Roaming Data Control via Application-Level Permission Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often disable data services while roaming to avoid high charges, but this restricts access to valuable data services and can result in unintended data traffic, depriving both users and network operators of revenue-generating opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that manage application usage by checking a user roaming profile to prevent applications from launching when roaming, ensuring no unauthorized data traffic occurs, allowing selective authorization of applications for data access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If users disable data service capability on their wireless device while roaming, then high roaming data charges are avoided, but access to valuable data services is restricted and revenue-generating opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data service capability by application, allowing different applications to have different roaming permissions. Instead of a blanket enable/disable for all data services, the system divides control into individual application-level permissions, enabling users to selectively allow specific apps (e.g., messaging, email) to access data while roaming while blocking others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control where users can adjust application-specific roaming permissions based on their current needs and location. The system transitions from a static global data service setting to a dynamic, flexible permission system that can be modified at any time to suit changing user requirements.
2Loss of energy
If users disable data service capability on their wireless device, then data charges are avoided, but unintended breakthrough traffic (DNS lookup, certificate validation, PDP context) may still occur and incur charges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing application-specific roaming permission settings before data traffic is generated. The system proactively prevents potential breakthrough traffic by checking whether the launching application has roaming permissions granted, thereby blocking DNS lookups, certificate validations, and PDP context establishment for unauthorized applications before they can generate unwanted data charges.
3Ease of operation
If a blanket enablement of data services while roaming is allowed, then full access to data services is maintained, but high charges are incurred and network operators lose revenue control
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data service access by individual applications, allowing network operators and users to control which specific applications can generate data traffic while roaming. This granular control enables selective enablement of data services for permitted applications while maintaining blocking for others, optimizing both user experience and cost management.
4Reliability
If application-specific roaming control is implemented, then selective data access is enabled and unintended charges are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling users to directly configure application-specific roaming permissions through the device interface. Users can independently manage which applications are allowed to access data while roaming without requiring external assistance or complex configuration procedures, simplifying the user experience despite the underlying complexity of the control mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (100, 200), in a user equipment device, for managing use of applications installed on the user equipment device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a request from a user to launch an application (110, 210), checking whether the user equipment device is roaming (120, 220), and, if the user equipment device is roaming, consulting a user roaming profile (130, 230) and preventing launch of the application if the user roaming profile indicates that launch of the application is not permitted while roaming (140, 240). Also disclosed are a computer program product for carrying out the above method and a user equipment device (300, 400) configured to carry out the above method.