Roaming UE Billing Validation and Carrier Selection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Roaming users face high and unclear service charges due to different charging systems and expensive rates, with existing methods lacking effective validation of billing information and optimization of service usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a UE to extract and validate billing information, calculate cumulative charges, and select optimal communication carriers based on usage patterns, while providing data-free services and usage limits to manage roaming costs effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If roaming service is provided through partnership with foreign carriers, then roaming service coverage is improved, but service charge increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroaming service coverageVSAvoidservice charge
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously extracts billing information from SMS messages, validates it against carrier information, and calculates cumulative charges without requiring manual intervention or additional charging infrastructure. This self-service approach enables the system to provide roaming services while managing costs through automated billing verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If billing information is provided via text message, then information delivery is simplified, but information reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation deliveryVSAvoidbilling information validity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts billing information from SMS messages and validates it by comparing against carrier information obtained from network registration. This feedback mechanism verifies the authenticity of billing information received via text message, ensuring reliability while maintaining the simplicity of SMS-based delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The UE acts as an intermediary that receives billing information via SMS, cross-checks it with authoritative carrier information from the network, and only accepts it as valid when they match. This intermediary verification process ensures the reliability of otherwise simple SMS-based information delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If comprehensive billing information is monitored, then cost control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroaming chargeVSAvoidbilling monitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE utilizes its existing messaging and network communication capabilities to perform multiple functions: receiving billing SMS, extracting information, validating against carrier data, calculating cumulative charges, and providing alerts. This multi-functional approach achieves comprehensive billing monitoring without adding dedicated complex hardware or systems.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3616418B1Method and apparatus for providing roaming service
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3616418B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3616418B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP3616418B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c

AI summary

A method of a roaming user equipment (UE) according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes obtaining billing information of the roaming UE from a message received from a communication carrier server, sending a billing information authentication request message including the obtained billing information to an authentication server, and receiving an authentication result regarding whether the billing information is valid.