Patent ID: 8571571

Claim:
A system comprising: a fixed base unit having a base unit processor and a user interface, where the fixed base unit includes a plurality of base unit components cooperating with the base unit processor to execute a set of stand-alone functions, the stand-alone functions being at least one of infotainment functions or telematics functions; a portable communication device having a portable communication device processor and a user interface, where the portable communication device further includes one or more portable communications device (“PCD”) components cooperating with the portable communication device processor to execute at least one stand-alone function, the at least one stand-alone function being at least one of an infotainment function or a telematics function; an intelligent communication link, the fixed base unit in communication with the portable communication device via the intelligent communication link; and a shared component configured to receive data and receive commands from the fixed base unit and the portable communication device, the shared component further configured to process the received data based on the received commands and transmit results to at least one of the fixed base unit or the portable communication device, where the shared component is one of the base unit components or one of the one or more PCD components, and where the shared component extends at least one of the at least one stand-alone function of the portable communication device or at least one of the stand-alone functions of the fixed base unit.