Network Charging Control for Low-Balance Credit Transfer

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging systems in communication networks struggle to seamlessly manage network services when users experience low balance conditions, leading to potential service interruptions and increased network traffic.

Innovation Solution

A method and controller that determine a prioritized provider based on connectivity and credit parameters, automatically transferring credit from the prioritized provider to the user to continue network services without interruption, minimizing network traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic credit transfer is implemented to continue network services during low balance conditions, then service reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to prioritized provider determination and automated credit transfer mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidcharging management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines prioritized providers and executes credit transfers without requiring user intervention. The charging management system monitors balance conditions, selects appropriate providers based on pre-established criteria, and processes credit transfers autonomously to maintain service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Providers are pre-configured with credit parameters and connectivity weights before the low balance condition occurs. The system maintains a database of potential providers with their respective parameters, enabling rapid selection and execution of credit transfers when needed without requiring real-time complex decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If manual balance transfer processes are used, then device complexity is reduced, but service interruption occurs and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging management complexityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines prioritized providers and executes credit transfers without requiring user intervention. The charging management system monitors balance conditions, selects appropriate providers based on pre-established criteria, and processes credit transfers autonomously to maintain service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuous network service provision by automatically initiating credit transfers when low balance conditions are detected. The useful action of maintaining service continuity is never interrupted, as the system proactively manages balance conditions and executes transfers before service disruption occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple providers are considered for credit transfer, then adaptability is improved, but processing time increases due to evaluation of multiple connectivity and credit parameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprovider selection flexibilityVSAvoidcredit transfer processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Providers are pre-configured with credit parameters and connectivity weights before the low balance condition occurs. The system maintains a database of potential providers with their respective parameters, enabling rapid selection and execution of credit transfers when needed without requiring real-time complex decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses weighted parameters including connectivity weight and credit parameter to evaluate and rank providers. By transforming multiple evaluation criteria into comparable parameter values, the system enables efficient automated selection while maintaining adaptability to different provider configurations and user scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12574463B2Managing a charging operation in a communication network

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for managing a charging operation in a communication network. The present disclosure also relates to a controller and to a computer program and a computer program product configured, when run on a computer to carry out a method for managing a charging operation in a communication network. Examples provide a method of managing a charging operation in a communications network, the method including: determining a low balance condition of a user of the network during a network service provided to the user by the network; determining a prioritized provider and transferring a credit to the user from the prioritized provider to the user in order to continue the network service; wherein the prioritized provider is determined from a plurality of providers based on respective connectivity parameters between the user and each provider and a respective credit parameter of each provider.