Mobile Network Balance Monitoring and SMS Notification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communications networks inefficiently handle insufficient account balances of prepaid subscribers, failing to notify them of missed calls and undelivered messages due to insufficient funds and not providing instructions on how to recover these issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that monitor account balances and withhold communication requests, send periodic notifications to subscribers via SMS, and disconnect calls when balances are insufficient, while providing instructions on how to replenish accounts to resume services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If current systems send notifications only via band signal during active voice call or SMS, then the notification mechanism is simple, but the coverage is insufficient and subscribers are not notified of missed calls or undelivered messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by implementing a unified notification mechanism that handles multiple types of events (insufficient balance notifications, missed call notifications, undelivered message notifications) through a single SMS-based system. The notification system is enhanced to serve multiple purposes: informing subscribers of balance issues, notifying them of missed communications, and providing funding instructions, thereby improving coverage without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary notification component that acts as a mediator between the network system and the subscriber. This intermediary receives various event types (insufficient balance, missed calls, undelivered messages) and translates them into standardized SMS notifications with appropriate funding instructions. This mediator layer enables comprehensive notification coverage while maintaining system simplicity by centralizing the notification logic.
2Ease of operation
If current systems do not provide funding instructions to subscribers, then the system operation is simple, but subscribers cannot recover missed communications or replenish their accounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling subscribers to automatically recover their service status through the notification system. When subscribers receive SMS notifications with funding instructions, they can independently top up their accounts using provided instructions, thereby restoring their ability to make calls and send messages without requiring manual intervention from customer service personnel. This self-service mechanism improves ease of operation while the automated notification system handles the complexity of guiding subscribers through the recovery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing funding instructions in advance within the notification messages themselves. Instead of waiting for subscribers to figure out how to replenish their accounts, the system proactively includes step-by-step funding instructions in the SMS notifications, enabling subscribers to take immediate corrective action. This preliminary provision of recovery instructions simplifies the account recovery process for subscribers while the system automatically manages the complexity of delivering context-appropriate instructions.
3Loss of information
If notifications are sent only to calling subscriber during active communication, then the notification process is simple, but the destination subscriber is not notified of insufficient balance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the notification process into distinct segments based on event type and affected party. The system segments notifications into: (1) outgoing communication insufficient balance notifications sent to the calling subscriber, and (2) incoming communication insufficient balance notifications sent to the destination subscriber. This segmentation enables comprehensive information symmetry by ensuring the right subscriber receives the appropriate notification, while the modular notification routing logic maintains system simplicity through clear separation of notification paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for handling insufficient account balance of subscribers in a mobile communications network is disclosed. A request for communication is received from a mobile station. A determination is made as to whether a subscriber of the mobile station has an insufficient account balance. If the subscriber has an insufficient account balance, the request is withheld and the mobile station is notified by a short message.