In a
wireless communication network having remote receivers (subscriber units) communicating through base units in a service area, each of the base units servicing a
cell area encompasses one or more identifiable zones which can be occupied by receivers. According to the invention, at least one measure of the spatial size of the
cell is reported to a
receiver communicating with a
base station, for use in location specific applications. The measure can be a size category, an
average diameter or another measure, such as a shape and orientation of the
cell, a boundary apex, and a
boundary line of the cell. The
base station coordinates are conventionally available to the
receiver. By providing a measure of size, the
receiver can resolve its zone or location to a coarse or low level of resolution. The zone occupied by the receiver is at least within the cell and the size of the cell and location of the
base station are now known. According to additional embodiments, the resolved zone known to be occupied by the receiver is refined to an area within the defined cell area. The size of the cell or service area of the location
transmitter can be appended to the identification code of the base
station. Reporting the
cell size and location is sufficient to facilitate some location applications in the receiver, and can reduce or eliminate reliance on
satellite and other positioning systems, particularly if the zone initially defined as the
cell size is resolved further, for example using time-of-arrival,
power level, angular bearing and similar techniques.