End User Device Usage Control Profile Enforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current usage control services in communication networks are limited to network-based solutions, which consume network resources and generate unnecessary traffic, as they do not allow for local processing of usage restrictions on end user devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a network management system that generates a usage control profile based on input from a controlling party, which is then transmitted to and processed by the end user device to determine whether communication attempts are authorized, allowing for local enforcement of usage restrictions within the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If usage control services are performed within the network, then network elements can determine whether communication attempts are allowed, but network resources are consumed and unnecessary traffic is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage control enforcementVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The usage control functionality is extracted from the network elements and placed into the end user device. The device now autonomously determines whether communication attempts are allowed based on locally stored usage control profiles, eliminating the need for network elements to process these control decisions and thereby reducing network resource consumption and traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Extent of automation

If usage control services are performed within the network, then centralized control can be maintained, but unnecessary traffic is generated in the network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized controlVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The usage control profiles are downloaded and stored in the end user device in advance. This preliminary action enables the device to autonomously make usage control decisions without needing to communicate with network elements for each control decision, thereby maintaining centralized control through the initial profile distribution while eliminating continuous network traffic for control operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If usage control is performed locally on the end user device, then network resources are saved, but the device must process usage control profiles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoidusage control processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The end user device is empowered to independently process and enforce usage control profiles without requiring continuous network intervention. The device autonomously determines whether communication attempts are allowed based on locally stored profiles, making the system self-sufficient at the device level while reducing the burden on network resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8347362B2Usage control services performed in an end user device

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing usage control of communication services within an end user device. A system in the network receives input from a controlling party defining usage restrictions for the end user device. The system then generates a usage control profile, and transmits the usage control profile to the end user device. The end user device then monitors activities in the device to identify a communication attempt (e.g., an incoming voice call). When a communication attempt is identified, the end user device processes the usage control profile to determine whether the communication attempt is authorized, and allows the communication attempt to continue if the attempt is authorized. If the attempt is not authorized, then the end user device blocks the communication attempt.