Abstract: An exemplary method automatically identifies the location of a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) telephone relative to the structure of a building upon the VOIP telephone making a 911 call. The identity of the VOIP telephone is transmitted to a database accessible by the VOIP system upon a 911 call origination. Records have been previously created and stored in the database that link each VOIP telephone located in or associated with a building to a text based description of an area of the building. A node instructs the database to find the stored record associated with the VOIP telephone. The identity of the VOIP telephone and the text based location information of the location of the VOIP telephone relative to the structure of the building are transmitted to the 911 call center. This enables a 911 call center operator to immediately discern the location of the 911 caller relative to the structure of the building.

Abstract: A remote control device is located in an environment proximate to conditions to be monitored and actions to be implemented. The remote control device is able to receive and transmit wireless text based communications. A user employing a wireless communication device that supports text based messaging can transmit a control message containing a predetermined command to the remote control device. After preferably authenticating the user, the remote control device initiates a predetermined action based on receipt of a corresponding command.

Abstract: One or more X10 gateway components of an apparatus in one example communicate one or more messages between one or more mobile communication devices and one or more module components.

Abstract: An exemplary vehicular apparatus includes a radio frequency receiver adapted for receipt of signals transmitted from intelligent street sins. A computer receives recovered digital data from the receiver, where the digital data represents information contained in the signals received by the receiver. The computer parses the digital data into separate fields and identifies a first field containing a first value that represents a predetermined type of vehicle for which the information contained in the other fields is relevant. The computer compares the first value with a stored value in memory to determine if the information contained in the other fields is relevant to the vehicle and recovers the information contained in the other fields if it is determined that the other fields are relevant to the vehicle.

Abstract: Information is obtained from a database based on a query from a wireless subscriber's device that does not support direct communications with the database. A first e-mail message containing the first query is received at a workstation. Determined from the first e-mail message are the address of the first subscriber, whether the subscriber has a limited bandwidth capability, and the requested information by the subscriber. A response to the requested information is obtained from a database. The response is parsed in accordance with predetermined rules to limit the amount of data contained in a second message if the subscriber has been determined to have a limited bandwidth capability. The second message is transmitted to the first subscriber's address.