Abstract: A telecommunication system combines telephone technology and computer. network technology to monitor a caller and callee's computer activity and to access call processing criteria selected by the caller and callee and stored on the computer network. A component of the telephone system, such as a central office switch, accesses the caller and callee call processing criteria. The system evaluates the call processing criteria and, when conditions for both caller and callee are met, the telephone system initiates a telephone call between the caller and callee. The call processing criteria may include accepting all calls, no calls, or calls only from specified parties. In addition, the call processing criteria can vary in accordance with the time of day or an individual's personal preferences, or status, such as when an individual is in a meeting.

Abstract: A telecommunication system combines telephone technology and Internet technology to establish one or more user-specified affiliation lists. The affiliation lists are stored on the Internet and are accessible by the user and by the telecommunication portion of the system. The affiliation lists are used to process incoming calls to the user's destination telephone number. A central office switch receives the call being directed to the destination telephone number and uses a communication link with the Internet to access the user's affiliation lists. The incoming call is processed in accordance with the user-specified rules in the affiliation lists. The user may accept all incoming calls, no incoming calls, or incoming calls only from specified parties. The call processing rules may be readily edited by the user and can also include alternative call processing rules that vary in accordance with the time of day or with the user's personal desires.