BSS-as-a-Service Platform Merging Support Functions

Solution Overview

Problem

Business support services (BSS) are essential for service providers but are often seen as overhead, increasing costs and requiring separate systems for each service, making them inefficient and costly to deliver, especially in cloud computing environments.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a BSS-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, where a BSS service provider offers modular support services, including profile, offering, customer, process, UI, and revenue services, using a three-tier Web-application architecture and APIs, allowing service providers to manage and integrate BSS functions programmatically and interactively, reducing the need for multiple systems and enhancing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If service providers implement separate BSS systems for each service, then service functionality is complete, but system complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate BSS systems into a single integrated BSS platform that serves multiple service providers. The system combines profile management, offering management, customer management, process management, UI management, and revenue management functions into one unified architecture, eliminating the need for separate systems for each service provider while maintaining complete service functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The BSS platform is designed with universal multi-functionality to serve multiple service providers across different domains (telecommunications, cloud computing, media, etc.). The system provides a common set of BSS functions that can be customized and configured for different service types, making the system adaptable to various service providers without requiring separate implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If service providers implement separate BSS systems for each service, then service functionality is complete, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoidcosts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate BSS systems into a single integrated BSS platform that serves multiple service providers. The system combines profile management, offering management, customer management, process management, UI management, and revenue management functions into one unified architecture, eliminating the need for separate systems for each service provider while maintaining complete service functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The BSS platform is designed with universal multi-functionality to serve multiple service providers across different domains (telecommunications, cloud computing, media, etc.). The system provides a common set of BSS functions that can be customized and configured for different service types, making the system adaptable to various service providers without requiring separate implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional BSS delivery models are used, then service coverage is comprehensive, but efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverageVSAvoiddelivery efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical integration methods with programmatic access through APIs. Service providers can programmatically interact with the BSS platform using application programming interfaces, allowing automated service provisioning, configuration, and management. This substitution of manual/mechanical processes with programmatic automation significantly improves delivery efficiency while maintaining comprehensive service coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The BSS platform acts as an intermediary between service providers and end customers, providing a standardized interface layer that enables efficient service delivery. The platform mediates between diverse service provider requirements and unified service delivery, allowing multiple service providers to access comprehensive BSS functions through a common efficient platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8965801B2Provision of support services as a service

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 EDISON VAULT LLC

AI summary

A method of providing support services as a service is presented. For example, the method includes providing to a service provider one or more service modules operative to provide the support services to the service provider. The one or more service modules are provided by one or more suppliers of the support services and include instruction code operative to be performed on a processor device and one or more application programming interfaces operative for programmatic access to the one or more service module. The service modules may further include one or more user interfaces operative for interactive access to a respective service module. The one or more service modules may include, for example, one or more of a profile service module, an offering service module, a customer service module, a process service module, a user interface service module and a revenue service module.