Roaming Service Selection via Intermediary Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile service subscribers lack the freedom to choose their roaming operator or pricing when using services outside their home network, as they are restricted by pre-defined agreements between their home operator and local operators.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows subscribers to select and purchase roaming services from multiple providers, generating agreements between the subscriber and chosen providers, and authorizing these services for delivery by visiting operators, with the home network operator acting as an intermediary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-defined agreements between home operator and local operators are used, then roaming service reliability is ensured, but subscriber freedom of choice is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the roaming service selection process into multiple independent components: home operator services, visiting operator services, and intermediary platform services. This allows subscribers to selectively choose services from different operators while maintaining reliable connectivity through the home operator's coordination role.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary platform that mediates between the home operator, visiting operators, and subscribers. This intermediary enables subscribers to access multiple visiting operators beyond pre-defined agreements while the home operator maintains control over service quality and billing, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and choice.
2Device complexity
If home operator charges for roaming services through pre-defined agreements, then service delivery is simplified, but pricing flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary platform acts as a billing and agreement management mediator between subscribers and multiple visiting operators. It handles complex pricing negotiations and agreement management centrally, allowing subscribers to access flexible pricing from multiple operators while the home operator's service delivery infrastructure remains relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic changes in pricing parameters and service terms through the intermediary platform. Subscribers can negotiate and select from multiple pricing models and service conditions from different visiting operators, while the underlying service delivery mechanism remains standardized and manageable.
3Reliability
If subscribers are restricted to preferred operators in agreements, then service quality is controlled, but service variety is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service provision into quality-controlled home operator functions and diverse visiting operator functions. The home operator maintains quality control through the intermediary platform's coordination and monitoring, while subscribers gain access to a variety of services from multiple visiting operators that would otherwise be unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary platform provides universal coordination capabilities that work across multiple visiting operators. It enables the home operator to maintain quality control standards while allowing subscribers to access diverse services from different operators, making the system both quality-assured and service-variety-rich.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for providing subscriber selected roaming mobile services. In use, a plurality of mobile services provided by at least one mobile service provider and available in a zone outside of a home network of a mobile device are determined for the mobile device, the mobile services including at least one voice service, at least one data service, and at least one voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service. The determined mobile services are offered to a user of the mobile device, and a selection from the user of at least two of the mobile services is received. For each of the selected mobile services, an agreement associated with the selected mobile service is generated, information associated with the agreement is provided to a home network operator, and the selected mobile service for the mobile device is authorized.