Communications Management System for Roaming Cost Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile operators incur higher roaming charges for sending advertisements to subscribers using foreign networks, which often exceed the revenue generated from advertisers, and existing systems do not effectively prevent advertisement delivery to roaming users.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that selectively manage content delivery to mobile devices based on the user's network status, using a Home Location Register (HLR) to determine roaming status and compare resource usage against allocated resources, preventing advertisement delivery if costs outweigh revenue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If advertisements are sent to roaming subscribers, then mobile marketing reach is improved, but roaming charges increase beyond revenue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobile marketing reachVSAvoidroaming charges
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks of the HLR database before delivering advertisements to determine the subscriber's network status. By checking roaming status in advance, the system prevents delivery to roaming subscribers, avoiding excessive roaming charges while maintaining marketing effectiveness to reachable subscribers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If HLR roaming status is checked, then cost control is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroaming chargesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions into existing infrastructure components. The HLR database serves both its traditional mobility management function and the additional function of roaming status verification for advertisement delivery. The message gateway simultaneously handles message routing and cost assessment, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems.

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

3Loss of energy

If resource usage is monitored and compared, then cost-revenue alignment is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost-revenue alignmentVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs resource usage assessment and cost-revenue comparison before advertisement delivery. By evaluating whether the mobile operator's allocation of resource usage can offset the cost of delivery in advance, the system prevents unnecessary processing and delivery of cost-ineffective advertisements, optimizing both cost alignment and processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2046079B1Method and system for managing delivery of communications
Publication Date: 2013.09.18 APPLE INC
  • EP2046079B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2046079B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Method and system for managing delivery of communications such as advertisements to mobile telephone subscribers where delivery to roaming subscribers is prevented or blocked when the subscriber is determined to be using a roaming network. On the basis of the roaming status, the resource usage that is available for delivery of content is compared with resource usage required to deliver the content prior to delivering the content to subscribers, and delivery of the content is enabled or otherwise based on the resource usage comparison.