Patent ID: 8190128

Claim:
A method of operating a source communication device, the method comprising: receiving a first request from a user through a user interface requesting a first communication session with a target communication device; in response to the first request, transferring a first signal to a network requesting the first communication session with the target communication device, wherein the target communication device provides an overt communication alert for the first communication session; receiving a second request from the user through the user interface requesting a second communication session with the target communication device and further indicating a request that the target communication device provide a covert communication alert for the second communication session, wherein the covert communication alert comprises a visual change to a display item appearing on a user interface of the target communication device where the visual change is associated with a function other than an incoming communication; and in response to the second request, transferring a second signal to the network requesting the second communication session with the target communication device and indicating to the target communication device the request for the covert communication alert at the target communication device, wherein the target communication device provides the covert communication alert for the second communication session.