Real-Time Charging Account Switching and Balance Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In real-time charging systems, when a dedicated account lacks sufficient funds to cover a complete charging interval, the remaining balance is often unused, leading to inefficient resource utilization and user annoyance, especially in systems with multiple accounts and promotions, causing excessive signalling and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method that selects a first account for charging, calculates its cost, and if insufficient, selects a second account to cover the residual cost, allowing the first account's remaining funds to be used for the next interval, ensuring efficient resource utilization and minimizing unused balances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a dedicated account is selected for charging, then the account is used for the current service session, but the remaining balance may never be used if the account balance is insufficient to cover a complete charging interval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple accounts into a unified charging structure where accounts can be sequentially selected and merged to cover the complete charging interval. When an account's balance is insufficient, the system automatically merges with the next account in sequence, ensuring continuous service and full utilization of all available balances without leaving residual funds unused.
2Reliability
If multiple accounts are checked sequentially, then sufficient funds can be found, but excessive signalling and system resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of account balances and charging interval requirements before initiating the charging process. By pre-determining the total required amount and identifying which accounts can be sequentially selected, the system avoids unnecessary signalling loops and reduces resource consumption while ensuring reliable fund availability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the charging interval is extended to cover more usage, then more services can be provided, but the probability of account balance insufficiency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging interval into smaller sub-intervals that can be independently evaluated against individual account balances. This segmentation allows the system to determine the optimal combination of accounts needed to cover the total charging interval, ensuring both service continuity and reliable fund availability by matching account capacities to specific time segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a computer system to handle switch over between several accounts at account selection in a real time charging system, wherein at a charging rating of a session, a first account is selected from a set of accounts, to be used and rated with its charging interval; the cost of a first charging interval is calculated for the first account; it is determined if the cost for the first charging interval is covered by the balance of the first account; if the cost for the first charging interval is not covered, a second account is selected to be used from the set of accounts; the cost for a next charging interval is determined; it is determined if the cost for the next charging interval minus the residue money left on the first account is covered by the balance of the second account; and if so, continue with the next charging interval, wherein the residue money left on the first account is used before the selected second account is used.