Method of call routing in a public/private communication system

1. A method of processing a public call through a public/private communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a private communication device, a public communication device and a radio accessory extension (RAE) coupled therebetween, the RAE providing audio and display functionality;

configuring at least one of the private communication device, the public communication device and the RAE to alert a user to an incoming call (public or private) call, thereby providing at least one configured device;

detecting the presence of the public communication device being coupled to the RAE;

monitoring for the incoming public call at the public communication device;

alerting the user of the incoming public call using the at least one configured device;

determining whether a higher priority private call is being received by the private communication device, and if so, operating the RAE in a default private mode to process the higher priority private call;

if a higher priority private call was not received, then:

determining whether the incoming public call is an audio call or a data call;

for a data call, porting the data to a display of the RAE or the public communication device;

for an audio call, determining whether the public communication device is a dispatch device or a duplex device;

routing the audio call through the RAE to the at least one configured device;

for dispatch, detecting transmitted audio via a push-to-talk (PTT) press;

for duplex, detecting audio via a microphone of the at least one configured device; and

ending the public call.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the public communication device is integrated within the RAE.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio and display functionality is controlled via a user input source.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RAE is externally coupled to public communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the private communication device is a portable private two-way radio operating in the public safety environment.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the private communication device is a mobile private two-way radio operating in the public safety environment.

7. A method of processing a private call through a public/private communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a private communication device, a public communication device and a radio accessory extension (RAE) coupled therebetween, the radio accessory extension providing audio and display functionality, the RAE being configurable;

detecting the presence of a public communication device being coupled to the RAE;

monitoring for an incoming private call at the private communication device; alerting a user of the incoming private call using one of the public communication device, the private communication device and the RAE;

determining whether a lower priority public call is being processed by the public communication device, and if so, signaling the public communication device to process the public call via one of a default and user input request;

processing the private call via the RAE in a default private mode, in which;

for a data call, porting the data to a configured display of the RAE or private device;

for an audio call, determining whether the call is a dispatch call or a duplex call;

porting the audio through the RAE to one of the public communication device and the RAE, as preconfigured by the RAE; and

enabling audio enhancements based on whether the ported audio is duplex or dispatch.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the public communication device is integrated within the RAE.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the audio and display functionality is controlled via a user input source.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the RAE is externally coupled to public communication device.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the private communication device is a portable private two-way radio operating in the public safety environment.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the private communication device is a mobile private two-way radio operating in the public safety environment.

13. A method of processing a call through a public/private communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing a private communication device, a public communication device and a radio accessory extension (RAE) coupled therebetween, the RAE providing at least one of audio and display functionality, the RAE being configurable;

detecting the presence of the public communication device being coupled to the RAE;

monitoring for an incoming call at the public and private communication devices;

alerting a user of an incoming call using one of the private communication device, a public communication device and the RAE;

determining whether the incoming call is a public call or a private call;

prioritizing the private call;

processing the private call through one of the private communication device and RAE;

processing the public call with a default; and

responding to the private call through the one of the private device and RAE;

determining whether the incoming private call is an audio call or a data call;

for a data call, porting the data to a display of the private device or pre-configured RAE;

for an audio call, determining whether the public communication device is a dispatch device or a duplex device;

porting audio through the pre-configured RAE to the public communication device; and

enabling audio enhancements in the public communication device based on whether the ported audio is duplex or dispatch; and

ending the call.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, after the step of providing the step of pre-configuring the RAE to process a private call.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of utilizing a push-to-talk (PTT) and microphone of the RAE to respond to the private call for a dispatch device.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of utilizing a microphone of the RAE to respond to the private call for a duplex device.