Mobile Network Activation Condition Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users are deterred from using data services while roaming due to unclear and often high fees, as existing technologies do not provide transparent activation conditions before establishing a data connection, leading to unexpected charges.

Innovation Solution

A method and network device that forward a connection request from a visited mobile radio network to the user's home network, determining and transmitting activation conditions independently of the data connection, allowing users to view and respond to these conditions before activating the data connection, using standard message services like SMS to avoid initial connection charges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If data connection activation conditions are determined and transmitted independently of the data connection, then users can understand fees before activation improving transparency, but this requires additional message transmission infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transparencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the activation condition information transmission from the data connection setup process itself. The home network sends activation conditions (fees, terms) independently via control channel or SMS before the data connection is established, allowing users to review and accept terms without incurring data connection charges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by transmitting activation conditions and obtaining user acceptance before the data connection is activated. The home network determines and sends activation conditions including fees and terms, and only after user acceptance does the data connection setup proceed, ensuring users are informed before charges apply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If activation conditions are sent using the data connection to be established, then the system uses existing infrastructure, but users incur charges before understanding the conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidunexpected charges
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the activation condition transmission from the data connection channel. Activation conditions are transmitted independently through control channels or SMS messaging systems, ensuring users receive fee information without being charged through the data connection that would otherwise be used for this purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary transmission of activation conditions before establishing the data connection. Users receive and can review fee structures and terms in advance, and only after accepting these conditions does the data connection activation proceed, preventing unexpected charges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If users are presented with detailed fee schedules and activation conditions, then transparency is improved, but the complexity of interpreting differentiated fee structures increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefee transparencyVSAvoidinterpretation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the home network provides activation conditions including fees and terms to the user equipment, and waits for user acceptance or rejection. This interactive feedback loop allows users to review conditions and make informed decisions about data connection activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system presents activation conditions including differentiated fee structures in advance before data connection activation. Users receive detailed information about fees, terms, and conditions, and can review this information beforehand to make informed decisions, reducing interpretation difficulties during actual usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2337419B1Method and network appliance for unlocking a data connection over a mobile radio network into a data network
Publication Date: 2015.08.19 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP2337419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2337419B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for activating a data connection from a mobile terminal (104, 105) via at least one mobile network (101, 102) to a data network (103). In the method, a connection request from the terminal (104, 105) is forwarded to a switching unit (107). Upon receipt of the connection request in the switching unit (107), activation conditions for activating the data connection are determined, and a message containing the activation conditions is sent to the terminal (104, 105) independently of the data connection to be established.