Handset-Assisted Resource Utilization Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile communications networks face challenges in obtaining and verifying resource utilization information for roaming subscribers, making it difficult for home network operators to ensure accurate billing.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for handset-assisted resource utilization verification, where a mobile handset provides usage information based on query messages or timer triggers, allowing a resource utilization verification module to determine network resource utilization between specific times, facilitating billing verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If resource utilization information is maintained by multiple network nodes and handsets using various databases and applications, then comprehensive resource usage tracking is achieved, but information retrieval and verification becomes complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated verification module that acts as an intermediary between the handset and the billing system. This module receives usage information from the handset, validates it against network records, and facilitates billing verification. The intermediary approach simplifies the complex distributed information retrieval by centralizing the verification function rather than requiring multiple nodes to directly query each other's databases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the resource utilization verification function from the complex distributed system and concentrates it in a dedicated verification module. By separating the verification function from the data storage and retrieval functions performed by various network nodes, the system reduces the complexity of information retrieval while maintaining comprehensive tracking capability.
2Reliability
If home network operators monitor resource utilization by roaming subscribers through multiple network nodes, then billing verification accuracy is improved, but processing burden on network nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the mobile handset itself provide and maintain its own usage information records. Instead of requiring network nodes to actively query and aggregate data from multiple sources, the handset maintains its own accounting information and provides it to the verification module, reducing the processing burden on network nodes while maintaining verification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the handset maintain and update its usage information records continuously during the billing period, rather than requiring network nodes to perform comprehensive data collection at verification time. The handset proactively updates its records as usage occurs, so that when verification is needed, the information is already prepared and validated.
3Loss of information
If conventional methods are used to maintain resource usage information in various databases and applications, then comprehensive tracking is achieved, but ease of operation for billing verification is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the resource utilization tracking and verification functions into a unified process centered on the handset-provided usage information. Rather than requiring separate verification steps across multiple network nodes, the system combines data receipt, validation, and billing verification into a streamlined process where the handset's usage information is directly processed by the verification module.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for handset assisted resource utilization verification are disclosed. According to one method, first usage information is obtained from a mobile handset in response to the mobile handset being operated at a first time. Second usage information is obtained from the mobile handset in response to the mobile handset being operated at a second time. Based on the first and second usage information, an indication of network resource utilization is determined for the mobile handset between the first and second times. The first and second usage information may be obtained by polling the handset by sending query messages for the usage information to the handset or by triggering the handset to send the usage information in response to the expiration of a handset-implemented timer.