Call programming apparatus and method

1. A call programming method for establishing a customer profile for processing subsequently received calls to a subscriber, the method comprising:

prompting the subscriber to establish the customer profile;

entering a key collection routine;

in response to subscriber key entry; entering one of

a one number programming routine,

a sequential number programming routine, and

a simultaneous number programming routine;

entering a key collection routine;

receiving subscriber entries defining the processing of subsequently received calls to the subscriber to establish the customer profile; and

storing the customer profile.

2. The call programming method of claim 1 wherein entering a one number programming routine comprises:

prompting the subscriber to enter a call forwarding number;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving the call forwarding number.

3. The call programming method of claim 2 further comprising:

prompting for one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded to the call forwarding number;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving information defining the one or more time periods.

4. The call programming method of claim 3 wherein receiving information defining the one or more time periods comprises:

providing a default period start time for each period;

receiving information defining a period start time for each time period; and

receiving information defining a period end time for each period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein entering a sequential number programming routine comprises:

prompting for a first sequential call forwarding number for a time period;

entering a key collection routine;

receiving information defining the first sequential call forwarding number;

prompting the subscriber to enter another sequential call forwarding number;

entering a key collection routine; and

prompting the subscriber to enter additional sequential call forwarding numbers until all sequential call forwarding numbers have been entered.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

prompting with a default sequential call forwarding number; and

entering a key collection routing.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein entering the sequential number programming routine further comprises:

prompting for information defining one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded according to the sequential number programming routine;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving the information defining the one or more time periods.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein entering a simultaneous number programming routine comprises:

prompting the subscriber for a first simultaneous call forwarding number for a time period;

entering a key collection routine;

receiving information defining the first simultaneous call forwarding number;

prompting the subscriber to enter another simultaneous call forwarding number;

entering a key collection routine; and

prompting the subscriber to enter additional simultaneous call forwarding numbers until all simultaneous call forwarding numbers have been entered.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein entering the simultaneous number programming routine further comprises:

prompting for information defining one or more time periods when subscriber calls should be forwarded according to the simultaneous number programming routine;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving the information defining the one or more time periods.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prompting the subscriber to enter a schedule override routine;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving information selecting the schedule override routine.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

if the schedule override routine is selected, prompting the subscriber to enter an override call forwarding number;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving information defining the override call forwarding number.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

repeating the override call forwarding number to the subscriber;

entering a key collection routine; and

receiving verification information for the override call forwarding number.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein entering a key collection routine comprises:

detecting keypad entries of the subscriber;

detecting a predetermined help key sequence;

in response to the predetermined help key sequence, providing to the subscriber a help message associated with a current call programming routine;

detecting a predetermined entry cancellation sequence; and

in response to the predetermined entry cancellation sequence, providing a cancellation message to the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting a predetermined help key sequence comprises detecting a single entered 0.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting a predetermined entry cancellation sequence comprises detecting an entered *.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein entering a key collection routine further comprises:

detecting erroneous keypad entries by the subscriber; and

if the number of erroneous keypad entries exceeds a threshold, providing an error message to the subscriber.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein entering a key collection routine further comprises:

timing a time period between successive keypad entries by the subscriber; and

if the time period exceeds a threshold, providing an error message to the subscriber.