Encoding Subscriber Attributes in IP Addresses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IP addresses lack the ability to provide detailed customer information beyond geographic location, making it difficult for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to efficiently gather demographics, usage data, and preferences, which can be costly to obtain through big data analytics.
Innovation Solution
Encoding subscriber attributes into IP addresses, allowing for the assignment of unique IP addresses that reflect customer preferences, demographics, and usage patterns, enabling targeted services and analytics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If IP addresses are assigned randomly or based only on geographic regions, then IP address assignment is simple and fast, but customer information such as demographics, preferences, and usage patterns cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds customer attribute data within the IP address structure itself, nesting multiple layers of information (geographic region, demographic data, usage patterns, device type) into the hierarchical IP address format. This allows customer information to be contained within the address without requiring separate databases, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of IP addresses from simple numeric identifiers to encoded structures containing multiple attribute fields. By transforming the IP address from a random assignment to a structured encoding of customer attributes, the system enables information retrieval directly from the address without complex external lookups.
2Loss of information
If big data analytics are used to gather customer information, then detailed customer data can be obtained, but implementation and data mining costs are expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary encoding of customer attributes into IP addresses during the address assignment phase, before any data analysis is needed. This pre-packaging of customer information eliminates the need for expensive post-collection data mining and analytics, as all required customer data is already structured and accessible within the IP address itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts essential customer attributes (demographics, location, usage patterns, device type) from complex data sources and embeds them directly into the IP address structure. This extraction and embedding process eliminates the need for ongoing expensive analytics to derive these attributes, as they are now directly available in the address.
3Adaptability or versatility
If IP addresses include detailed customer attributes, then targeted services and advertising can be provided, but IP address structure and assignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments customer information into distinct attribute fields within the IP address structure (geographic region, demographic data, usage patterns, device type). This segmentation allows the system to provide targeted services by accessing only the relevant attribute segments needed for each service, rather than processing entire complex datasets, thus managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
4Ease of operation
If geographic IP addressing is used for firewall settings and troubleshooting, then network management is simplified, but no additional customer identification information is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the IP address multi-functional by encoding both geographic network management information and detailed customer identification attributes within the same address structure. This allows the IP address to serve dual purposes: simplifying network management through geographic segmentation while simultaneously providing rich customer identification details, eliminating the need for separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes obtaining subscriber attributes from a subscriber, encoding the subscriber attributes into an internet protocol (IP) address, and assigning the encoded IP protocol address to the subscriber. The encoded IP address with attributes specific to the subscriber may then be used to provide customized and enhanced services to the subscriber and provide more efficient operations for the service provider.