Abstract: Apparatus and method for causing custom ID information to be presented at a second communication device upon a communication from a first communication device. For example, a custom caller ID service which enables a caller to present a personal caller ID rather than the caller ID of the phone from which they happen to be calling. The invention has application outside telephony as well, such as, for example, in internet and instant messaging.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a message card having a memory bearing a message for substitution in lieu of, for example, a caller ID value of a phone at which the message card is used. The apparatus and method also have applicability outside the telephony arena, such as, for example, in internet or instant messaging applications.

Abstract: A system for operator training and evaluation may detect and record information about various actions taken by an operator. For example, the system may record what the operator looks at in the course of operating the vehicle to determine whether the operator is looking at the things which the operator should appropriately be checking. In addition the system may provide other information about other aspects of the operator's performance including speed and use of controls and indicators. This information may be correlated and provided in the form of an evaluation. Alternatively, the operator may be prompted in the course of operating the vehicle to correct the operator's performance to improve the operator's skill.

Abstract: An automatic cruise control uses stored information about speeds which the vehicle used at given positions in the past to control the speed of the vehicle at a current position. In this way, the vehicle may be caused to travel at speeds in accordance with past driving history of the user. The speeds may be adjusted or overridden by the user. In addition, where a prior driving history is not available, the system can consult a database of given speeds at given locations and those speeds may be used to control the vehicular speed.

Abstract: Telephone caller identification information may be selectively displayed visually or audibly. The user may also be afforded the opportunity to select the video and audio formats for the caller identity notifications.

Abstract: Available spaces in a system may identified using detectors in each of the spaces. The detectors may communicate the availability of a space after detecting whether or not an item is currently situated at the space. This information may be assembled and displayed using mapping software to indicate available spaces. In addition, a user may be provided with information about how to traverse through the system of spaces to locate the available space. In one embodiment of the present invention, the available spaces are parking spaces and the user is a vehicle operator having an in-car personal computer system. An in-car personal computer systems may have a display showing a map of the parking facility, indicating an available space and providing directions to reach that space.

Abstract: A recorder with a global positioning system receiver may record video frames and/or audio data in association with global positioning system coordinates. In this way, the user may readily determine the location of associated photographs taken digitally and may recreate excursions using a multimedia approach. Using mapping software, the digital images may be associated with map locations as well, so that the user may select given map locations to view associated video. By making the device of a portable size, the user may take the device on excursions and may receive information about various points which are associated on a digital map including both audio and video. At the same time, the user can create multimedia presentations about a variety of locations as the user goes from point to point.