Hierarchical Charging System for Dynamic Account Balance Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current charging systems in cellular radio networks lack flexibility to address changing customer demands, particularly in sharing and aggregation of communication service balances, limiting their ability to support complex hierarchies and dynamic usage scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a charging system that utilizes consumer/provider product pairs to create flexible account hierarchies, allowing for real-time balance sharing and replenishment across multiple levels, with a rule-based engine for dynamic management and configuration of these hierarchies, enabling advanced spending control and conditional usage rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current charging systems use basic subscription configurations for balance sharing, then the system structure remains simple, but the system lacks flexibility to address changing customer demands and cannot support complex hierarchies
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels (first level, second level, third level accounts) where each level can independently manage balances and subscriptions. This segmentation allows the system to support complex hierarchies and dynamic balance sharing while maintaining simplicity at each individual level, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing systems limit balance sharing to two levels configured in basic subscriptions, then the configuration remains manageable, but the system cannot support aggregation of consumption or hierarchies for charging lower level subscribers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a nested hierarchical structure where first level accounts contain second level accounts, which in turn contain third level accounts. Each level can be independently configured and managed, allowing complex hierarchies to be built through systematic nesting rather than monolithic configuration. This resolves the contradiction by enabling multi-level support while maintaining operational ease through modular configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the charging system uses fixed basic subscription configurations, then the system is stable and easy to manage, but it cannot dynamically adapt to real-time balance sharing and replenishment needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed basic subscription configurations to dynamic hierarchical configurations where balances can be shared and replenished in real-time across multiple levels. The hierarchical account structure allows dynamic allocation and transfer of balances while maintaining stable charging rules at each level, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Charging control may be provided for a charging controlled service accessed by a terminal in a communication network using a first account having a first account balance associated with the terminal. A first request may be received for a charging reservation relating to the first account balance associated with the terminal. Responsive to the first request for a charging reservation and responsive to a first status of the first account balance, a first consumer deduction amount may be reserved from the first account balance to allow the charging controlled service for the terminal. While allowing the charging controlled service for the terminal based on the first consumer deduction amount reserved from the first account balance, a replenishment request directed to a second account balance may be generated responsive to a second status of the first account balance. Responsive to the replenishment request, a replenishment amount may be deducted from the second account balance wherein the replenishment amount represents a quantity of communication services. The first account balance may be updated based on the replenishment amount deducted from the second account balance. After updating the first account balance, a second request may be received for a charging reservation relating to the first account balance associated with the terminal. Responsive to the second request for a charging reservation and responsive to a third status of the first account balance, a second consumer deduction amount may be received from the first account balance to allow the charging controlled service for the terminal. Related network nodes are also discussed.