Method and system for call tracing

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method for tracing a call.
The method includes the steps of: (a) displaying a log-on screen on a display device, the log-on screen having a plurality of fields requiring input data including a telephone number field; (b) inputting a telephone number in the telephone number field wherein the telephone number represents the number to be traced; (c) establishing a call trace in a plurality of central offices; (d) displaying a confirmation screen on the display device, the confirmation screen indicating whether the trace was successfully established or not in each of the plurality of central offices; and (e) indicating that a call has been made to the telephone number input in step (b).
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for tracing a call.
The method includes the steps of: (a) simultaneously designating at least one telephone number to be traced in a plurality of central offices; (b) monitoring incoming calls at said plurality of central offices; (c) determining when an incoming call at one of said plurality of central offices matches the at least one telephone number designated in step (a); and (d) if it is determined in step (c) that an incoming call at one of said plurality of central offices matches the at least one telephone number designated in step (a), then indicating that a match has occurred.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a system for tracing calls.
The system includes: a processor; a plurality of central offices coupled to the processor for sending messages to the processor and receiving messages from the processor; wherein the processor is programmed to run the following call tracing routine; receiving a message identifying a telephone number to be traced; transmitting a command to the plurality of central offices to establish a trace on the identified telephone number; transmitting a trace found message to a display device when any one of the plurality of central offices detects that the identified telephone number has been called