Data Usage Analytics for Dynamic Control of Mobile Data Consumption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers lack transparency and control over data usage on mobile devices, leading to unexpected depletion of data allowances due to unawareness of data-intensive applications and settings, resulting in frustration for both consumers and carriers.

Innovation Solution

A data usage analytics system that aggregates and analyzes metadata from client devices to quantify data usage, provides recommendations to reduce data consumption, and dynamically alters data usage characteristics through computational instructions, such as transcoding, trans-rating, and pacing techniques, while offering customizable user interfaces for monitoring and controlling data usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If consumers use mobile internet data connectivity for day-to-day tasks, then functionality and convenience are improved, but data usage increases and transparency is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of mobile internet usageVSAvoidtransparency of data usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms that track data usage in real-time, providing consumers with actionable insights about which applications and settings consume the most data. This feedback loop enables users to make informed decisions about their data consumption patterns without changing their mobile internet usage habits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments data usage information by application, service, and setting, allowing consumers to see granular details about where their data is being consumed. This segmentation transforms the opaque aggregate data usage into discrete, understandable components that users can individually manage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If consumers continue using data-intensive applications without monitoring, then application functionality is maintained, but data allowance depletes rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoiddata allowance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic adjustment of data usage characteristics by modifying application behaviors in real-time based on current data allowance status. The system can dynamically switch between different data usage modes, such as reducing quality settings or blocking specific data-intensive operations, allowing applications to remain functional while adapting to available data resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters of data usage, including data rate, quality settings, and access permissions, based on monitored consumption patterns. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system maintains application functionality while controlling the quantity of data consumed to prevent allowance depletion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If data usage is monitored and controlled dynamically, then data allowance management is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata allowance managementVSAvoidmonitoring and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically monitors, analyzes, and controls data usage without requiring complex user intervention. The automated nature of the monitoring and control processes reduces the perceived complexity for users while maintaining reliable data allowance management through continuous system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between applications and the network that handles data usage monitoring and control functions. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing complex monitoring and control logic, allowing applications to continue operating while the intermediary manages data consumption transparently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10499214B2Data usage analytics application for dynamic control of data usage on a client device
Publication Date: 2019.12.03 T MOBILE US INC
  • US10499214B2 patent drawing
  • US10499214B2 patent drawing
  • US10499214B2 patent drawing

AI summary

This disclosure sets forth techniques that aggregate and analyze data usage of a client device over a communications network. Particularly, data usage may be quantified over a predetermined time interval and used to provide recommendations that instruct a client on techniques for reducing a data usage rate. Recommendations may be presented as visual and/or audible alerts. This disclosure further describes techniques to dynamically alter data usage characteristics of particular data usage events to reduce a current rate of data usage. Computational instructions may dynamically reduce a file size of a multimedia/data file, limit a capability to download a multimedia/data file, or reduce a data usage rate of a multimedia stream via trans-rating or pacing techniques. Additionally, exemplary user interfaces may facilitate customizing data usage monitoring settings. The exemplary user interfaces may enable a client to customize a graphical representation of data usage over a predetermined period of time.