Device Agent Service Usage Measurement and Billing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current network-based service usage measurement and billing systems are limited in their ability to accurately record, aggregate, and bill for complex service usage patterns, especially in scenarios involving encrypted traffic, multi-device, and multi-user environments, leading to inefficiencies and potential revenue loss for service providers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a device-assisted service usage measurement and billing system that generates, aggregates, and mediates Charging Data Records (CDRs) on devices, allowing for more precise service usage tracking and billing across multiple networks, including encrypted and multi-device scenarios, without requiring significant upgrades to existing network infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network-based service usage measurement and billing systems are used, then existing network infrastructure can be utilized, but accuracy and flexibility of service usage measurement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service usage measurement agent as an intermediary component that runs on the user device. This agent collects service usage data locally and reports it to the network, bridging the gap between network-based billing systems and the need for accurate measurement. The agent acts as a mediator that enables precise tracking without requiring complete redesign of existing network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement agent on the user device performs self-service by autonomously collecting service usage data, storing it locally, and reporting it when needed. This self-service capability allows the device to independently maintain accurate usage records without continuous network intervention, improving measurement accuracy while reducing network infrastructure requirements.
2Measurement precision
If detailed service usage tracking is implemented, then billing accuracy improves, but network infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The service usage measurement agent serves as an intermediary that performs detailed tracking locally on the device and reports aggregated data to the network. This approach enables billing accuracy through detailed local measurement while avoiding the need for complex network infrastructure, as the heavy lifting of data collection and initial processing occurs on the device side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the measurement functionality from the network dimension to the device dimension. By implementing the measurement agent on the user device rather than requiring network-side processing capabilities, the system achieves detailed tracking accuracy without proportionally increasing network infrastructure complexity.
3Measurement precision
If service processor is verified and installed on device, then service usage measurement accuracy improves, but device activation complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The service processor is pre-configured with service profile information and measurement capabilities before being installed on the device. The verification process checks predetermined parameters and cryptographic signatures, allowing automated installation without manual configuration. This preliminary preparation enables accurate service usage recording while maintaining simple activation procedures through automated verification and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification process provides feedback by checking the service processor against known good parameters and cryptographic credentials. This feedback mechanism ensures only authenticated service processors are installed, guaranteeing measurement accuracy while the automated nature of the feedback loop keeps the activation process simple and user-friendly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various embodiments for publishing a service offer set to a device agent on an end-user device and for on-device selection of a service. In some embodiments, a network system publishes a service offer set to an end-user device over a wireless access network, receives an offer set user selection from the end-user device, and provisions one or more network functions based on the offer set user selection.