Shared Balance Account Segmentation for Concurrent Charging Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing Online Charging System (OCS) limits concurrent access to a balance account by processing only one request at a time, leading to increased wait times for multiple concurrent service requests, which restricts scalability and real-time control of balance account updates.

Innovation Solution

The method involves splitting the balance account into sub-balances and redirecting multiple requests to these sub-balances for concurrent processing, allowing parallel updates and improved resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the balance account is updated by only one service request at a time, then the balance account integrity is maintained, but the wait time for concurrent requests increases linearly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance account integrityVSAvoidwait time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single balance account into multiple sub-balances (first balance, second balance, third balance, etc.), allowing concurrent requests to update different sub-balances simultaneously. This segmentation enables parallel processing while maintaining overall account integrity through controlled distribution of update operations across multiple balanced segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple service requests are processed concurrently for balance account updates, then the processing speed increases, but the balance account cannot be updated in parallel causing queue buildup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverequest processing speedVSAvoidbalance account update mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balance account is segmented into multiple independent sub-balances that can be updated in parallel. The system distributes concurrent requests to different sub-balances, enabling simultaneous processing without queue buildup, while the overall mechanism remains relatively simple through direct mapping of requests to sub-balances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of concurrent service requests increases, then the system capacity should increase, but the wait time increases linearly based on the number of requests

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidwait time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the balance account into multiple sub-balances, the system can handle increased numbers of concurrent requests without linear wait time increases. Requests are distributed across multiple sub-balances, enabling the system to scale capacity while maintaining constant or reduced wait times as more requests arrive concurrently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250385972A1Concurrent access of shared balance account in charging systems

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for control of balance account access to a balance account, the method being performed by a network node in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving requests for accessing the balance account. The method includes determining whether there are a plurality of requests for accessing the balance account. Upon determination that there are a plurality of requests for access of the balance account, the method includes deciding to split the balance account into one or more sub-balances. The method includes redirecting the plurality of requests to access the one or more sub-balances. Corresponding network node, online charging system, OCS, and computer program products are also disclosed.