A method of diverting a hunting function of a PSTN central office switch
is provided. The method diverts a hunting function in the event a channel
within a hunting group is available but a call can not be completed. The
method comprises detecting a status of a plurality of user channels to
determine whether all user channels associated with the hunting group are
in use and providing a hunting diversion message to the PSTN central
office switch in response to determining that all user channels
associated with the hunting group are in use. The method also comprises
detecting at least one user channel associated with the hunting group is
available for an inbound call and providing a hunting enable message to
the PSTN central office switch in response to determining that at least
one user channel associated with the hunting group is available for an
inbound call.