Prepaid VPN Charging Module with Package Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prepaid service and VPN charging systems face issues with flexible charging, data loss, and inconsistent charging solutions across multiple systems, limiting user preferences and operator savings.
Innovation Solution
A charging method and system that introduces a VPN charging management module to preset different VPN package levels, determine valid users, and charge accordingly, allowing for flexible VPN charging and free credits, while integrating VPN functions within the prepaid service framework, eliminating the need for nested service interactions and supporting multiple systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional network-in-network service mode is used with PPS and VPN services, then users can enjoy intra-network charge preference, but the system complexity increases due to the need for execute interface interactions between PPS and VPN services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the PPS service and VPN service into a unified service framework where VPN functions are implemented as packages within the PPS service. This eliminates the need for separate execute interfaces between PPS and VPN services, reducing system complexity while maintaining charge preference functionality for intra-network calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The PPS service framework is designed to universally support both traditional PPS functions and VPN functions through a common service execution mechanism. The VPN service is integrated as a package that can be invoked within the PPS framework, allowing one service to perform multiple functions without requiring separate interaction interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If execute signalling interaction is used between PPS and VPN services, then charging control is achieved, but data loss or interaction failure may occur causing calling flow failure
Solution Approach 1:
By merging PPS and VPN services into a unified framework with common service execution, the patent eliminates the execute signalling interaction between separate services. The charging control is achieved through a single integrated service execution mechanism, removing the reliability risks associated with inter-service signalling interactions.
3Device complexity
If consistent charging solution is applied to all users in the same group, then charging management is simplified, but flexibility to adopt different charging solutions for free credit or charging credit is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging management by introducing different VPN package levels (e.g., free credit level, charging level) that can be assigned to different users or user groups. This allows the system to maintain simplified charging management within each segment while providing flexibility to adopt different charging solutions for different segments, such as free credit for certain users and charging credit for others.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is designed to be dynamic, allowing operators to configure different charging solutions for different VPN package levels. The system can adaptively apply free credit or charging credit based on the specific package level assigned to users, providing flexibility without requiring complex manual configuration for each user scenario.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple systems are involved for VPN service, then service coverage is expanded, but charging inconsistency and data synchronization issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal PPS service framework that can operate across multiple systems (e.g., different SCPs - Service Control Points) while maintaining consistent service execution and charging management. The unified framework ensures that data synchronization and charging consistency are maintained across multiple systems without requiring system-specific interaction protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a charging method and a system for a prepaid service. The method comprises: a Virtual Private Network (VPN) charging management module presets different VPN package charging levels in the prepaid service, receives a calling request from a user terminal, and judges whether at least one of a calling terminal and a called terminal is a valid VPN user and whether the call belongs to one of the different preset VPN package charging levels; a VPN charging module charges the calling terminal or the called terminal belonging to the valid VPN users for the call according to the VPN package charging level which the calling terminal or the called terminal belongs to, and will end the call if the amount of the user terminal account is insufficient. The invention enables flexible VPN charging in the prepaid service, not only enables the user to enjoy more flexible charging and to save cost conveniently, but also benefits service promotions of operators, and saves the development cost of operators at the same time by synchronizing to multiple systems via a synchronization module and without the need of changing the present business framework and developing interfaces.