Method and apparatus in a communication system for completing an inbound call

A portable communication unit for completing an inbound call from a telephone system to a user of the portable communication unit in a communication system comprising a base station coupled to the telephone system, wherein the telephone system is capable of completing the inbound call by a plurality of procedures requiring a plurality of differing responses by the base station and the portable communication unit, the portable communication unit comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a selective call message comprising a Call-Type Identifier and a Call-Completion Number;
• a memory coupled to the receiver for storing the received selective call message;
• a processor coupled to the memory for controlling storage and retrieval of the received selective call message;
• user controls coupled to the processor for directing operation of the portable communication unit;
• a transceiver coupled to the processor for establishing a communication link with the base station and for transmitting thereafter the Call-Completion Number and a Call-Type Code in accordance with the received Call-Type Identifier.

A base station for completing an inbound call from a telephone system to a user of a portable communication unit in a communication system, wherein the base station is coupled to the telephone system by a telephone line, and wherein the telephone system is capable of completing the inbound call by a plurality of procedures requiring a plurality of differing responses by the base station and the portable communication unit, the base station comprising:

• a transceiver for establishing communications with the portable communication unit;
• a processor coupled to the transceiver for controlling the transceiver;
• a telephone interface coupled to the processor for interfacing the base station with the telephone line;
• and
• a Call Originator element coupled to the processor for originating a call to the telephone system in accordance with a Call-Completion Number and a Call-Type Code received from the portable communication unit, and for completing thereafter processing of the inbound call in a manner determined by the Call-Type Code.