Context-Oriented Billing for M2M Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing M2M billing systems lack the ability to provide accurate and context-oriented billing, failing to effectively integrate network and third-party usage charges into a single customer invoice, leading to complexity and inefficiency in billing processes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for M2M networks that utilizes a correlator, classifier, and ranking engine to categorize and prioritize billable events, generating categorized invoices that minimize customer feedback and enhance clarity, by correlating data from network elements with detailed network data to create metadata reflecting network activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional M2M billing systems are used, then billing processes are simple to implement, but billing accuracy and context-oriented capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the billing system into distinct functional modules: a correlator module that matches network events with billing events, a classifier module that categorizes billable events by context, and a ranking engine that prioritizes events. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific tasks, improving billing accuracy through focused processing while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components including an event database that stores and correlates network events with billing events, and a context database that maintains service context information. These intermediaries act as buffers and processors between raw network data and final billing outputs, enhancing billing precision by ensuring accurate event matching and context integration without directly complicating the core billing logic.
2Ease of operation
If network and third-party usage charges are integrated into a single invoice, then customer convenience is improved, but billing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges network service charges and third-party service charges into a single unified invoice generated by the billing system. The correlator and classifier modules work together to aggregate events from multiple service providers and network elements, consolidating them into one customer-facing document. This merging improves customer convenience by providing a single point of reference for all charges while the modular architecture manages the underlying complexity.
3Loss of information
If event-based invoicing is implemented, then billing clarity and customer experience are enhanced, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-classifying and pre-ranking billable events before invoice generation. The classifier module categorizes events by context (network services, third-party services, device usage) in advance, and the ranking engine prioritizes them based on billing relevance. This preliminary processing organizes data structureally before invoicing, enhancing billing clarity through contextual categorization while managing data processing complexity through systematic classification rules.
4Measurement precision
If contextual classification of billable events is performed, then billing accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by classifying billable events according to their specific contextual characteristics rather than using a uniform processing approach. The classifier module identifies and categorizes events based on local context factors such as service type, device usage patterns, and network conditions. This contextual classification improves billing accuracy by treating different event types according to their specific requirements while the ranking engine optimizes processing efficiency by prioritizing high-impact events.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed toward networks and more particularly to a method and system for providing information related to context-oriented billing in such networks. In one more embodiments, a computer implemented method provides for billing invoices in response to one or more of a customer's network elements which have been correlated with detailed network data, classified into one or more billing event categories, and rated in accordance with a predetermined hierarchy.