The present invention is a method and system for transferring calls among communicating devices connected through a public network. The service is offered by a public network to permit a party in a ongoing conversation to transfer a call to another communicating device that may be more convenient to use, such as from a mobile telephone experiencing static to a land-based telephone, or from a home telephone to a mobile phone as a party leaves the home. In a method according to the invention, the network first establishes a connection between two communicating parties. The network then receives from one of the parties a request to transfer the call to another communications device. The network then transfers the call. The invention may be entirely network-based, in which case there may be a database of transferee devices stored on the network. Alternatively, the invention may be hybrid network-based and premises equipment-based, in which case the database of transferee devices may be stored in the premises equipment.
A communication system receives a call to a called number. The called number includes a destination number and a correlation code. The communication system routes the call to a destination based on the destination number but not based on the correlation code. The communication system transfers the correlation code to the destination with the call. The communication system receives a query from the destination indicating the correlation code. In response to the query, the communication system retrieves information from a database using the correlation code and transfers the information to the destination.
