The present invention allows calls that have previously been handled by an
answering system to be identified when they are forwarded from a switch
back to the answering system. In one embodiment, the invention includes
receiving an incoming call at an automated attendant port or answering
system port, receiving a call handle associated with the incoming call,
applying the call handle to retrieve caller information associated with
the call handle, and using the retrieved caller information to handle the
call if caller information associated with the call handle is found.