Device-Agent Service Offer Publishing for Flexible On-Device Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network-based service usage measurement and billing systems are inadequate for accurately tracking and billing complex service usage patterns, particularly for devices that require flexible and customizable plans, including encrypted traffic, multi-device/multi-user scenarios, and high-bandwidth applications, which strain network capacity and degrade service experience.

Innovation Solution

Implement a device-assisted service usage measurement and billing system that generates Charging Data Records (CDRs) on devices, verifies their validity, aggregates and mediates them with network CDRs, and integrates with network systems to provide enhanced service usage reporting and billing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If network-based service usage measurement and billing systems are used, then service tracking is implemented, but accuracy is insufficient for complex service usage patterns and encrypted traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice usage measurement accuracyVSAvoidcapability to track complex service patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a device-based service usage measurement system as an intermediary between the network and the billing system. The device agent on the user equipment directly measures service usage parameters and generates CDRs, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap between network infrastructure and billing requirements, enabling accurate measurement of complex service patterns including encrypted traffic without requiring network upgrades

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device-based measurement system enables the user equipment to self-measure its own service usage. The device agent autonomously monitors service usage, generates CDRs, and transmits them to the billing system without requiring network-based measurement infrastructure, allowing the device to serve itself in the measurement process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If network-based billing systems are used, then billing functionality is provided, but flexibility for customized service plans is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice plan flexibilityVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic service plan configuration where the device agent can adapt to different service plans and billing models. The system supports dynamic creation and modification of service usage measurement parameters, allowing flexible customization of service plans including multi-device/multi-user scenarios, pay-per-use models, and encrypted traffic handling without requiring complex network reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If network capacity is increased to meet growing demand, then user capacity is improved, but network costs increase and profits are negatively impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidservice provider costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The device-based measurement system allows each device to self-report its service usage, eliminating the need for network-based monitoring infrastructure. This reduces network capacity requirements for measurement and billing functions, as the measurement burden is shifted to the device level, thereby reducing network costs while maintaining billing accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Measurement precision

If device-based service usage measurement is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice usage tracking accuracyVSAvoiddevice agent implementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the service usage measurement function into a separate device agent component that operates independently within the device. This agent is specifically designed to measure service usage parameters and generate CDRs, separating the measurement functionality from the main device operations. The agent communicates with the network through standardized interfaces, reducing the complexity burden on the overall device system while maintaining high measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250227460A1Service Selection Set Publishing to Device Agent with On-Device Service Selection

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are various embodiments for publishing a service offer set to a device agent on an end-user device and for on-device selection of a service. In some embodiments, a network system publishes a service offer set to an end-user device over a wireless access network, receives an offer set user selection from the end-user device, and provisions one or more network functions based on the offer set user selection.