Data Subsidization System for Mobile Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile wireless service providers face challenges in managing data usage costs as customers increasingly rely on data-centric services, leading to unexpected overages and increased billing for postpaid customers, while prepaid customers need more efficient data credit management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data subsidization system that monitors data traffic and applies credits to customer accounts based on agreements between mobile wireless network providers and cloud computing service providers, using unique URLs to identify subsidized data usage and apply corresponding credits, either monetary or data block-based, to reduce customer costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If postpaid customers use data-centric services and cloud computing resources, then service quality and customer experience are improved, but unexpected overages and billing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-provisions data usage credits to customer accounts based on agreements with cloud service providers before the customer incurs overage charges. This preliminary crediting mechanism allows customers to access cloud resources without facing unexpected billing, as the credits are automatically applied to cover data usage in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a billing system intermediary that sits between the network charging system and the customer account. This intermediary automatically reconciles data usage with prepaid credits, applying credits to cover overages without requiring customer action. The intermediary mediates between the network's charging mechanism and the customer's bill, eliminating unexpected charges.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prepaid customers purchase data credits in advance, then control over data usage is improved, but efficiency in managing data consumption is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the billing system automatically monitors data usage, reconciles it against prepaid credits, and applies credits to customer accounts without manual intervention. This eliminates the need for customers to manually track and manage their data credit consumption, while the system autonomously ensures credits are applied efficiently to cover usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the billing system continuously monitors data usage, compares it against available credits, and automatically adjusts account balances. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures customers maintain control over their data consumption patterns while the system efficiently manages credit allocation and application.
3Loss of energy
If mobile wireless service providers subsidize data usage for cloud computing services, then customer costs are reduced, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal billing mechanism that handles multiple functions: monitoring data usage, reconciling with prepaid credits, applying subsidies, and generating customer bills. This multi-functional billing system consolidates what would otherwise be separate complex operations into a single integrated process, reducing operational complexity while enabling widespread subsidy implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages subsidy complexity by dynamically adjusting billing parameters such as credit allocation rates, subsidy thresholds, and reconciliation intervals. These parameter changes allow the provider to control the scope and scale of subsidies without fundamentally altering the operational framework, making the subsidy mechanism adaptable and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are for subsidizing data usage in a mobile wireless network. A method for subsidizing data usage may include monitoring data traffic traversing the mobile wireless network, determining if the data traffic is directed to a unique uniform resource locator that is associated with a computing resource that data directed thereto is to be subsidized, and recording data usage for the data traffic and providing the data usage to a charging system of the mobile wireless network in response to determining that the data traffic is directed to the unique uniform resource locator.