Cost-Aware Operating System for Mobile Network Charge Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices face challenges due to evolving charging policies for data usage, leading to unexpected charges and degraded user experience from increased network bandwidth consumption by powerful applications, especially when users exceed data caps or experience throttling.
Innovation Solution
A cost-aware operating system provides current network usage information to applications, allowing them to determine the impact of operations on charges and selectively execute or modify operations based on cost and importance, using information from mobile network operators or monitoring components to enforce data usage policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If applications consume more network bandwidth to provide more powerful and diverse functions, then application functionality and user experience are improved, but network usage charges and cost to the user increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts application behavior based on real-time network cost conditions. The operating system monitors current network charging policies and usage status, then dynamically modifies application operations to either execute, defer, or throttle based on cost implications, allowing the system to adapt between full functionality and cost-saving modes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cost analysis before executing network operations. By evaluating the cost impact of potential operations in advance and comparing them against user-defined thresholds, the system determines whether to proceed with operations or defer them to lower-cost periods, preventing unnecessary charge accumulation
2Loss of energy
If metered network charging policies are implemented to control data usage costs, then network operator revenue control is improved, but user experience degrades due to unexpected charges and throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the operating system monitors network usage, charges incurred, and remaining data caps in real-time. This feedback is communicated to applications, enabling them to adjust their behavior proactively before exceeding thresholds, thus maintaining smooth user experience while controlling costs
Solution Approach 2:
The operating system acts as an intermediary between network operators and applications. It translates complex metered charging policies into simple cost indicators that applications can understand and act upon, shielding users from the complexity of charge management while maintaining control over network spending
3Loss of energy
If applications autonomously manage network operations based on cost information, then network cost efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The operating system implements a universal cost-awareness mechanism that can be applied across all applications through standardized interfaces. Rather than requiring individual customization for each application, the system provides general cost information and decision-making frameworks that work across diverse application types, reducing integration complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile computing device that supports cost-aware application components for operation over a metered network. A current basis for computing usage charges over one or more networks may be made available to the cost-aware application components through an application programming interface supported by an operating system service. That service may receive a policy for charging for data usage over a network and may also obtain information defining data usage for the mobile computing device. Based on this information, the service may determine a current basis for charging for data usage. With this information, the application component can determine a manner for executing network operations that involve data transmission over the network, such as deferring the operation or selecting an alternative network.