The present invention provides for reducing power consumption of a
positioning system having wireless beacons. A wireless transmitter static
beacon is provided, which has a known position, signal strength, and
range. A mobile device is positioned within the range of the static
beacon and its position is determined based on a signal from the static
beacon. Foreign wireless transmitter devices and their locations are
detected. The immobility of the foreign devices is evaluated by
periodically determining their positions and calculating the frequency
with which their positions change, and by determining the devices' types.
A subset of the foreign devices that are immobile are selected and
amalgamated into the positioning system based on device type and
position-changing frequency. The signal strength of the static beacon is
reduced, which in turn reduces the range of the static beacon. The mobile
device is no longer positioned in the static beacon's range, but it is
positioned within the range of the new subset of foreign devices. The
mobile device's position is determined with increased accuracy based on a
signal from the subset of new foreign devices.