Charging Device Selective Offline Logic for Tariff Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing real-time charging technologies fail to accurately manage user transitions between different tariff segments, leading to unexpected service disruptions and inability to meet complex charging policies, as users are often forced to go offline even when their account balance is sufficient during free time segments.
Innovation Solution
Implement a charging method that selectively forces users to go offline based on specific conditions, such as the time interval to the tariff switch point and the current tariff structure, allowing for more nuanced management of service volume allocation and requests, ensuring users are not disconnected unnecessarily during tariff changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the existing real-time charging technology forces a user to go offline when the current available service volume is smaller than the requested service unit, then the service volume management is simplified, but the user service continuity is disrupted during tariff changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the forced offline operation conditional rather than fixed. The charging device dynamically evaluates multiple conditions including time interval to tariff switch point, tariff structure changes, and account balance sufficiency before determining whether to force a user offline. This dynamic decision-making process allows the system to adapt to varying charging policies and tariff structures, resolving the contradiction between simplified management and service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters governing forced offline operations from a simple service volume comparison to a multi-parameter evaluation system. Key parameters include: time interval to tariff switch point, current tariff structure, future tariff structure, and account balance sufficiency. By changing these parameters, the system can distinguish between situations where forcing offline is appropriate versus situations where it would unnecessarily disrupt service during tariff transitions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the charging device always forces users offline when available service volume is insufficient, then the charging policy enforcement is strict, but the user experience deteriorates during free time segments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the forced offline enforcement across different time segments and tariff structures. Instead of uniformly enforcing the service volume limit, the system applies different enforcement strategies based on local conditions: during paid time segments with insufficient balance, forced offline is enforced; during free time segments or when future tariffs will provide sufficient volume, forced offline is avoided. This localized quality approach maintains policy enforcement accuracy while improving user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by evaluating future tariff structures and projected service volume before forcing a user offline. The charging device calculates the time interval to the tariff switch point and determines whether the user's account balance will be sufficient under future tariffs. This preliminary evaluation prevents unnecessary forced offline operations during free time segments, allowing users to maintain service accessibility while still enforcing charging policies when appropriate.
3Reliability
If the charging device evaluates multiple conditions before forcing offline, then the service continuity is maintained, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the forced offline evaluation process into distinct conditional checks. The charging device evaluates conditions in a structured sequence: first checking the time interval to tariff switch point, then evaluating tariff structure changes, and finally assessing account balance sufficiency. This segmented approach organizes the complex processing into manageable stages, maintaining service continuity through thorough evaluation while controlling processing complexity through systematic decomposition.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a charging method, a charging device, a charging system, and an authentication device. The charging method includes: receiving a service volume request that is sent by an authentication device according to an access request from an access device, where the service volume request carries a requested service unit; and when a current available service volume is smaller than the requested service unit and a time interval between current time and a tariff switch point does not exceed a preset time interval, if an exception condition of forced offline is fulfilled, instructing the authentication device to return a granted service unit determined according to the current available service volume to the access device, and instructing, by using the authentication device, the access device to send a service volume request again when the granted service unit is used up. According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, when the available service volume of the user is not enough at the time close to the tariff switch point, the operation of forcing a user to go offline may be performed selectively, depending on the specific situation. Therefore, the operation of forcing a user to go offline can meet requirements of increasingly complicated charging policies of the operator.