In a wireless communication network, base station antenna positions and
time offsets are stored in a base station almanac data base along with
other information used for obtaining the most reliable mobile station
position fixes under a variety of conditions. The system uses the
position fixes of mobile stations and terrestrial ranging information to
determine base station antenna positions and base station timing offsets.
The base station antenna positions are determined during normal mobile
station position determinations, in order to maintain and improve the
antenna location data, and to correct for change or relocation of the
base station antennas. It is possible to recover quickly from a loss of
cell sector identity during relocation of a base station antenna, and to
ensure accuracy of mobile station position determination based on ranging
from the base stations, and rapid acquisition of position data from
mobile stations having global satellite receivers.