Common Session Identifier for Billing Reconciliation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication networks face inaccuracies and complexity in identifying and reconciling charges across multiple services used during a single user session due to mismatched time periods and session identifiers generated by different systems, leading to potential double-billing and time-consuming billing processes.
Innovation Solution
A common billing identifier is generated and shared across all nodes in the communication network, ensuring that usage and application data records from various services are tracked and billed accurately by correlating charges through a unified identifier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate time periods and session identifiers are generated by each system for user sessions, then each system can independently track its own services, but the time periods cited by each system do not closely align and the identifiers do not match, introducing inaccuracy in identifying all relevant charges for that session
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the session identification function into a single centralized session manager that generates and distributes a common session identifier to all service systems. This consolidation eliminates the problem of multiple disparate identifiers and time periods, allowing all systems to reference the same session through a unified identifier while maintaining independent service tracking capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The session manager serves multiple functions: it generates session identifiers, tracks session time periods, distributes identifiers to all service systems, and reconciles charges across systems. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for each individual system to maintain separate identification and tracking mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while improving charge identification accuracy.
2Productivity
If each system generates separate session identifiers and time periods, then each system can independently provide services, but identifying all data records for a particular user session becomes complex and time-consuming even with a mediation system
Solution Approach 1:
The session manager performs preliminary actions by generating and distributing the common session identifier to all service systems before the user session begins. This advance preparation ensures that all systems are pre-configured with the correct identifier, eliminating the need for complex post-session matching and reconciliation processes that would otherwise consume significant time and resources.
3Reliability
If separate session identifiers are used by each system, then each system can track its services independently, but the billing systems face difficulty in reconciling charges to eliminate potential double-billing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charge reconciliation function into a unified process where the session manager collects charge records from all service systems using the common session identifier. This consolidation allows the billing system to automatically match and reconcile charges across services without requiring complex cross-system correlation logic, thereby improving billing accuracy while reducing reconciliation complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless system receives a registration from a user device and transfers a request for the user device to an authorization server. The authorization server authorizes a user session for the user device and transfers a common identifier for the user session to the wireless system. The wireless system receives the common identifier and transfers a registration for the user device to an application node. The application node receives the registration and transfers a request for the user device to the authorization server. The authorization server authorizes a user application for the user device and transfers the common identifier for the user application to the application node. The wireless communication system tracks the user session and transfers user session data records having the common identifier. The application node tracks the user application and transfers user application data records having the common identifier.