Call programming apparatus and method

1. A computer readable data storage medium storing call programming code for establishing a customer profile for processing subsequently received calls to a subscriber, the code comprising:

code for prompting the subscriber to establish the customer profile;

code for entering a key collection routine;

in response to subscriber key entry; code for entering one of

a one number programming routine,

a sequential number programming routine, and

a simultaneous number programming routine;

code for entering a key collection routine;

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

code for storing the customer profile.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the code for entering a one number programming routine comprises:

code for prompting the subscriber to enter a call forwarding number;

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving the call forwarding number.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 further comprising:

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

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving information defining the one or more time periods.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 3 wherein the code for receiving information defining the one or more time periods comprises:

code for providing a default period start time for each period;

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

code for receiving information defining a period end time for each period.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the code for entering a sequential number programming routine comprises:

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

code for entering a key collection routine;

code for receiving information defining the first sequential call forwarding number;

code for prompting the subscriber to enter another sequential call forwarding number;

code for entering a key collection routine; and

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

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5 further comprising:

code for prompting with a default sequential call forwarding number; and

code for entering a key collection routing.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5 wherein the code for entering the sequential number programming routine further comprises:

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

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving the information defining the one or more time periods.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the code for entering a simultaneous number programming routine comprises:

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

code for entering a key collection routine;

code for receiving information defining the first simultaneous call forwarding number;

code for prompting the subscriber to enter another simultaneous call forwarding number;

code for entering a key collection routine; and

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

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the code for entering the simultaneous number programming routine further comprises:

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

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving the information defining the one or more time periods.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising:

code for prompting the subscriber to enter a schedule override routine;

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving information selecting the schedule override routine.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprising:

code for determining if the schedule override routine is selected;

if so, code for prompting the subscriber to enter an override call forwarding number;

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving information defining the override call forwarding number.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 further comprising:

code for repeating the override call forwarding number to the subscriber;

code for entering a key collection routine; and

code for receiving verification information for the override call forwarding number.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the code for entering a key collection routine comprises:

code for detecting keypad entries of the subscriber;

code for detecting a predetermined help key sequence;

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

code for detecting a predetermined entry cancellation sequence; and

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

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the code for detecting a predetermined help key sequence comprises code for detecting a single entered 0.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the code for detecting a predetermined entry cancellation sequence comprises code for detecting an entered *.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the code for 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 computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the code for entering a key collection routine further comprises:

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

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