Abstract: A system for external control of call processing including a network controller that is connected to receive a third party control message regarding a call operation to be executed by one or more line controllers and is programmed to determine what first party steps need to be taken by the line controller or controllers to execute the call operation, to generate first party control messages to carry out the steps, and to send the first party control messages over a network via a message transfer interface to one or more line controllers, the line controllers being connected to the network via message transfer interfaces to receive the first party control messages and being programmed to execute the first party messages on the network.

Abstract: A method of rerouting of telephone calls from a call receiver device to a call destination device using incoming call notification messages sent from the call receiver device to the call destination device, respond signals sent from the call destination device to the call receiver device, and calling line identification of the incoming call.

Abstract: An automatic call distributing system for automatically distributing telephone calls placed over a network to one of a plurality of agent stations connected to the network via network service interfaces and providing agent status messages to the network, the system including receiving circuitry connected via a network service interface to the network for receiving the agent status messages and a call arrival message from the network indicating that an incoming call has been made on the network, and routing circuitry responsive to the receiving circuitry for generating a routing signal provided to the network to connect the incoming call to an agent station through the network.

Abstract: An automatic call distributing system for automatically distributing telephone calls placed over a network to one of a plurality of agent stations connected the network via network service interfaces and providing agent status messages to the network, the system including receiving means connected via a network service interface to the network for receiving the agent status messages and a call arrival message from the network indicating that an incoming call has been made on the network, and routing means responsive to the receiving means for generating a routing signal provided to the network to connect the incoming call to an agent station through the network. Also disclosed are handling transitions of agent stations using transition notifications, transition requests and forced response signals; and rerouting of telephone calls using incoming call notification signals, response signals, pre-notification signals, and calling line identification of the incoming call.