A telecommunication system combines telephone technology and computer.
network technology to monitor a caller and callee's computer activity and
to access call processing criteria selected by the caller and callee and
stored on the computer network. A component of the telephone system, such
as a central office switch, accesses the caller and callee call processing
criteria. The system evaluates the call processing criteria and, when
conditions for both caller and callee are met, the telephone system
initiates a telephone call between the caller and callee. The call
processing criteria may include accepting all calls, no calls, or calls
only from specified parties. In addition, the call processing criteria can
vary in accordance with the time of day or an individual's personal
preferences, or status, such as when an individual is in a meeting. A
user's computer activity may also be monitored and the computer status as
idle or active may be reported to the computer network as part of the call
processing criteria.