Mobile Billing Consent Automation via Triggered Messages

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing premium SMS billing mechanisms for mobile communication devices require users to manually compose and send SMS messages for consent, which is inconvenient, especially when services are accessed via webpages, and lacks efficient automation for billing processes.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a message generating component and a trigger component in a mobile communication device, which automatically generates and sends consent messages via the PLMN, using SMS or IP-based connections, with optional user confirmation, and includes cryptographic security features to prevent fraudulent use, allowing for both MO-PSMS and MT-PSMS mechanisms with billing confirmation through SMSC and server interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual SMS composition is required for billing consent, then billing security is ensured, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling securityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile communication device automatically generates and sends billing consent messages without requiring manual user composition. The device serves itself by autonomously handling the billing consent process, eliminating the need for users to manually compose SMS messages while maintaining security through automated authentication mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring billing parameters, service information, and authentication data in the mobile device before the actual billing transaction. This allows the device to automatically generate proper consent messages without requiring users to manually input billing details, thus improving convenience while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automated billing consent is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but billing security may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidbilling security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network server receives and validates the automatically generated consent messages, then provides confirmation feedback to both the server and the user. This feedback loop ensures that automated billing remains secure by verifying authentication credentials and confirming transactions, thus maintaining billing security while preserving user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary validation layer where the network server acts as a mediator between the automated device and the billing system. The server validates authentication credentials, service parameters, and transaction details before processing billing, thus ensuring security is not compromised by automation. The intermediary server layer bridges automated convenience with secure billing processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If SMS-based billing mechanism is used, then billing simplicity is maintained, but integration with web services deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling simplicityVSAvoidweb service integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile communication device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both traditional SMS-based billing and web service integrations. The device can generate consent messages via SMS while simultaneously supporting IP-based connections and web page interactions for service access. This universal approach allows the billing system to maintain simplicity through SMS while adapting to web service requirements through the same device platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2226997B1Billing mechanism for a mobile communication network
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP2226997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2226997B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2226997B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for charging a user of mobile communication device (101) connected to a communication network (102) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of - detecting a predetermined trigger event in a trigger unit (106) of the mobile communication device (101), and, - upon detection of the predetermined event, generating a consent message in a message generating unit (105) of the mobile communication device (101) and sending the consent message to the communication network (102), the receipt of the consent message prompting a payment process. Furthermore, a mobile communication device for practicing the method is disclosed.