| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for routing a call from the calling party to a called party includes determining within an SCP whether the calling party is authorized to place calls to the called party as a part of setting up the call. In the described embodiment of the invention, the disclosed method is to be implemented as a subscriber feature. In one embodiment of the invention, the SCP merely examines the calling party number to determine whether it is authorized to make the call. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the calling party number is first mapped to a calling party name and then the calling party name is compared to a list of calling party names that are authorized to make the call. This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows for calling parties to aurally state their name into a telephone so that the SCP, with the help of the IVR, may determine what the calling party name is. This is helpful for those circumstances where an authorized calling party seeks to place a call to the called party from a phone other than his or her own. The invention further includes, in some embodiments, giving the calling party an option to pay a toll to have the call routed for those circumstances in which the calling party is not authorized to place calls to the called party. In one embodiment of the invention, the calling party is asked whether a toll charge can be charged to the calling party. In another embodiment, the calling party is asked to provide an authorization PIN. |
