System and method for providing directions

1. A method for providing directions, comprising:

receiving at a server from at least one fixed wireless communication device information identifying a current location of a portable communication device having short range wireless communication capability, the at least one fixed wireless communication device located within a building;

identifying a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination within the building; and

transmitting the direction of movement to the portable communication device from the server via a fixed wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting is in accordance with one of a Bluetooth specification and an Infrared Data Association (IRDA) specification.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting uses a short-range high-frequency radio signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

defining multiple regions within which a direction of movement of the portable communication device can be detected.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

defining a piconet using multiple transceivers.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable communication device is one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, or a portable computer.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a map database.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a pre-plotted direction database.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing an alternate direction database.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein accessing the alternate direction database is a result of an obstruction.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an identification of a location of one of an emergency event and an obstruction.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the receiving the identification includes receiving a signal from one of a multiple of sensors.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the receiving the identification includes receiving a signal from a network.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tracking the direction of movement of the portable communication device relative to the destination.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

recording tracking information representing the movement of the portable communication device relative to the destination.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining whether a movement of the portable communication device is towards the destination.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein, when the movement is not towards the destination, the method includes providing new directions.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information requesting an alternate route.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining an alternate route for the portable communication device based on a current location.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining an alternate route based upon an intended destination.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving adaptive route calculation information.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

determining the alternate route using the adaptive route calculation information so as to account for an amount of people flow towards the destination.

23. An apparatus for providing directions, comprising:

a memory;

a program stored in the memory;

a processor in communication with the memory, and configured to execute the stored program such that the apparatus:

receives information identifying a current location of a portable communication device having short range wireless communication capability;

identifies a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination; and

transmits the direction of movement to the portable communication device; and

a piconet in communication with the processor, the piconet including multiple transceivers.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the device conforms with one of a Bluetooth specification and an Infrared Data Association (IRDA) specification.

25. An apparatus for providing directions, comprising:

a memory;

a program stored in the memory;

a processor in communication with the memory, and configured to execute the stored program such that the apparatus:

receives information identifying a current location of a portable communication device having short range wireless communication capability;

identifies a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination; and

transmits the direction of movement to the portable communication device; and

a scatternet in communication with the processor.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the portable communication device is one of a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, or a portable computer.

27. A method for providing directions, comprising:

determining a current location of a portable communication device based on presence of the portable communication device within a reception range of a fixed wireless communication transceiver;

receiving information identifying the current location of the portable communication device;

identifying a direction of movement to be communicated to the portable communication device to direct it towards a destination; and

transmitting the direction of movement to the portable communication device;

wherein the fixed wireless communication device is located within a building and the destination is within the building.