Location positioning in wireless networks

A system comprising:

• a database containing predicted receive signal strength information for multiple antenna patterns of a wireless network access node;
• measurement logic for measuring receive signal strengths of a signal received using said multiple antenna patterns, said signal being transmitted by a device disposed within one or more of said multiple antenna patterns;
• comparison logic for comparing said measured receive signal strengths to said predicted receive signal strength information and identifying a closest match, wherein said database further contains predicted receive signal strength information for multiple antenna patterns of a second wireless network access node, said measurement logic is further for measuring receive signal strengths of a signal received from said device using said multiple antenna patterns of said second wireless network access node, and said comparison logic is further for comparing said measured receive signal strengths of said second wireless network access node to said predicted receive signal strength information of said second wireless network access node and identifying a closest match;
• and
• location estimation logic for determining an estimated location of said device from an intersection point of arcs projected identified distances from said wireless network access node and said second wireless network access node.

A method for providing information useful in determining a position of a device within a wireless network, said method comprising:

• calculating antenna gain differences between multiple antenna patterns of a wireless network access node;
• determining receive signal strength differences of a signal, said signal received using said multiple antenna patterns, said signal being transmitted by a device disposed within one or more of said multiple antenna patterns;
• comparing said receive signal strength differences to said antenna gain differences and identifying a closest match,
• predicting receive signal strength information for said multiple antenna patterns of said wireless network access node;
• comparing measured receive signal strengths of a signal received from said device using said multiple antenna patterns to said predicted receive signal strength information and identifying a closest match, wherein a database containing said predicted receive signal strength differences further contains predicted receive signal strength differences for multiple antenna patterns of a second wireless network access node;
• measuring receive signal strengths of a signal received from said device using said multiple antenna patterns of said second wireless network access node;
• comparing said measured receive signal strengths of said second wireless network access node to said predicted receive signal strength information of said second wireless network access node and identifying a closest match.

A method for providing information useful in determining a position of a device within a wireless network, said method comprising:

• predicting receive signal strength information for multiple antenna patterns of a wireless network access node;
• comparing measured receive signal strengths to said predicted receive signal strength information and identifying a closest match:
• calculating antenna gain differences between said multiple antenna patterns of said wireless network access node;
• determining receive signal strength differences of a signal received from said device using said multiple antenna patterns;
• comparing said receive signal strength differences to said antenna gain differences and identifying a closest match;
• estimating a position of said device as a function of said closest match of said antenna gain differences;
• and
• separately estimating a position of said device as a function of said closest match of said receive signal strengths, wherein a one of said position estimates is used to confirm the other of said position estimates.