Method of providing SMS callback

• US 7,613,471 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Redtone Technology Sdn Bhd (REDtone Digital Bhd.)
• Original Assignee: Redtone Technology Sdn Bhd (REDtone Digital Bhd.)
• Inventors: Yeow, Heng Ho Peter, Lee, Eng Sia, Loh, Jin Feei
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Batista; Marcos
• Application Number:
  US10/576,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20070072630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/95
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

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

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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is an SMS.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is an MMS.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein mobile communications device is a SIM card.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user receives the telephone call at the mobile communications device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user receives the telephone call at a telephone having a telephone number indicated by the message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by renting it to the user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by selling it to the user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributor is a retail outlet.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributor is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider.

17. 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.

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.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the message is an SMS.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the message is an MMS.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is a SIM card.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the user receives the telephone call at the mobile communications device.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the user receives the telephone call at a telephone having a telephone number indicated by the message.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by renting it to the user.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile communications device is provided to the user by selling it to the user.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the distributor is a retail outlet.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the distributor is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the gateway is located outside the service area of the mobile telephone services provider.

33. 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.

34. 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.

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.

36. A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, which is called up by a button in the messaging-enabled phone.

37. A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, wherein the message is SMS.

38. A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, wherein the message is MMS.

39. A messaging-enabled enabled phone as claimed in claim 35, wherein the message masks the gateway of the service provider.