CTF Shutdown Notice for Complete CDRs in Charging Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

The disruption of Charge Collection Function (CCF) systems during maintenance or upgrades leads to incomplete Charging Data Records (CDRs) on both primary and secondary systems, resulting in costly and often unsuccessful efforts to match these records, which can result in lost revenue due to incomplete chargeable sessions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a shutdown notice mechanism that directs the Charge Trigger Function (CTF) system to deliver an ACR Stop message and additional charging events to the secondary CCF system before the primary CCF system shuts down, ensuring complete sets of ACR messages are generated on either system, thus preventing incomplete CDRs and reducing the need for costly matching processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the primary CCF system shuts down for maintenance or upgrades, then the CCF system can be maintained and upgraded, but incomplete CDRs are created on both primary and secondary systems requiring costly matching processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance and upgradesVSAvoidincomplete CDRs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system sends a shutdown notice to the CTF system before the primary CCF system actually shuts down. This preliminary action allows the CTF system to proactively redirect ACR messages to the secondary CCF system and complete any ongoing chargeable sessions before the primary system goes offline, preventing incomplete CDR creation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shutdown notice acts as an intermediary signal between the primary CCF system and the CTF system. This notice enables the CTF system to understand the upcoming shutdown and take appropriate actions to redirect traffic and complete sessions, serving as a communication bridge that prevents data loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If ACR messages are redirected to the secondary CCF system after primary shutdown, then the primary CCF system can be maintained, but significant processing effort is required to match incomplete CDRs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance operationsVSAvoidprocessing effort for matching

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By sending the shutdown notice in advance, the system allows the CTF system to complete all ACR message delivery to the primary CCF system before redirection occurs. This preliminary completion of sessions eliminates the need for post-shutdown matching operations, saving significant processing time and effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shutdown notice mechanism converts the potentially harmful event of system shutdown into a beneficial process by enabling orderly redirection. Instead of creating incomplete records that require matching, the system uses the shutdown notice to trigger a clean transition that prevents the problem entirely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If incomplete CDRs are created on primary and secondary systems, then system shutdown can proceed, but revenue is lost due to unsuccessful matching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutdown executionVSAvoidlost revenue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The shutdown notice enables preliminary completion of all charging sessions before the primary CCF system shuts down. By ensuring all ACR messages are delivered and processed before the shutdown occurs, the system guarantees complete CDR creation and prevents revenue loss from unsuccessful matching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shutdown notice creates a feedback loop where the CTF system receives information about the upcoming shutdown and responds by completing sessions and redirecting traffic. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system adapts to the shutdown event in a way that preserves revenue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8315925B1Shutting down primary charge collection function (CCF) without creating incomplete sets of charging data records (DR) in primary and secondary CCFs

Publication Date: 2012.11.20 CELLCO PARTNERSHIP INC

AI summary

A shutdown notice may indicate that a primary CCF system is expected to shutdown soon. This notice may be received by a CTF system after the CTF system delivers an ACR Start message to the primary CCF system, but before it delivers an ACR Stop message relating to the same chargeable session to the primary CCF system. In response to this shutdown notice, the CTF system may be configured to deliver an ACR Stop message relating to the same chargeable session to the primary CCF system before the primary CCF system shuts down. Also in response to this shutdown notice, the CTF system may be configured to deliver an additional ACR Start message and an ACR Stop message relating to the same chargeable session to a secondary CCF system.