Billing Routing System for Real-Time Data Service Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing billing systems for mobile communication networks face challenges in real-time billing for prepaid subscribers, lack of standardization in SMS charging, inability to handle advanced message types like MMS, and inefficiencies in revenue collection due to outdated architectures designed primarily for voice traffic.

Innovation Solution

A billing routing system that receives service detail records, calculates tariffs based on specific data transactions, and routes them to appropriate billing destinations, enabling real-time charging and supporting both prepaid and post-paid subscribers with advanced billing options for various data services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing billing systems are used for data services, then voice traffic billing is maintained, but real-time billing capability for data services is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time billing capabilityVSAvoidbilling accuracy for data services

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The billing system is segmented into separate functional modules: a rating module for calculating data service charges, a routing module for directing bills to appropriate destinations, and existing voice billing systems. This segmentation allows real-time data billing without disrupting voice billing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A billing routing system acts as an intermediary between data switching centers and billing systems. It receives service detail records, calculates tariffs, and routes them to appropriate billing destinations, enabling real-time billing while maintaining system stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If voice-based network architecture is used, then infrastructure simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to data services is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for data servicesVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The billing routing system provides multi-functionality by handling both voice and data service billing through a unified architecture. It can process different service types (SMS, MMS, WAP) and billing methods (prepaid, post-paid) using the same core infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to different service types and billing methods through configurable rating parameters and routing criteria. The rating module can be programmed with different tariff structures for various data services without changing the core architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If standardized voice billing is used, then billing process simplicity is maintained, but billing precision for data services is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling rate accuracyVSAvoidbilling system operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rating module applies different billing rates and tariff structures tailored to specific data service types, subscriber classes, and network conditions. Each data service can have customized billing parameters while using the same overall billing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes billing parameters dynamically based on service type, time of day, subscriber class, and network conditions. The rating module can be configured with different tariff tables and pricing parameters for various scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If prepaid billing is implemented, then subscriber control is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubscriber account managementVSAvoidbilling system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system checks subscriber account balances and applies billing rules in advance of actual data transmission. For prepaid subscribers, the system verifies sufficient credit before allowing service, and for post-paid subscribers, it accumulates charges for later billing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The billing routing system provides feedback to data switching centers about billing status and account conditions. This enables real-time account management and dynamic service control based on subscriber financial status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8447268B2System for billing rating and selection of accounts

Publication Date: 2013.05.21 ACISION IPR NEDERLAND

AI summary

A method and system adapted for use in a mobile telecommunication network is described. The invention describes a rating and routing system which is adapted to enable an efficient rating and routing of data transactions being transmitted through a network. Based on a comparison of identifiers associatable with a subscriber to the network, with a set of parameters defined for data transactions, the system of the present invention is adapted to enable an accurate assessment and allocation of the correct rating tariff value to a specific transaction and the routing of that rated value to an appropriate destination defined for the user.