Patent ID: 8849306

Claim:
A method comprising: a positioning system receiving from a mobile station a request to determine a location of the mobile station and an identification of a first base station, the first base station comprising a base station with which the mobile station is registered, and the first base station broadcasting a first pilot signal comprising a first pilot signal strength; after receiving the request to determine the location of the mobile station, the positioning system querying an almanac to obtain a geographic location associated with the identification of the first base station; the positioning system determining that the almanac does not include the geographic location associated with the identification of the first base station; and after determining that the almanac does not include the geographic location associated with the identification of the first base station, the positioning system transmitting a message to the mobile station directing the mobile station to obtain an identification of a second base station, the second base station comprising a base station with which the mobile station is not currently registered, and the second base station broadcasting a second pilot signal comprising a second pilot signal strength, wherein the second pilot signal strength is weaker than the first pilot signal strength.