Method for associating phone books with cellular NAMs

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated method for correlating select phone books and speed dial features of a cellular phone or other portable cellular communication device with individual NAM settings, i.
e.
modules used to store cellular phone number assignments, at the option of the user when the user switches between the NAMs.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method which allows a user of a portable communication device to automatically switch between NAMs without forfeiting the device's features such as speed dial numbers and phone books.
In light of these and other objects, the instant invention provides a method which allows a cellular phone user, or software driven cellular phone user to automatically change NAM settings, i.
e.
phone number assignments, without forfeiting the relative usefulness of the phone's features, such as speed dial numbers and phone books.
That is, the instant invention provides dynamic phone books and speed dial numbers, whereby the user can freely associate auxiliary phone book and speed dial settings with any activated NAM.
The present invention is intended for use and implementation with mobile cellular communication devices having more than one number assignment module (NAM) for storing a corresponding number of cellular phone number identifiers.
Multiple NAMs allow a user to benefit from "home" service rather than paying "roaming" charges.
Thus, when a user changes calling areas they can switch to the NAM that corresponds with that location's local calling area.
At the same time, the user, unlike in the past, may connect or associate new or pre-configured phone books and speed dial numbers with any activated NAM and switch between phone books and/or other speed dial numbers when changing the NAM setting.
The user while active in any NAM setting may also create new phone books or edit existing phone books and speed dial directories so that the numbers in a particular phone book correspond with local numbers pertinent to an individual NAM entry