Service Control Point for Centralized Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication network systems face complexity in supporting multiple standards and billing processes, leading to difficulties in providing convenient access and authorization for new or enhanced services, especially for subscribers using multiple service providers.
Innovation Solution
A service control point system that processes communication service requests for both pre-paid and post-paid services, using pre-processors for different communication standards and directing event records to appropriate billing systems, allowing for centralized authorization and billing across multiple service providers and standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network operators maintain and operate networks based on several communication standards to serve existing subscribers, then service continuity is maintained, but network complexity and configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into separate standard-specific access points (first access point for first standard, second access point for second standard) that all feed into a unified service control point. This allows each access point to be optimized for its specific standard while the service control point handles standard-independent processing, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The service control point acts as an intermediary between multiple standard-specific network elements and the billing system. It receives service data from various standards, normalizes it into a common format, and forwards it to the billing system, thereby simplifying the billing system's interface requirements and reducing configuration complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If service providers add new network services based on additional standards to existing networks, then service offerings are enhanced, but configuration complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service control point is designed as a universal platform that can handle service data from multiple communication standards through a single interface to the billing system. This multi-functional design allows the system to accommodate new services and standards without requiring separate configuration paths, reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes service data at the access points before it reaches the service control point, converting different standard formats into a standardized internal representation. This preliminary normalization action simplifies subsequent processing at the service control point and reduces the complexity of adding new services.
3Reliability
If users undergo authorization or re-authorization processes to access services, then service access is controlled, but user convenience and adoption decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The service control point automatically performs authorization decisions based on pre-configured policies and subscriber profiles without requiring user intervention. The system self-determines whether to grant access based on account status and service terms, eliminating manual authorization steps and improving user convenience while maintaining control.
4Manufacturing precision
If service providers maintain separate user account and billing information for each provider, then billing accuracy is maintained, but user access to multiple providers becomes awkward and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple provider-specific billing interfaces into a single unified billing system through the service control point. The service control point collects service data from all providers, normalizes billing information, and interfaces with a single billing system, thereby simplifying multi-provider access while maintaining billing accuracy through standardized processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Centralized billing is provided by processing requests for pre-paid and post-paid services at a service control point that is configured to prepare one or more associated event records. Event records associated with provided services can be stored at the service control point or in a remote database, or the service control point can direct the event records to a central billing system that is configured to bill subscribers directly or to transmit event records to one or more payment systems via a financial gateway. Service control point service logic is configured to permit negative account balances for post-paid subscribers, while account balances remain positive for pre-paid subscribers. Credit limits can be associated with post-paid subscribers, and service authorization can be based on such credit limits.