Mobile Device Server Roaming Charge Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media communication systems face challenges in managing mobile devices as guest devices within media resource centers, particularly in detecting and authenticating them for resource access and applying appropriate roaming charges, which can lead to inefficiencies and unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a web server application on portable communication devices to detect media resource centers, transmit security and pairing keys, and manage resource access, while a resource control manager identifies service grades and applies roaming charges based on these keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile devices are allowed to access media resource centers without strict authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but security and unauthorized access control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by detecting mobile devices attempting to access the media resource center and verifying their authorization status before granting access. The resource control manager proactively identifies guest devices and determines roaming charge applicability in advance, preventing unauthorized access while maintaining smooth operation for authorized devices.
2Reliability
If detailed authentication and service grade identification are implemented for mobile devices, then reliability and billing accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resource control manager automatically performs service grade identification and roaming charge determination based on detected mobile devices and their pairing keys. The system self-manages the authentication process, resource access control, and billing calculations without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining billing accuracy while managing complexity through automation.
3Loss of information
If roaming charges are automatically applied to guest devices, then loss of information regarding billing is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users about roaming charge applicability by detecting when a mobile device is a guest device and determining that roaming charges apply. This information feedback maintains billing accuracy while allowing users to be informed about charges before or during service usage, balancing transparency with operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server that has computer instructions to execute a web server application at the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to detect a media resource center while roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center and to transmit a pairing key to the media resource center responsive to acquiring communication access to the communication zone. The web server application can be further operable to receive from the media resource center an indication that a roaming charge will be applied to a subscriber account associated with the mobile device responsive to the media resource center identifying from the pairing key that the mobile device server is a guest device. Other embodiments are disclosed.