Rate Analysis System for Automatic Plan Selection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users often fail to select the best service plan due to overwhelming information and lack of time or awareness, leading to overpayment for services, and service providers face challenges in attracting customers and predicting rate plan changes.

Innovation Solution

A multi-factor rate analysis system that analyzes user-specific usage patterns, preferences, and external factors to identify advantageous rate plans, facilitate switching, and provide personalized savings suggestions through various modules and databases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users manually analyze rate plans and usage patterns, then they can make informed decisions, but it requires significant time and effort that most users do not have

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of rate plan selectionVSAvoidtime required for analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs rate plan analysis without requiring user intervention. The analysis engine autonomously collects usage data, retrieves rate plan information, performs calculations, and generates recommendations, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring users to manually analyze complex rate structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis with an automated computational system. The analysis engine uses software-based algorithms to process usage patterns and rate plan data, substituting human cognitive effort with automated information processing that is both faster and more accurate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If service providers offer multiple rate plans to attract different customer segments, then customer acquisition improves, but the complexity of managing and analyzing these plans increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to attract different customer segmentsVSAvoidcomplexity of rate plan management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments rate plans into distinct categories and characteristics, analyzing each plan's features separately. The analysis engine breaks down complex rate structures into comparable components such as usage thresholds, pricing tiers, and service inclusions, making it easier to manage and evaluate multiple plans across different customer segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The analysis engine serves multiple functions simultaneously: it analyzes current rate plans, predicts future usage patterns, calculates cost comparisons, and generates recommendations. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single unified platform that handles the full spectrum of rate plan management tasks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If users continuously monitor rate plan changes and usage patterns, then they can optimize their billing, but most users lack the interest or ability to keep up with overwhelming information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoney saved on billingVSAvoidease of maintaining rate plan optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the analysis engine regularly monitors rate plan changes, updates usage patterns, and recalculates recommendations. This automated feedback mechanism ensures users continuously receive optimized recommendations without needing to manually track changes, making the system easy to maintain while maximizing savings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of potential rate plan changes before they impact the user. The analysis engine proactively identifies upcoming rate plan modifications and predicts their impact on the user's billing, allowing users to make informed decisions in advance rather than reacting to changes after they occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20110071923A1System and method for automatic analysis of rate information
Publication Date: 2011.03.24 KENDE MICHAEL
  • US20110071923A1 patent drawing
  • US20110071923A1 patent drawing
  • US20110071923A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A multi-factor rate analysis system and method for analyzing service plan rates, service providers, and savings other information is provided. Rate information may be based on one or more of historical and other user specific usage information and preferences, current rate information for one or more services as well as other information. This information way be used to identify one or more rate plans that are advantageous to a user, enable the user to select from the identified plans, facilitate the ability Of the user to switch from one rate plan to another and provide other benefits and advantages.