Using mobile messaging service message(s) as bearer for location related communications during voice call

A method comprising steps of:

• at a messaging service server, receiving from a mobile station, during a mobile communication voice call through a mobile communication network in which simultaneous voice and data communications with the mobile station are not supported, and simultaneous voice communications and mobile messaging service type messages are supported, a mobile messaging service type message including an initial request for location information of the mobile station for utilization by an application program running on the mobile station and information obtained from the air by wireless reception of radio frequency signals by the mobile station, during a voice call of the mobile station through the mobile communication network;
• sending information contained in the mobile messaging service type message to a positioning server;
• at the positioning server, determining the location of the mobile station based in part on at least some of the information received from the mobile station;
• in response to the initial request for location information sent via the mobile messaging service type message for the location information of the mobile station, sending, by the mobile station, identification of the determined location of the mobile station to the messaging service server, for transmission of a responsive mobile messaging service type message to the mobile station;
• and
• sending, to the mobile station, the responsive mobile messaging service type message through the mobile communication network, during the voice call, wherein the responsive mobile messaging service type message includes the identification of the determined location of the mobile station as the requested location information of the mobile station including error radius information for processing during the voice call by the application program running on the mobile station.

A system comprising:

• a mobile communication network in which simultaneous voice and data communications with a mobile station are not supported, and simultaneous voice communications and mobile messaging service type messages are supported;
• a messaging service server for receiving and sending mobile messaging service type messages to and from the mobile station through the mobile communication network, wherein the mobile messaging service type messages are utilized during the voice call as a transport bearer between the mobile station and the mobile communication network for determining location of the mobile station by the positioning server;
• and
• a positioning server for determining location of the mobile station based on information received from the mobile station, via the mobile messaging service type messages;
• and
• wherein during a voice call of the mobile station through the mobile communication network, the mobile station is configured to:
• in response to a query for location information of the mobile station by an application program running on the mobile station executing during the voice call, send an initial request for the location information of the mobile station to the messaging service server as a mobile messaging service type message, the request including information obtained from the air by wireless reception of radio frequency signals by the mobile station;
• receive, from the messaging service server, during the voice call a responsive mobile messaging service type message including information identifying the determined location of the mobile station including error radius information related to the location information;
• and
• in response to the responsive mobile messaging service type message including the requested location information, process the received location information of the mobile station for further execution of the application program.