Granular Usage Reporting Component for Multi-RAN Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless telecommunications networks face challenges in accurately tracking usage across multiple radio access networks (RANs) due to dynamically set cycle cutoff times, leading to imprecise aggregated usage reports that span multiple cycles, which can result in inaccurate billing and usage tracking.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Granular Usage Reporting Component (GURC) that monitors and generates usage reports on a per-base station basis, accounting for dynamically set cycle cutoff times by notifying base stations of the cutoff time and aggregating usage data before and after the cutoff, allowing for precise determination of per-base station usage on a cyclical basis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If aggregated usage reports are generated spanning multiple billing cycles, then billing cycle coverage is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately attribute usage to specific cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aggregated usage report into multiple portions, each corresponding to a different billing cycle. The report is divided at cycle cutoff times, creating separate usage segments that can be independently attributed to specific billing cycles. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining complete cycle coverage while achieving precise usage attribution through systematic division of the aggregated data.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic cycle cutoff times are implemented per subscriber, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination across multiple base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines usage data from multiple base stations into a single aggregated usage report. By merging the reporting function across multiple base stations, the system achieves dynamic cycle cutoff adaptation without requiring complex coordination between base stations. The master base station consolidates usage information from secondary base stations, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining per-subscriber dynamic billing cycle capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If per-base station granular reporting is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased reporting overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual base station usage reports into a single aggregated usage report that includes cycle cutoff time indicators. Instead of processing separate granular reports from each base station, the system combines them into one comprehensive report that maintains per-base station accuracy information. This merging approach preserves measurement precision while significantly improving reporting efficiency by reducing the number of individual reports that need to be processed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system described herein may track usage, on a per-User Equipment (“UE”) basis, in systems that provide for simultaneous connectivity to a given UE via multiple base stations. A cycle cutoff time may be determined, a master base station (to which the UE is connected) may be notified of the cycle cutoff time, and the master base station may notify one or more secondary base stations (to which the UE is connected) of the cycle cutoff time. The master base station and/or the one or more secondary base stations may track usage, of the UE, until the cycle cutoff time, and may report the usage such that the usage via each of the base stations may be able to be determined.