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.