Network directory methods and systems for a cellular radiotelephone

A method of storing directory information in a cellular radiotelephone, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a network directory database in a cellular telephone system, said network directory database comprising a plurality of telephone numbers;
• prompting for user input of search criteria;
• accepting user input of said search criteria;
• generating a search request data signal within said cellular radiotelephone in response to said search criteria, said search request data signal including said search criteria;
• sending said search request data signal from said cellular radiotelephone to said cellular radiotelephone system;
• searching said network directory database for a match with said search criteria to identify a subset of said plurality of telephone numbers;
• returning said subset of said plurality of telephone numbers to said cellular radiotelephone;
• and
• storing said subset of said plurality of telephone numbers in said cellular radiotelephone;
• wherein said network directory database further comprises a plurality of search terms, each of said search terms being associated with a respective telephone number, and wherein said step of searching said network directory database comprises the steps of:
• comparing at least a portion of said search request data signal with said search terms;
• choosing a subset of said plurality of search terms which match said portion of said search request data signal;
• and
• identifying a subset of said plurality of telephone numbers associated with said chosen subset of said plurality of search terms.

A cellular radiotelephone system comprising:

• a network directory database comprising a plurality of telephone numbers;
• reception means for receiving a search request data signal from a cellular radiotelephone, said search request data signal including search criteria generated by said cellular radiotelephone in response to prompts for user input followed by user input of said search criteria;
• search means for searching said network directory database for a match with said search criteria to identify a subset of said plurality of said of telephone numbers;
• and
• transmission means for transmitting a return data signal including said subset of telephone numbers to said cellular radiotelephone;
• wherein said network directory database further comprises a plurality of search terms, each of said search terms being associated with a respective telephone number, and wherein said search means further comprises:
• comparison means for comparing said search criteria with said search terms;
• and
• identification means for choosing a subset of said plurality of search terms which match said search criteria and identifying said subset of telephone numbers such that each of said telephone numbers in said subset is associated with said subset of chosen search terms.

A cellular radiotelephone system comprising:

• a network directory database comprising a plurality of telephone numbers;
• reception means for receiving a search request data signal from a cellular radiotelephone, said search request data signal including search criteria generated by said cellular radiotelephone in response to prompts for user input followed by user input of said search criteria;
• search means for searching said network directory database for a match with said search criteria to identify a subset of said plurality of said of telephone numbers;
• and
• transmission means for transmitting a return data signal including said subset of telephone numbers to said cellular radiotelephone;
• wherein said reception means receives a plurality of search request data signals each of which includes an item of search criteria from said cellular radiotelephone which prompts for user input of a plurality of search criteria, which accepts user input of said plurality of said search criteria, which generates each of said separate search request data signals in response to said plurality of items of search criteria, and which sends each of said search request data signals separately.