Dynamic Time-Slot Data Usage Tracking in Wireless Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless broadband network service providers face challenges in efficiently utilizing network capacity, leading to penalization of customers for exceeding data limits, which restricts the use of high-bandwidth applications and results in underutilization of network resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that dynamically estimates future network usage and offers excess capacity as time-based units, allowing customers to access unlimited data during unused time slots, thereby optimizing cell and network capacity utilization and determining actual network capacity under loaded conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If customers are given a predetermined amount of data usage over a period of time, then service providers can control network resource utilization, but customers are penalized for exceeding data limits which restricts the use of high-bandwidth applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static data quota allocation to dynamic time-slot-based capacity allocation. The system dynamically determines unused network capacity in real-time and allocates it to customers as additional time slots, allowing the network to adapt to varying demand patterns while maintaining control over resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from data volume (megabytes/gigabytes) to time duration (time slots). Instead of measuring and limiting customer usage by data quantity, the system measures and allocates by time periods, fundamentally altering how network capacity is consumed and billed.
2Reliability
If customers are penalized for exceeding data plan limits, then service providers can prevent network overload, but customers become cautious in using high bandwidth applications resulting in underutilization of network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual network usage patterns and comparing them against predicted capacity. This feedback loop enables the system to accurately identify unused capacity and allocate it to customers, ensuring network stability is maintained while eliminating wasted resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing customers to automatically access and utilize unused network capacity without manual intervention. Customers are provisioned with time slots based on actual network conditions, and the system automatically manages allocation and billing, reducing administrative overhead and improving resource efficiency.
3Productivity
If service providers offer unlimited data access during time periods of excess capacity, then overall network utilization increases, but it becomes difficult to accurately track and bill for data usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing network capacity into discrete time slots rather than treating it as a continuous resource. Each time slot is individually tracked and allocated, enabling precise measurement and billing. This segmentation transforms the billing problem from tracking variable data volumes to counting fixed time units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by creating a multi-functional time slot unit that serves both as a network resource allocation mechanism and as a billing metric. The same time slot framework is used for capacity planning, customer provisioning, usage tracking, and invoicing, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include determining a number of user devices that can access data services in a wireless network and storing information identifying the determined number of user devices for each of a number of sectors for each of a number of periods of time. The method may also include receiving a request from a first user device associated with a first user for access to data services during a first period of time, accessing the stored information to determine whether to grant the request and providing access to data services via the wireless network to the first user device. The method may further include excluding data usage by the first user device during the first period of time from being applied against a data limit associated with the user's data plan.