Importance

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Abstract

A location information system (102) includes a controller (200), a location entry device (202), a memory device (204) and wireless communication units (206-209). The controller (200) receives location information from the location entry device (202), such as a keyboard or a global positioning satellite receiver, for storage in the memory device (204). The location information represents locations of predetermined areas (210-213), such as floors, rooms, hallways, stairways and elevators, associated with each of the wireless communication units (206-209) in a facility (110). A wireless communication unit (209) sends the location information to a wireless communication device (104), such as a cellular telephone device, over a short-range wireless communication channel (124), such as a radio frequency communication channel. Preferably, each of the wireless communication units (206-209) and the wireless communication device (104) include a short-range radio frequency transceiver designed to communicate over the short-range wireless communication channel (124) according to a Bluetooth technology specification. Preferably, the location information is used for E911 automatic location identification in the facility (110). The location information may be solicited or unsolicited from the location information system by the wireless communication device (104). When the location information is solicited, the location information is either pulled by the wireless communication device (104) or pushed by the location information system using a location information service.

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First Claim