Access Gateway Record Suppression for Flat Rate Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunication companies face inefficiencies in generating and processing accounting records for subscribers on flat rate billing plans, as existing systems continue to create and store records for services that do not require detailed usage tracking.
Innovation Solution
An access gateway receives an authentication response with a suppress record attribute from an authentication server, which disables the accounting record function, preventing the generation and transmission of accounting records for subscribers on flat rate plans, thereby reducing the burden on storage and processing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accounting records are generated for all subscribers, then billing accuracy is maintained, but storage and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the accounting record generation process based on subscriber type. Flat-rate subscribers receive suppressed accounting records while metered subscribers receive full accounting records. This selective approach maintains billing accuracy for those who need it while reducing the overall quantity of records generated, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and quantity.
2Loss of information
If accounting records are generated for all subscribers, then usage tracking is complete, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by applying different processing rules to different subscriber categories. Accounting records are processed completely for metered subscribers who require usage tracking, while flat-rate subscribers have their records suppressed. This differentiation maintains information completeness for those who need it while significantly reducing overall processing time.
3Quantity of substance
If accounting record function is disabled, then storage costs are reduced, but billing capability is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through local quality by selectively disabling the accounting record function only for flat-rate subscribers while keeping it enabled for metered subscribers. The authentication server provides specific instructions to the access gateway to suppress records only for flat-rate accounts, ensuring that billing capability is maintained for those who require detailed tracking while reducing storage requirements for those who do not.
4Productivity
If accounting records are generated for flat rate subscribers, then consistent billing process is maintained, but resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by eliminating the generation and storage of unnecessary accounting records for flat-rate subscribers. Instead of generating records that will not be used for billing purposes, the system discards this redundant processing step entirely for flat-rate accounts, thereby improving productivity while reducing the loss of processing resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. An access gateway sends an authentication request to an authentication server. The access gateway receives an authentication response from the authentication server that includes a suppress record attribute. In response to the suppress record attribute, the access gateway disables an accounting record function. A communication system is disclosed. An access gateway sends an authentication request to an authentication server. The authentication server provides an authentication response that includes a suppress record attribute. The access gateway disables an accounting record function in response to the suppress record attribute.