FIELD: information technology.
SUBSTANCE: when a number is released by a prior subscriber, it is placed into a database referred to as the "spare pool" which includes available (unsubscribed) telephone numbers. When a caller dials a number which is in the spare pool, that call is intercepted and any number of possible actions is taken. In one version, the caller is automatically forwarded to a new number based on a database which stores the new number of the prior subscriber or routes the caller to a message which gives the caller the option (either via a charge or after listening to an advertisement) of being connected to, or being given, the current number of the prior subscriber.
EFFECT: providing up-to-date routing address information.
26 cl, 8 dwg
