Patent ID: 6862347

Claim:
A method for extending capability of a telephone comprising steps of: enabling a telephone to store call-related data in memory located within said telephone; enabling a computer to alternatively store said call-related data in memory located within said computer; receiving first call-related data at said telephone; recognizing that said first call-related data is to be stored in memory; determining, within said telephone, whether said first call-related data will be stored in said telephone memory or said computer memory; storing said first call-related data in said telephone memory or said computer memory based upon said determination; enabling a first processor located within said telephone to process data received at said telephone; enabling a second processor located within said computer to process data received at said telephone; recognizing that said first call-related data received at said telephone is to be processed in order to provide a particular telephone function for continued handling of at least one current call; and determining, within said telephone, whether said first call-related data will be processed during said at least one current call by said first processor or said second processor, including at least partially basing said determining upon whether said telephone has the processing capability to provide said particular telephone function, said telephone thereby controlling said first call-related data with respect to which of two structurally separate components will perform processing thereon, said step of determining whether said first call-related data will be processed by said first processor or said second processor being unrelated to said step of storing said first call-related data; wherein said telephone is enabled to perform telephone functions independently of said computer, but is reliant upon cooperation with said computer in performing said particular telephone function.