Method and apparatus for providing location information

A method for responding to a location request comprising the steps of:

• determining a source of the location request;
• determining a location;
• determining a plurality of location descriptions corresponding to the location, the location descriptions having varying levels of geographic resolution;
• selecting a location description from the plurality of location descriptions based on the location;
• selecting a source location of the source of the location request;
• selecting a limitation of a stored database;
• and
• providing the location description to the source of the location request.

A method for responding to a location request comprising the steps of:

• determining a source of the location request;
• determining a location;
• determining a plurality of location descriptions corresponding to the location, the location descriptions having varying levels of geographic resolution;
• determining at least one of the location descriptions from the plurality of location descriptions based on politically-defined geographic descriptions;
• determining a second location description of the location descriptions based on a user-supplied definition, the second location description corresponding to a second location;
• defining the second location as one of an area within a polygon and an area within a defined vicinity of a polygon;
• selecting a location description based on the source of the location request;
• and
• providing the location description to the source of the location request.

A method for responding to a location request comprising the steps of:

• determining a source of the location request;
• determining a location;
• determining a plurality of location descriptions corresponding to the location, the location descriptions having varying levels of geographic resolution;
• selecting a location description from the plurality of location descriptions based on the source of the location request;
• providing the location description to the source of the location request;
• receiving from the source of the location request an override request;
• obtaining a user election regarding the override request;
• and
• when the user election indicates acceptance of the override request, providing a different location description at a different level of geographic resolution to the source of the location request.

A method for responding to a location request comprising the steps of:

• determining a source of the location request;
• determining a location;
• determining a plurality of location descriptions corresponding to the location, the location descriptions having varying levels of geographic resolution;
• selecting a location description from the plurality of location descriptions based on the source of the location request by;
• obtaining a user election regarding overriding a nominal location description;
• and
• when the user election indicates an intent of overriding the nominal location description, providing a different location description at a different level of geographic resolution to the source of the location request;
• providing the location description to the source of the location request;
• and
• establishing a connection with the source of the location request, the connection initiated by a user at the location,
• wherein the step of determining the source of the location request further comprises the step of:
• determining the source of the location request based on the connection.

A method for responding to a location request comprising the steps of:

• determining a location;
• determining a plurality of location descriptions corresponding to the location, the location descriptions having varying levels of geographic resolution;
• and
• selecting a location description based on a context, the context including a source of the location request, a source location of the source of the location request, and a time of the location request.

An apparatus for responding to a location request the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive the location request from a source of location request;
• a location determining device configured to determine a location of the apparatus;
• a data base configured to store location descriptions;
• a processor operatively coupled to the receiver, the location determining device, and the data base, the processor configured to select an appropriate location description from among the location descriptions, the appropriate location description corresponding to the location and selected based on the source of the location request;
• and
• a transmitter operatively,coupled to the processor to transmit the appropriate location description to the source of the location request;
• wherein the receiver receives a source location of the source and the processor selects the appropriate location description based on the source location of the source.

A system for selectively providing location descriptions, the system comprising:

• a source, the source generating a location request;
• and
• a mobile device operatively communicating with the source to receive the location request, to determine a location of the mobile device, to select a location description from among a plurality of location descriptions, and to provide the location description to the source;
• wherein the location description is selected based on a source location at which the source is located.