Multi-layered Charging System Proxy Service Provider Broker
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, front-end service providers face challenges in identifying and utilizing back-end service providers for fulfilling communications requests, particularly due to lack of awareness of available providers and proper charging functions, leading to inefficient service delivery and potential service failures.
Innovation Solution
A method where a front-end service provider receives communications requests, determines suitable back-end service providers based on policies and attributes, and establishes connections through a proxy service to ensure fulfillment, including registering and using charging functions associated with these providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If front-end service providers directly manage back-end service providers, then service delivery efficiency improves, but system complexity and information management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service provider broker as an intermediary component that mediates between front-end service providers and back-end service providers. The broker maintains a registry of available back-end providers and their capabilities, allowing front-end providers to discover and utilize back-end services without direct management overhead. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by enabling efficient service delivery through centralized information management while preventing system complexity from proliferating across all provider interactions.
2Reliability
If multiple back-end service providers are utilized, then service capacity and reliability improve, but difficulty in identifying and managing providers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal service provider broker that serves multiple functions: registry maintenance, provider discovery, capability matching, and charging function coordination. This multi-functional intermediary enables front-end service providers to access multiple back-end providers through a single standardized interface, thereby improving service reliability through provider diversity while eliminating the difficulty of identifying and managing multiple back-end providers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If charging functions are integrated with service provider selection, then cost management improves, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging function selection with the service provider selection process within the service provider broker. When a front-end service provider requests back-end services, the broker simultaneously identifies suitable back-end providers and determines the appropriate charging functions, consolidating two information processing tasks into one unified operation. This merging improves cost management capability while preventing information processing volume from doubling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include receiving, by a computing system of a front-end service provider, a communications request including user data. The method may include determining, by the computing system of the front-end service provider, that one or more back-end service providers can fulfil the communications request. The method may include transmitting, by the computing system of the front-end service provider, data associated with the communications request and/or the one or more back-end service providers to a proxy service. The method may include receiving, by the computing system of the front-end service provider and from the proxy service, information associated with a back-end service provider of the one or more back-end service providers. The method may also include establishing, by the computing system of the front-end service provider, a communications connection with the back-end service provider and transmitting the user data such that the communications request is fulfilled.