MVNO Account Identifier Generation for Seamless Phone Number Porting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inefficiencies and inconveniences when switching between telecommunication networks due to the need to provide missing account information, often resulting from human error or forgetfulness, and existing systems fail to address service degradation issues effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) performs a network switch by porting a phone number from a source to a target network infrastructure without requiring client-specific information, maintaining continuity of account information, and facilitating seamless transitions using existing client data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the new telecommunication network requests client-specific information (account number, address, PIN) during network switching, then the security and accuracy of onboarding is improved, but the user convenience and switching efficiency deteriorates due to human error and forgetfulness
Solution Approach 1:
The MVNO performs preliminary actions by proactively obtaining client-specific information from the source network infrastructure before the client is requested to provide it. This includes retrieving account numbers, addresses, and PIN codes in advance, so that when the network switching process begins, all necessary information is already available, eliminating the need for clients to manually provide these details and reducing errors due to forgetfulness
Solution Approach 2:
The MVNO acts as an intermediary between the source and target network infrastructures. It leverages its existing relationship with the source network to retrieve client-specific information on behalf of the client, then uses this information to facilitate the switching process to the target network, thereby shielding the client from the complexity of providing multiple pieces of sensitive information
2Reliability
If the network switching process requests multiple items of client information, then the completeness of account setup is improved, but the time required for switching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary retrieval of all necessary client information (account number, address, PIN) from the source network infrastructure before the formal switching process begins. This advance preparation ensures that when switching occurs, all data is already collected and validated, eliminating delays that would occur if information gathering had to happen during the switching window
Solution Approach 2:
The MVNO maintains continuous access to client information throughout the switching process. By establishing the information retrieval operation before switching and maintaining data availability during the transition, the system ensures uninterrupted flow of necessary data, preventing pauses or delays that would extend the overall switching duration
3Productivity
If the mobile virtual network operator stores and utilizes existing client data, then the network switching efficiency is improved, but the data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MVNO's data storage system is designed to serve multiple functions: it stores client-specific information for current service delivery, maintains historical data for billing and accounting, and provides rapid retrieval capability for network switching operations. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate systems into a unified data management platform, reducing overall complexity while improving switching efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the MVNO's data management infrastructure automatically retrieves, validates, and prepares client information for switching without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of data retrieval and coordination between source and target networks, transforming complex manual processes into automated self-service operations
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed method may include (i) receiving, at a mobile virtual network operator, a request for the mobile virtual network operator to perform a network switch by porting a phone number of a client of the mobile virtual network operator from a source network infrastructure of a source mobile network operator that is serving the client for the mobile virtual network operator to a target network infrastructure of a target mobile network operator that is serving clients for the mobile virtual network operator, (ii) generating, by the mobile virtual network operator in response to receiving the request to perform the network switch, a new account identifier for the client after the network switch, and (iii) invoking a port in application programming interface to port the phone number of the client onto the target network infrastructure of the target mobile network operator using the new account identifier.