The present invention is directed to a network communication system that
provides textual communication and call transferring between nodes. The
system further allows simultaneous notification of multiple nodes of an
incoming call. The system includes a local computer that may also serve
as a node in the system. A call may originate with the local computer or
be generated by a remote device that is in communication with the local
computer. The local computer generates a call indicator that is
transmitted to one or more nodes simultaneously. Selection of the nodes
may be based on user intervention or by predefined groupings. Each node
receiving a call indicator is configured to generate a ring message in
response. The ring message is displayed on an output device to alert a
node user to the incoming call. In response to the ring message, a node
user may choose to accept or decline the call. A node user's responses to
the call indicator are transmitted to the local computer. Once the local
computer receives an acceptance from a node, the local computer transmits
call data representative of the call to the accepting node.