Broadcast Replenishment of Wireless Device Account Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for replenishing account usage parameters in prepaid wireless devices require individualized messages for each device, leading to significant burdens on service providers and network congestion when updating a large number of devices simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for broadcast replenishment of account parameters using a provisioning server that generates an encrypted update message, which is broadcast only to select groups of wireless devices with the necessary decryption key, reducing the need for individual messages and minimizing network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individualized replenishment messages are sent to each wireless device, then account parameters can be updated accurately for each device, but network traffic and congestion increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual replenishment messages are merged into a single broadcast message that contains encrypted account parameter updates. The provisioning server generates one consolidated message that can be received by multiple wireless devices simultaneously, thereby reducing network traffic while maintaining the ability to update each device's account parameters accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
An encryption key acts as an intermediary mechanism to enable selective delivery of update information. The broadcast message includes encrypted account parameter data that can only be decrypted by wireless devices possessing the corresponding decryption key, ensuring that only intended recipients can access and apply the updates despite the message being broadcast to multiple devices.
2Reliability
If individualized replenishment messages are generated for each device, then each device receives precise account updates, but the operational burden on service providers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning server consolidates the generation of multiple individualized replenishment messages into a single broadcast message generation process. Instead of creating, managing, and tracking separate messages for each wireless device, the system generates one unified encrypted message that achieves the same accounting update function across multiple devices, thereby reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The encrypted account parameter update in the broadcast message serves as a template that is effectively copied and applied by each receiving wireless device. Each device uses its decryption key to process the same encrypted message and apply the appropriate account parameter updates to its own internal account, eliminating the need for the service provider to manually create unique messages for each device.
3Quantity of substance
If broadcast messages are sent to all wireless devices, then network traffic is reduced, but unintended devices may receive and apply incorrect updates
Solution Approach 1:
An encryption key serves as an intermediary that enables selective access to the broadcast message contents. The provisioning server broadcasts encrypted account parameter updates to multiple wireless devices, but only devices possessing the corresponding decryption key can successfully decrypt and apply the updates. This mechanism maintains selectivity and reliability while utilizing the efficiency of broadcast transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
Each wireless device has a unique local quality in the form of a specific decryption key that determines its ability to process the broadcast message. The encryption scheme ensures that the same broadcast message has different effectiveness for different devices based on whether they possess the matching decryption key, thereby achieving selective delivery without requiring individualized message transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for the broadcast replenishment of account parameters for select groups of wireless devices, where select groups of wireless devices have their internally-stored account parameters (e.g., prepaid amount of usage authorization) simultaneously updated as a group by a single broadcast message, such as an encrypted SMS message. An account update message is generated based on the account parameters to be updated and encrypted using an encryption key uniquely associated with the select group of wireless devices. The encrypted account update message is broadcast for receipt by the select group of wireless devices, such only those wireless devices previously provided with a key for decryption can receive and decrypt the broadcast account update message. The wireless devices use information and/or instructions in the broadcast message in order to update their internally stored account parameters accordingly.