Pooling Network Devices for M2M Billing Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems face challenges in efficiently grouping and billing network devices with machine-to-machine (M2M) components based on their geographic location, leading to separate billing records for each device, which can be costly and complex to manage, especially for businesses with multiple devices in close proximity.
Innovation Solution
A base station configures network devices with M2M components to form dynamic groups based on geographic location, pooling network resources and updating billing records to share these resources among devices within a common boundary, allowing devices to operate in a pooled mode and reducing separate billing for each additional device up to a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network devices are billed separately for each device, then billing accuracy for individual devices is maintained, but billing complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual device billing records into a single pooled billing record for a group of network devices. The system identifies devices that are physically co-located and merges their billing information, transforming the billing management from handling N individual records to managing a single aggregated record, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining billing accuracy through group-level tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The billing system is enhanced with multi-functionality to handle both individual device billing and pooled group billing. The same billing infrastructure can dynamically switch between billing modes based on device groupings, allowing the system to serve multiple billing scenarios (individual, pooled, hybrid) without requiring separate billing systems, thus improving ease of operation while managing complexity.
2Productivity
If network resources are allocated separately to each device, then resource allocation precision is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges resource allocation for multiple co-located devices into a single pooled resource pool. Instead of allocating resources individually to each device, the system creates a shared resource pool that all devices in the group can access, improving overall resource utilization efficiency by allowing dynamic sharing and reducing idle resources while maintaining tracking mechanisms for precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The resource allocation system becomes dynamic, allowing resources to be flexibly allocated and reallocated within the pooled group based on actual device needs and usage patterns. The system can dynamically adjust resource distribution among pooled devices while maintaining accountability, thereby improving utilization efficiency without completely sacrificing allocation precision through dynamic monitoring and adjustment mechanisms.
3Productivity
If dynamic grouping based on location is implemented, then resource pooling efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where network devices automatically report their location information, and the grouping system autonomously identifies co-located devices and creates pools without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically monitors location changes and dynamically adjusts groupings, reducing the operational complexity burden on administrators while maintaining high pooling efficiency through automated, location-based device aggregation.
4Loss of time
If separate billing records are maintained for each device, then billing accuracy is ensured, but administrative time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual billing records into a single pooled billing record for co-located devices, dramatically reducing the number of billing records that administrators must manage. The system combines billing information at the group level while maintaining underlying device-level data for accuracy, reducing administrative time by eliminating redundant processing of individual records while preserving billing information accuracy through aggregated tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying mechanisms to replicate billing information structures from individual devices to the pooled group level. By creating a consolidated billing record that copies and aggregates data from individual device records, the system maintains the essential billing information accuracy while presenting a simplified, single record for administrative management, thereby reducing time loss without sacrificing information integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and medium are provided for pooling network devices and updating service plans in a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and network devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured to group network devices based on a location identifier of each network device. The base station may pool network resources of network devices in each group. The base station, in turn, updates the service plans for customers having addresses that correspond to the location identifiers to reflect the grouped network devices and the pooled resources.