Real-Time Mobile Usage Data Capture for Telecom Expense Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise customers face increasing telecommunications mobility costs and challenges in monitoring the quality of service from carriers, leading to unforeseen expenses and difficulties in recuperating contractual monetary remedies due to delayed invoice receipt and lack of real-time monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that captures real-time telecommunications usage data from mobile devices and compares it to life-cycle telecommunications expense management (TEM) data, enabling proactive prevention of unplanned expenses and monitoring of carrier service quality, allowing for timely adjustments to rate plans and the calculation of monetary remedies for service level agreement violations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring system is implemented, then quality of service monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a server and database that mediates between mobile devices and enterprise customers. This intermediary captures usage data from devices, stores it centrally, and provides query interfaces to customers, thereby improving monitoring capability without requiring complex monitoring software on each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables enterprise customers to independently query and analyze their own usage data through provided interfaces. Customers can retrieve real-time usage information, compare it against service level agreements, and identify violations without requiring carrier intervention or complex manual monitoring processes.
2Productivity
If real-time usage data capture is implemented, then expense control capability is improved, but loss of time for data processing decreases (faster processing)
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing usage data in real-time as it is generated, rather than waiting for periodic invoices. This allows enterprise customers to proactively monitor expenses, identify trends, and take corrective actions before unexpected overages occur, significantly improving expense control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where usage data is captured, stored, and made available for immediate analysis. Enterprise customers receive real-time feedback on their usage patterns against service level agreements and budget thresholds, enabling timely corrective actions to control expenses.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive usage data is captured and stored, then information availability is improved, but loss of information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary usage data elements required for expense management and service level agreement compliance. Rather than storing all possible mobile device data, the system selectively captures relevant information such as usage volume, service quality metrics, and billing-related data, reducing storage requirements while maintaining information availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized database serves multiple functions: storing usage data for expense analysis, providing service quality monitoring, enabling service level agreement compliance verification, and supporting billing processes. This multi-functionality maximizes the value of stored data while minimizing redundant storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a signal having a real-time usage value associated with operation of a mobile device is received from the mobile device. Information on a service agreement for the mobile device is received. A command is sent to the mobile device when the operation of the mobile device crossed a threshold condition of the service agreement. The command is configured to cause the mobile device to implement an operational change at the mobile device in response to the command.