# US 7,613,471 B2 · Method of providing SMS callback > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,471 B2 - Document ID: US7613471B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/576,220 - Filed: 2004-10-13 - Published: 2007-03-29 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-14 - Assignees: Redtone Technology Sdn Bhd - Inventors: Eng Sia Lee; Heng Ho Peter Yeow; Jin Feei Loh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613471B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/16: Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold - H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of connecting two or more phone lines in a cross-country connection through a rented device. The device may be a mobile phone or a SIM card. An SMS message is sent from the rented device to a service provider bearing the identification of the phone lines to be connected. The SMS is received by a gateway of the service provider, and the gateway subsequently places calls to the phone lines in the SMS and connects the phone lines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A telecommunications system comprising: a messaging-enabled communications device configured for a roaming-free connection to a mobile telephone services provider; a distributor, the distributor providing the communications device to a user; and a gateway, the gateway being for placing a telephone call to a destination telephone having a telephone number indicated by a message received from the communications device and also for placing a telephone call to the user though the service provider to patch the user to the destination telephone without incurring roaming charges; wherein the communication device is registered with the gateway before it is provided to the user and wherein the communication device activates a fake ring-tone when the message is being received by the gateway so that the user is made to feel that the destination telephone is being dialed in a conventional way; and wherein the communication device activates the fake ring-tone during a sequence in which the gateway hangs up on the communication device, calls back the communication device and then places the call to the destination telephone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the message is an SMS. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the message is an MMS. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein mobile communications device is a SIM card. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the user receives the telephone call at the mobile communications device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the user receives the telephone call at a telephone having a telephone number indicated by the message. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by renting it to the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by selling it to the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the distributor is a retail outlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the distributor provides a selection of mobile communications devices configured for roaming-free connections to different mobile telephone services providers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a database containing user identification information and billing information of the user; an identification system for obtaining the user identification information from the message; a data processing system for matching the user identification information obtained from the message with the user identification information in the database to identify the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the user identification information and billing information of the user is entered into the database based on information obtained upon the user registering with the distributor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the user may enable a diversion of calls from another communication device to the gateway, whereby the calls may be connected to the messaging-enabled communications device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the distributor is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway is arranged, upon receiving a first phone call from the communication device, to place a second phone call to the device and thereby initiate the sending of the message as part of the second phone call. ### Claim 18 A telecommunications method comprising the steps of: providing a messaging-enabled communications device configured for a roaming-free connection to a telephone services provider; providing a distributor, the distributor providing the mobile communications device to a user; providing a gateway, the gateway placing a telephone call through the gateway to a destination telephone having a telephone number indicated by a message received from the communications device and also placing a telephone call through the telephone services provider to the user to patch the customer to the destination telephone without incurring roaming charges; wherein the messaging-enabled communication device is registered with the gateway before it is provided to the user; and activating a fake ring-tone in the messaging-enabled communication device when the gateway is receiving the message so that the user is made to feel that the destination telephone is being dialed in a conventional way; and wherein the messaging-enabled communication device activates the fake ring-tone during a sequence in which the gateway hangs up on the messaging-enabled communication device, calls back the messaging-enabled communication device and then places the call to the destination telephone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the message is an SMS. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the message is an MMS. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is a SIM card. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the user receives the telephone call at the mobile communications device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the user receives the telephone call at a telephone having a telephone number indicated by the message. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by renting it to the user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by selling it to the user. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the distributor is a retail outlet. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the distributor provides a selection of mobile communications devices configured for roaming-free connections to different mobile telephone services providers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: a database containing user identification information and billing information of the user; an identification system for obtaining the user identification information from the message; a data processing system for matching the user identification information obtained from the message with the user identification information in the database to identify the user. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the user identification information and billing information of the user is entered into the database based on information obtained upon the user registering with the distributor. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the distributor is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider. ### Claim 32 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the gateway is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider. ### Claim 33 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the user may enable a diversion of calls from another communication device to the gateway, whereby the calls may be connected to the messaging-enabled communications device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of the gateway receiving a first phone call from the communication device; the gateway hanging up the phone call; and the gateway placing a second phone call to the device, thereby initiating the sending of the message as part of the second phone call. ### Claim 35 A messaging-enabled enabled phone arranged to generate a menu of options, the menu comprising destination telephone numbers; wherein selection of one or more of the destination numbers causing the phone to generate a message to a service provider of SMS Callback; the message containing indications of the at least one of the destination numbers; the message causing the service provider to place call(s) to the at least one destination number and also to place a call to the sender of the message, and patching the calls when they are connected; the messaging-enabled phone is registered with a gateway before it is provided to a user; and wherein the phone activates a fake ring-tone when the message is being received by the gateway so that the user is made to feel that the destination telephone is being dialed in a conventional way; and wherein the messaging-enabled phone activates the fake ring-tone during a sequence in which the gateway hangs up on messaging-enabled phone, calls back the messaging-enabled phone and then places the call to the destination telephone. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, which is called up by a button in the messaging-enabled phone. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, wherein the message is SMS. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, wherein the message is MMS. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, wherein the message masks the gateway of the service provider.