Service Plan Switching Validation by Plan and Charge Type
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service delivery systems lack the ability to effectively manage and control plan switches between different service plans for tenants, leading to potential inappropriate or unauthorized changes that can disrupt service delivery and billing.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and service delivery program that includes a storage device and controller, which utilize plan information and allowable/disallowable switch information to determine whether a plan switch is permissible based on the nature and type of current and intended plans, preventing unauthorized switches and ensuring timely execution of allowed switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows free plan switching between different service plans, then customer flexibility and adaptability are improved, but service integrity and billing accuracy deteriorate due to unauthorized or inappropriate switches
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation checks before allowing a plan switch to occur. The determination unit evaluates whether a switch from the current plan to the target plan is appropriate based on pre-defined criteria involving plan types and charge types. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized switches before they can compromise service integrity or billing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit acts as an intermediary between the plan switching request and the actual plan change execution. It mediates by validating the switch request against established rules (plan type compatibility, charge type compatibility) and only permits switches that meet the criteria, thus maintaining service integrity while still allowing legitimate plan changes.
2Reliability
If the system implements strict validation rules for plan switches, then service integrity is improved, but system complexity and operational difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The validation process is segmented into distinct, manageable components: identifying the current plan type and charge type, identifying the target plan type and charge type, comparing compatibility between current and target plans, and making a determination. This segmentation reduces operational complexity by breaking down the validation process into clear, sequential steps that are easier to implement and maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter-based validation by comparing specific parameters (plan type, charge type) of the current and target plans against pre-defined compatibility rules. This parameter-driven approach simplifies the validation logic by focusing on key distinguishing features rather than complex overall plan comparisons, making the system easier to operate while maintaining integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system validates plan switches based on detailed plan characteristics, then billing accuracy is improved, but processing time and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation based on key plan characteristics (plan type and charge type) before completing the plan switch. By checking these critical parameters in advance, the system ensures billing accuracy is maintained while avoiding the need for extensive post-switch verification, thus reducing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation focuses on specific critical parameters (plan type, charge type) rather than examining all plan characteristics in detail. This selective parameter validation maintains billing accuracy by checking the most important billing-relevant features while significantly reducing processing time compared to a comprehensive review of all plan details.
Data Source
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AI summary
A storage device (24) stores: plan information indicating plans for using a service; and first allowable/disallowable switch information indicating allowability or disallowability of a plan switch from a current plan for which a tenant using the service has a contract to another plan intended to switch thereto in association with a combination of a nature of the current plan intended to switch therefrom and a nature of the plan intended to switch thereto. Upon issuance of an instruction to switch from the current plan intended to switch therefrom to the plan intended to switch thereto, a service deliverer (25a) determines whether the plan switch is allowable or disallowable based on the plan information and the first allowable/disallowable switch information, keeps from making the plan switch when the plan switch is determined to be disallowable, and makes the plan switch when the plan switch is determined to be allowable.