Multiple input data management for wireless location-based applications

A method for use in a wireless network to obtain requested location information regarding a wireless station from any of various location sources and provide the requested location information to a wireless location application, the wireless network being associated with at least a first source of location information and a second source of location information for providing information regarding locations of wireless stations in the network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first location input based on first location information from said first source and a second location input based on second location information provided by said second source wherein, said first location information and said second location information are provided in different formats relating to identification of wireless station locations;
• combining said first location input from said first location finding equipment and said second location input from said second location finding equipment;
• and
• outputting said requested location information to said wireless location application based on said step of combining said first location input and said second location input, wherein said first location finding equipment employs a first location finding technology and said second location finding equipment employs a second location finding technology different than said first location finding technology, said first location finding technology involves a first location finding technology, said first location finding technology involves a first location finding controller for receiving first raw location data from said first location finding equipment and aggregating said first raw data to provide said first location input and said second location finding technology involves a second location finding controller for receiving second raw location data information from said second location finding equipment and aggregating said second raw data to provide said second location input, and said step of combining comprises obtaining said first raw data from said first location finding equipment, obtaining said second raw data from said first location finding equipment, obtaining said second raw data from said second location finding equipment, and said step of combining comprises using one of said first raw data and said second raw data to obtain derived location information.

A method for use in a wireless network to obtain requested location information regarding a wireless station and provide the requested location information to a wireless location application, the wireless network being associated with location finding equipment for providing information regarding locations of wireless stations in a network service area, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of device dependent location inputs provided by said location finding equipment, each of said device dependent inputs having one of a data structure and a data content dependent on a type of the location finding equipment;
• receiving a device independent location request from said wireless location application, the device independent location request being in accordance with a standard protocol defining requested location information independent of any particular type of location finding equipment,
• storing data in memory based on said plurality of device dependent location inputs;
• obtaining said requested location information by performing a query of said data based on said device dependent location inputs and selectively retrieving data from said memory based on said device independent location request;
• and
• outputting said requested device independent location information to said wireless location application, wherein wireless location equipment independent information is provided to wireless location applications based on wireless location equipment dependent inputs such that said application can operate free from restriction to a particular type of the location finding equipment.