Intelligent Network Element Billing Off-Net Voice SMS
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Telecom carriers face challenges in billing off-net users for reply and forward services of Voice SMS messages, as they subscribe to different networks, making it difficult to charge and distribute payment effectively.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent network element prompts off-net users for payment through a premium SMS, allowing revenue collection from the second network, which then shares a portion with the first network, enabling authorized message delivery or forwarding after confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second network collects revenue from the off-net user for the premium SMS, then the revenue collection is successful, but the first network does not receive its share of the payment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary billing system that acts as a mediator between the first network (Voice SMS provider) and the second network (off-net user's network). This intermediary receives the premium SMS from the off-net user, collects the payment, and then automatically distributes the appropriate share to the first network. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by ensuring both revenue collection for the second network and proper payment distribution to the first network occur through a coordinated billing process.
2Ease of operation
If the intelligent network element prompts the off-net user for payment, then the billing process is initiated, but the off-net user may not complete the payment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the intelligent network element prompt the off-net user for payment confirmation before the Voice SMS reply is actually delivered to the on-net user. This pre-billing approach allows the system to verify payment intent and capability before resource consumption occurs. The off-net user is presented with a clear payment prompt that includes cost information, allowing them to make an informed decision before completing the transaction, thereby improving both ease of operation and payment completion reliability.
3Reliability
If the premium SMS is used for payment confirmation, then the off-net user can be charged, but the message routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing premium SMS infrastructure to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the payment method and the payment confirmation mechanism. The same SMS channel used for regular communication is also used for billing transactions. The intelligent network element is configured to recognize premium SMS messages from specific numbers as payment confirmations, eliminating the need for separate payment routing infrastructure. This multi-functional use of the SMS system reduces overall routing complexity while maintaining reliable payment verification.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of billing a user for Voice short messaging services. A user subscribing to a first network may send a first Voice short messaging service (Voice SMS) message to a recipient user subscribing to a second network. The recipient user may reply to or forward the first Voice SMS message. The Voice SMS message reply may be routed to an intelligent network element of the first network. The intelligent network element prompts the recipient for a payment for delivering the Voice SMS message reply to the sender. The off-net recipient user may make the payment through a premium chargeable SMS message. A confirmation of this payment is communicated to the intelligent network element by the second network.