Method for associating phone books with cellular NAMs

• US 5,675,630 A
• Filed: 03/01/1995
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Beatty, Dana L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/396,976
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/62, 379/355, 379/357, 455/33.1, 455/33.2
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27467 Methods of retrieving data

Abstract

A method of associating features, such as phone number directories, of a mobile communication module with individual NAMs in a communication module having a plurality of NAMs so as to provide accessibility to the directories based on the NAM activated for convenient and efficient access including the steps of establishing and comparing identification codes and further providing the option of changing phone number directories when changing NAMs or receiving the same NAM.

Claims

1. A method for creating and associating phone number directories and speed dial directories programmed into a programmable mobile cellular communication device with an individual number assignment module (NAM) setting defined by the mobile cellular communication device such that when activated the directories are simultaneously available with any activated NAM setting, wherein the mobile cellular communication device is programmed with a plurality of directories for storing phone numbers and a plurality of NAM setting options with one NAM setting being a default NAM and the other NAM setting options being auxiliary NAM options, wherein each NAM setting stores carrier assigned phone numbers under which the mobile communication device is identified and operated, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically activating said default NAM setting defined by the mobile cellular communication device when powering up said device;

(b) individually establishing for each NAM setting at least one default directory from said plurality of directories;

(c) automatically activating said default directory that correlates with said activated default NAM setting as defined such that phone numbers in the at least one default directory are simultaneously accessible for use when operating under said activated default NAM setting;

(d) providing an option to select and activate an auxiliary NAM option from said plurality of NAM setting options so as to operate the device under the auxiliary NAM rather than said default NAM;

(e) selecting one of said auxiliary NAM options for operating the device under the carrier assigned number found stored in said selected auxiliary NAM;

(f) activating said selected auxiliary NAM option;

(g) individually establishing for each NAM setting at least one corresponding directory from said plurality of directories for automatically associating with each said NAM setting; and

(h) activating said at least one corresponding directory in response to activation of a selected auxiliary NAM setting.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

deactivating activated directories when activating said corresponding directory selected.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

comparing said plurality of directories with said activated NAM to find said at least one default directory that is programmed to correlate with said activated NAM.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a display of said auxiliary NAM options from which said auxiliary NAM option is selected.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of:

entering into a program menu of said auxiliary NAM setting options before selecting said auxiliary NAM option; and

entering into a program menu of said plurality of directories after said at least one default directory is activated.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

selecting and activating at least one directory from said plurality of directories so as to associate said activated directory with said activated NAM option.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting and activating at least one directory from said plurality of directories so as to associate said activated directory with said activated NAM option.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

entering into a program menu of said auxiliary NAM setting options before selecting said auxiliary NAM option; and

entering into a program menu of said plurality of directories after said at least one default directory is activated.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(a) providing an operator selectable option to activate another directory corresponding to the activated NAM.

9. A method for automatically associating respective phone number directories retained in the storage of a mobile communication device with one or more corresponding number assignment module (NAM) settings of said device where said device has designation that makes a NAM setting the active NAM setting and designation that makes a directory the active directory that is initially accessed, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) associating each phone directory with one or more corresponding NAM settings for which it is the desired active directory;

(b) establishing the phone directory of the default active NAM setting as the default active phone directory;

(c) detecting any change to the current NAM setting;

(d) designating, in response to a change in the active NAM setting, the active phone directory as inactive; and

(e) designating, in response to a change in the active NAM setting, the phone directory associated with the new active NAM setting as the active phone directory.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising the further step of:

(a) detecting a request to select an alternative directory and

(b) accepting an alternative phone directory selection

(c) designating the selected directory as the active directory.