Central Tracking System for Communication Billing Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Remote consultations between professionals and clients are challenging to track and bill accurately due to the lack of efficient systems for monitoring and invoicing in electronic communication settings.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a central tracking system, subscriber tracking system, and professional tracking system to monitor and bill communications between verified professionals and subscribers, using a telecommunication system to track communication duration, location, and time, and generate corresponding charges based on pre-set billing rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote consultations are conducted via electronic communications, then convenience for both professional and customer is improved, but tracking and billing accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of communicationVSAvoidtracking and billing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a billing system that acts as an intermediary between the communication parties and the billing process. This system intercepts communication signals, extracts relevant data (duration, distance, rate), and automatically generates billing information, thereby maintaining communication convenience while achieving accurate tracking and billing through automated mediation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by providing real-time or post-communication billing information to both the professional and customer. This feedback loop ensures transparency and accuracy in tracking consultations, allowing parties to verify that billing reflects actual communication parameters without disrupting the convenience of electronic communication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If a comprehensive tracking system is implemented to monitor communication parameters, then billing accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The billing system is designed to perform multiple functions within a single integrated platform: intercepting communication signals, calculating duration, determining geographic distance, applying appropriate rates, and generating billing information. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating what could be separate complex subsystems into one universal billing solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs automated self-service mechanisms where the billing infrastructure independently tracks communication parameters, applies billing rules, and generates invoices without requiring manual intervention. This automation reduces operational complexity while maintaining high billing accuracy through consistent automated processing of communication data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2791886B1Communication tracking and billing system
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 AMANA FUTURE LLC
  • EP2791886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2791886B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2791886B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for billing communications between a subscriber and a verified professional comprising a verified professional repository and a central tracking system. The central tracking system is configured to receive a communication request targeting the registered device ID, determine an applied billing rate using a value set by the verified professional, and transmit the applied billing rate to the subscriber. The central tracking system is further configured to track the connection, generate a communication data file comprising the registered device ID, the subscriber ID, the applied billing rate, the communication duration, and the billing signal. The central tracking system is further configured to obtain a billable duration by parsing the communication data file using the billing signal and the communication duration, calculate a communication charge using the applied billing rate and billable duration, and pay the verified professional a portion of the communication charge.