Proxy Server Application Data Usage Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network service providers charge users based on total data consumption, which can lead to high costs for users accessing data-intensive content on mobile devices, as they cannot differentiate between data used by applications and other activities.
Innovation Solution
A system that registers applications with a network service provider, establishing separate connections to measure and account for data usage by specific applications, allowing the provider to calculate bills based on application-specific data usage, thereby exempting users from additional charges for data-intensive content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If network service providers charge users based on total data consumption, then the billing system is simple to implement, but users incur high costs when accessing data-intensive content through applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments total data consumption into application-specific data usage by introducing a proxy server that intercepts and measures data traffic for individual applications. This allows the billing system to differentiate between data used by registered applications versus other data consumption, enabling selective billing exemptions for specific applications while maintaining overall billing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary component between the application and the network. This proxy server acts as a mediator that establishes separate connections to measure application-specific data usage, allowing the network service provider to accurately track and differentiate data consumption without requiring changes to the application itself or the core billing infrastructure.
2Quantity of substance
If the provider establishes separate connections to measure application-specific data usage, then user data costs are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of establishing and managing separate connections for data measurement. By positioning the proxy server as a mediator between the application and the network, the system can implement detailed data tracking without requiring complex modifications to the application or core network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The application registers itself with the network service provider, providing self-identification information that enables the proxy server to automatically establish and track separate data connections. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for manual configuration and complex centralized management of application-specific connections.
3Ease of operation
If users access data-intensive content through registered applications, then content accessibility is improved, but data consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the billing parameter from total data consumption to application-specific data usage. By registering specific applications with the network service provider, the system modifies how data consumption is measured and billed, allowing users to access data-intensive content through registered applications without incurring additional charges, effectively decoupling content accessibility from data cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for measuring data utilization attributable to use by an application being executed on a mobile device. The system has a server operable to register the application and transmit information to establish a connection between the application and a proxy server. The system also has a proxy server operable to establish a first connection with the application, receive direction to establish a second connection with a target endpoint, establish the second connection between the proxy server and the target endpoint, pass data between the target endpoint and the application using the established connections, and measure the amount of data passed between the target endpoint and the application.