Scalable Communications Management Network Architecture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communications management networks face scalability issues as the number of subscribers increases, leading to high costs and potential service outages when processing limits are reached, and customers with prepaid services often struggle with timely account replenishment, especially if they are active users.
Innovation Solution
A scalable communications management network architecture that includes multiple session management modules, a services hub, and a data warehouse, allowing for easy reassignment of subscribers and automatic account replenishment when balances fall below a threshold, using ISCP modules and SMS gateways to manage communication sessions and credit balances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional computer systems are used to manage customer accounts and credit balances, then the system can handle current subscriber loads, but the system reaches finite processing limits requiring expensive replacement or reconfiguration when limits are approached
Solution Approach 1:
The management network is divided into multiple session management modules that can be independently added or removed. Each module handles a portion of the subscriber load, allowing the system to scale by simply adding more modules rather than replacing the entire system when processing limits are approached.
2Reliability
If traditional management network architecture is used, then current subscriber management is feasible, but service outages and high costs occur when processing limits are reached requiring system replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic load balancing and hot-swappable module architecture, allowing modules to be added, removed, or reconfigured without taking the entire system offline. This maintains service availability while enabling flexible system evolution as subscriber loads increase.
3Ease of operation
If customers manually replenish prepaid accounts, then customers maintain control over their spending, but frequent replenishment becomes onerous and complex especially for active users
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic replenishment functionality where customer accounts are automatically refilled when balances fall below predetermined thresholds. This eliminates the need for manual intervention by active users while maintaining control through configurable threshold settings and notification systems.
4Reliability
If prepaid services require manual replenishment, then customers have control over credit usage, but timely replenishment is difficult to ensure leading to service termination
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors customer account balances and provides automated notifications when thresholds are approached. This feedback mechanism ensures customers are aware of their credit status and can take action if desired, while the automatic replenishment feature ensures service continuity even if customers do not respond.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications management network for managing subscribers' communication sessions. The management network includes multiple sets of session management modules or servers (e.g., Intelligent Service Control Points), a services hub and a data warehouse. The network may also include a gateway for routing text messages. Each set of session management modules includes a plurality of modules, and each subscriber is assigned to one set of modules with one of the modules as a primary and another as a secondary or backup. Subscribers are grouped according to geographical area (e.g., by zip code, by area code), service area or other criteria, and all subscribers within a group are assigned to the same primary and secondary modules. Management of subscribers' communication sessions is load balanced by reassigning groups of subscribers to different sets of session management modules. Each module tracks account statuses (e.g., prepaid services balances) for its assigned subscribers.