Method and apparatus for extending a telephone's capabilities

• US 6,862,347 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Jreij, Elie A., Umstetter, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAROLD, JEFFEREY F
• Application Number:
  US09/239,414
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.17, 379/88.21, 379/387, 379/93.23, 379/93.11, 379/110.01, 379/90.01, 379/357.01, 379/356.01, 379/386
• US Class Current: 379/93.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading

Abstract

An application programming interface (API) enables a telephone to utilize the hardware resources of a computer that is connected to the telephone in a master/slave relationship that causes the computer to function in the manner of a peripheral to the telephone. Specifically, the telephone attached to the computer can utilize the relatively large memory capacity of the attached computer to store excess telephone-specific data and can utilize the relatively high sophistication of the processing capability of the connected computer to perform intensive data processing operations. The API allows the functionality of the telephone to be extended without requiring a telephony-equipped computer.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The method of claim 1 further including a step of establishing a direct data connection between said telephone and said computer, said telephone and said computer being structurally separate components.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said telephone and said computer are located within a common workspace, said step of establishing said direct data connection being independent of providing connectivity for receiving said first call-related data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining includes steps of:

monitoring storage availability within said telephone memory;

comparing said monitored storage availability to a storage threshold that is related to said telephone memory; and

storing said first call-related data in said computer memory when said storage threshold related to said telephone memory is exceeded.

5. The method of claim 4 further including a step of retrieving call-related data from said computer to said telephone in response to signals from said telephone.

6. The method of claim 1 further including a step of utilizing a processor of said computer to process at least a portion of said first call-related data in response to instructions from said telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 further including a step of establishing a data connection between said telephone and said computer by connecting said telephone separately to a telephone network and to said computer.

8. A method of extending the capability of a telephone comprising the steps of:

enabling a first processor resident in a telephone to process data received at said telephone;

enabling a second processor resident in a computer to process data received at said telephone;

establishing a direct data connection between said telephone and said computer, wherein said telephone and said computer are structurally separate components located within a common workspace and wherein said telephone is configured to perform telephone functions independently of said computer;

receiving call-related data at said telephone;

recognizing that said call-related data requires further processing and that both said first processor and said second processor are currently available to execute said further processing;

determining, using automated processing capabilities of said telephone, whether said call-related data will be processed in said first processor or said second processor, including basing said determination upon automated processing performed by said telephone and upon current capabilities of said telephone and said computer other than storage capabilities; and

processing said call-related data in either said telephone or said computer based upon said determination made using said automated processing capabilities.

9. The method of claim 8 further including steps of:

enabling said telephone to store data received at said telephone in memory located within said telephone;

enabling said computer to store data received at said telephone in memory located within said computer;

recognizing that said received call-related data is to be stored in memory;

determining, within said telephone, whether said call-related data will be stored in said telephone memory or said computer memory, said step of determining whether said call-related data will be stored in said telephone memory or said computer memory being unrelated to said step of determining whether said call-related data will be processed in said first processor or said second processor; and

storing said call-related data in said telephone memory or said computer memory based upon said determination.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said steps of determining are performed by an application programming interface residing within said telephone.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said steps of receiving, recognizing, determining and processing all occur during a single telephone call in which said call-related data is received.