Sensor-Based Usage Parameter Generation for Real-Time Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the ability to accurately and efficiently perform real-time, granular billing for resource usage in shared economy platforms, such as vehicle rentals, based on actual consumption patterns rather than coarse metrics like time or distance.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that utilizes sensors to monitor and capture data on various parameters during device operation, generating usage parameters to initiate micro-payment transactions that reflect actual resource consumption, enabling precise billing based on real-time sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coarse metrics like time or distance are used for billing, then billing simplicity is maintained, but billing accuracy and fairness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or coarse billing mechanisms with automated sensor-based measurement systems. Sensors continuously monitor resource consumption parameters (fuel level, mileage, brake wear, etc.) and automatically generate usage data, eliminating the need for manual metering or estimation while providing precise, objective billing metrics that reflect actual resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service billing by having the device automatically monitor its own resource consumption through integrated sensors and autonomously report usage data to the billing system. The device serves itself by collecting, processing, and transmitting its own operational metrics, eliminating the need for external manual measurement or customer self-reporting.
2Measurement precision
If real-time sensor data processing is implemented, then billing accuracy improves, but computational burden and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the essential billing-relevant parameters from sensor data streams, rather than analyzing all available sensor information. By selectively extracting fuel level changes, mileage increments, and other billing-critical metrics while filtering out redundant data, the system maintains high billing accuracy while minimizing computational overhead and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary processing of sensor data locally on the device, pre-calculating usage metrics and preparing billing-relevant information before transmission. By aggregating sensor readings and computing usage parameters in advance during operation, the system reduces the computational burden during billing cycles and minimizes the amount of raw data that needs to be transmitted over the network.
3Measurement precision
If granular resource consumption tracking is implemented, then billing fairness improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments resource consumption tracking into distinct, manageable parameters (fuel consumption, mileage, brake usage, tire wear) that can be independently measured by dedicated sensors. Each parameter is tracked separately with its own measurement and reporting mechanism, allowing the system to maintain granular tracking accuracy while organizing data processing into modular, simplified segments rather than attempting to analyze complex aggregated data.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include computer-implemented systems and processes that perform operations consistent with services provisioned to a device based on real-time sensor data indicative of and characterizing a user's operation of the device and additionally or alternatively, a system or apparatus that includes the device. For example, the device may obtain stored data identifying a provisioned service, and may obtain sensor data captured by an on-board or external sensor during an operation of the device. Based on the sensor data, the device may generate a usage parameter that characterizes the operation of the device during a temporal period, and perform an operation consistent with the provisioned service in accordance with the generated usage parameter.