovered from secondary telephone numbers, and signal each switching node in connection with the establishment of the transfer call not to activate a service characteristic associated with secondary number telephones.

The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer call consists of a multi-branch call and wherein the establishment step consists of the step of establishing the multi-branch call to the telephones of a plurality recovered from secondary telephone numbers in a sequential way.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer call consists of a multi-branch call and wherein the establishment step comprises the step of establishing the multi-branch call to the telephones of a plurality recovered from secondary telephone numbers in a Simultaneously.

The method of claim 1, wherein the service feature associated with the secondary number telephones comprises a call transfer service feature.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a call forwarding operation from the secondary number telephone to another telephone.

The method of claim 4, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a voice mail transfer from the secondary number telephone to voice mail number.

The method of claim 4, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a multi-branch call operation originated from the secondary number telephone.

8. A telephone system providing call transfer call operations consisting of: a plurality of interconnected switching nodes, including a first switching node for receiving an incoming call dialed to a primary number subscribing a service feature of the caller of transferring calls, and establishing a call transfer to at least one of the secondary number telephones identified and, at least one second switching node to which the transfer call is intended, and wherein the first switching node points to every second switching node in connection with the established transfer call not to activate with respect to the transfer call of a service characteristic associated with the secondary number telephone.

The system of claim 8, wherein the transfer call comprises a multi-branch call established by the first to the second switching node identified by the secondary number telephones in a sequential manner.

The system of claim 8, wherein the transfer call comprises a multi-branch call established by the first for the second switching node identified by the secondary number telephones in a simultaneous manner.

The system of claim 8, wherein the service feature associated with the secondary number telephones comprises a call transfer service feature.

The system of claim 11, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a call forwarding operation from the secondary number telephone to another telephone.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a transfer of voice mail from the secondary number telephone to a voice mail box.

The system of claim 11, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a multi-branch call operation originated from the secondary number telephone.

15. A telephone system, comprising: a plurality of switching nodes; a plurality of main voice paths connecting the plurality of switching nodes; a plurality of signaling links connecting the plurality of switching nodes; and wherein an origin of the switching nodes transmits signals over the signaling links to other certain switching nodes to establish, in the main voice paths, a transfer call to a destination telephone, the signals include a control command that instructs the certain switching nodes to inhibit the initiation of the service characteristics associated with the destination telephone for the duration of the transfer call.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the telephone system is a cellular telephone system.

The system of claim 15, wherein the service feature comprises a call forwarding operation from the destination telephone to another telephone.

The system of claim 15, wherein the service feature comprises a voice mail transfer from the destination telephone to a voice mail mailbox.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the service feature comprises a multi-branch call that originates from the destination telephone.

20. A method for controlling the initiation of service characteristics during a call transfer call operation wherein at least one outbound call branch is established to a destination telephone through at least one switching node, comprising the steps of: transmitting a command control signal during call set-up identifying each output call branch as a part of the transfer call, and during the course of the transfer call inhibit, at each switching node receiving the signal of transmitted command control, the initiation of the call transfer service characteristics associated with the destination telephone connected to each branch of outgoing calls.

The method of claim 20, wherein the call transfer service features comprise a call forwarding operation from the destination telephone to another telephone.

The method of claim 20, wherein the call transfer service features comprise a voice mail transfer from the destination telephone to a voice mail mailbox.

The method of claim 20, wherein the call transfer service features comprise a multi-branch call originating from the destination telephone.

24. A method for controlling the initiation of secondary number telephone service features during a call transfer call operation, comprising the steps of: in response to receiving a telephone call to a subscribing telephone number for a call transfer service feature, retrieve at least one secondary telephone number associated with the telephone number; establishing a transfer call via at least one switching node to a telephone for each of the plurality recovered from secondary telephone numbers; signaling each switching node in connection with the establishment of the transfer call with a counter identifying the number of prior call transfers associated with the telephone call, and comparing the call transfer number of the counter with a preset threshold and inhibiting other transfers of the phone call if the counter number exceeds the threshold.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the service feature associated with the secondary number telephones comprises a call transfer service feature.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a call forwarding operation from the secondary number telephone to another telephone.

The method of claim 25, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a voice mail transfer from the secondary number telephone to a voice mail mailbox.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the call transfer service feature comprises a multi-branch call operation originated from the secondary number telephone. 19.

A telephone system comprising: a plurality of switching nodes; a plurality of main voice paths connecting the plurality of switching nodes; a plurality of signaling links connecting the plurality of switching nodes; and wherein one of the currently operating switch nodes transmits signals on the signaling links of certain other switching nodes to establish, on the main voice paths, a transfer call to a destination telephone, the signals including a counter identifying the number of previous call transfers associated with the transfer call, the counter interpreted by the other switching nodes to inhibit the initiation of the service characteristics associated with the destination telephone if the call transfer number exceeds a preset threshold.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the telephone system is a cellular telephone system.

The system of claim 29, wherein the service feature comprises a call forwarding operation from the destination telephone to another telephone.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the service feature comprises a voice mail transfer from the destination telephone to a voice mail box.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the service feature comprises a multi-branch call originating from the destination telephone.