Communication system for call alerting

Abstract

A method of operating a communication system comprises receiving an incoming call, wherein a caller identification is associated with the incoming call, generating an alert message for the incoming call, wherein the alert message includes the caller identification, transmitting the alert message from a wireless base station to a mobile communication device, in response to the alert message, receive a response message from the mobile communication device, wherein the response message indicates a destination for the incoming call, processing the destination in the response message to generate routing instructions for the incoming call, and routing the incoming call based on the routing instructions.

1 . A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving an incoming call, wherein a caller identification is associated with the incoming call;   generating an alert message for the incoming call, wherein the alert message includes the caller identification;   transmitting the alert message from a wireless base station to a mobile communication device;   in response to the alert message, receive a response message from the mobile communication device, wherein the response message indicates a destination for the incoming call;   processing the destination in the response message to generate routing instructions for the incoming call; and   routing the incoming call based on the routing instructions.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying the alert message to a user operating the mobile communication device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the alert message includes the caller identification, and wherein displaying the alert message comprises displaying the caller identification. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising receiving a user input from the user via a user interface in the mobile communication device, wherein the user input indicates the destination for the incoming call. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the user input comprises a selection of the destination from a plurality of destinations displayed to the user. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cell phone. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a pager. 
   
   
       9 . A communication system comprising:
 a network processor configured to receive an incoming call, wherein a caller identification is associated with the incoming call, and generate an alert message for the incoming call, wherein the alert message includes the caller identification;   a wireless base station in communication with the network processor and configured to transmit the alert message from a wireless base station to a mobile communication device, and receive a response message from the mobile communication device in response to the alert message, wherein the response message indicates a destination for the incoming call;   wherein the network processor is further configured to process the destination in the response message to generate routing instructions for the incoming call and transfer the routing instructions for delivery to a routing system to route the incoming call based on the routing instructions.   
   
   
       10 . The communication system of  claim 9  further comprising the mobile communication device configured to display the alert message to a user operating the mobile communication device. 
   
   
       11 . The communication system of  claim 10  wherein the alert message includes the caller identification, and wherein the mobile communication device is configured to display the caller identification. 
   
   
       12 . The communication system of  claim 11  wherein the mobile communication device includes a user interface, and wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user input from the user, wherein the user input indicates the destination for the incoming call. 
   
   
       13 . The communication system of  claim 12  wherein the user input comprises a selection of the destination from a plurality of destinations displayed to the user. 
   
   
       14 . The communication system of  claim 13  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cell phone. 
   
   
       15 . The communication system of  claim 13  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       16 . The communication system of  claim 13  wherein the mobile communication device comprises a pager.