Proxy Network Element for Multi-Protocol Service Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in controlling users' service usage efficiently, particularly due to the need for integrating different customer care and billing systems and network elements, which requires significant resources and can be hindered by proprietary protocols and the inability of existing systems to respond to on-line queries effectively.
Innovation Solution
A proxy network element is introduced to communicate with various network elements using multiple protocols, providing access to information stores and supporting multiple protocols, enabling efficient service usage control by translating requests and managing service subscriptions across different systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If network elements directly access customer care and billing systems to control service usage, then service usage control capability is improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase due to proprietary protocols and multiple information stores
Solution Approach 1:
A proxy network element is introduced as an intermediary between service controlling network elements and customer care and billing systems. The proxy handles protocol translation and information store access, allowing network elements to control service usage without directly integrating with complex billing systems. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling automation capability while isolating integration complexity to the proxy layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy network element provides universal access to multiple information stores using different protocols (e.g., LDAP, HTTP, SOAP). Instead of requiring each network element to implement multiple protocol-specific connections, the proxy provides a unified interface that handles various protocols and information store types, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining broad service usage control capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol translations are implemented for different customer care and billing systems, then interoperability is improved, but resource investment and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy network element serves as a centralized intermediary that handles all protocol translations between diverse network elements and various customer care and billing systems. Rather than requiring each network element to implement its own protocol translation capabilities, the proxy consolidates this function, improving interoperability while containing translation complexity within the proxy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of information stores through the proxy, allowing multiple network elements to access the same underlying data sources via different protocols without direct connections. This copying approach enables interoperability by providing protocol-specific views of data while avoiding the need for duplicate infrastructure investments.
3Quantity of substance
If existing customer care and billing systems are used for service usage monitoring, then infrastructure resources are reduced, but responsiveness to on-line queries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the service usage control function into two parts: (1) the customer care and billing system maintains subscription information in a structured format, and (2) the proxy network element handles on-line queries and service usage monitoring with optimized response handling. This segmentation allows the billing system to remain resource-efficient while the proxy provides rapid response to on-line service control queries.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy network element performs preliminary actions by caching subscription information and pre-processing queries before they reach the customer care and billing system. This allows the system to maintain lean infrastructure while improving response speed through local processing and caching at the proxy level.
Data Source
AI summary
A proxy network element for controlling access to services in a communications system is disclosed. The proxy network element is configured to communicate with at least one further network element using a protocol belonging to a plurality of protocols, the at least one further network element controlling service usage based on service subscriptions. The proxy network element is also configured to provide access for the at least one further network element to at least one information store storing information relating to service subscriptions. The proxy network element provides support for communicating using the plurality of protocols and support for accessing a plurality of different information stores.