A method of estimating a location of a WLAN-enabled user-device in a
WLAN-based positioning system is provided. The WLAN-enabled device
receives signals transmitted by WLAN-enabled access points in range of
the WLAN-enabled user-device so that observed WLAN-enabled access points
identify themselves. The method includes accessing a master database that
associates WLAN-enabled access points with corresponding audited
locations as determined by an audit of a relatively large geographic area
and obtaining location information for any identified WLAN-enabled access
point. The method includes accessing a supplemental database to obtain
inferred location information corresponding to any identified
WLAN-enabled access point. The supplemental database has a relatively
small set of WLAN-enabled access points and corresponding inferred
locations. The inferred locations are inferred based on input by a user
of the WLAN-based positioning system. The method includes estimating a
location of the WLAN-enabled user-device based on the audited location
information and the inferred location information.