Speed Preview Interface for Temporary Bandwidth Provisioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunications customers face difficulty in identifying the need for higher Internet bandwidth due to the increasing demand from high-bandwidth applications, leading to a challenge in enticing them to upgrade to higher-tier services.
Innovation Solution
A Speed Preview interface is provided, allowing customers to request a temporary Internet bandwidth increase using PacketCable Multimedia (PCMM) to change modem speeds on the fly, with eligibility verification and provisioning for a predetermined period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If service providers offer higher-tier services with increased bandwidth, then consumer demand for bandwidth-intensive applications is met, but customers have difficulty identifying the need for upgrades due to inability to concretely identify rates of data throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the higher-tier service experience by implementing a speed preview mechanism that temporarily simulates increased bandwidth speeds for current subscribers. This allows customers to experience the benefits of higher-tier services without actually upgrading, enabling them to concretely perceive the difference in data throughput rates before committing to a purchase decision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the bandwidth speed parameter for eligible customers by a predetermined amount (e.g., 5 Mbps increase) for a limited time period. This temporary parameter modification allows customers to directly experience the performance difference between their current service tier and the upgraded tier, making the abstract concept of bandwidth increase tangible and measurable.
2Quantity of substance
If service providers increase Internet bandwidth for customers, then consumer demand for high-bandwidth applications is satisfied, but service provider revenue increases only when customers permanently upgrade to higher tiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary demonstration of the upgraded service quality through speed preview before the customer actually upgrades. By allowing customers to experience higher speeds temporarily first, the system creates a persuasive effect that encourages permanent upgrades, thereby converting the temporary bandwidth increase into future revenue growth without immediately charging for the upgraded service.
Solution Approach 2:
The speed preview mechanism acts as an intermediary between the current service tier and the desired higher tier. It provides a temporary bridge that allows customers to experience premium speeds without permanently committing to the higher price point, serving as a marketing tool that mediates between customer skepticism and service provider revenue goals.
3Ease of operation
If service providers allow temporary speed increases, then customers can experience higher-tier speeds, but system complexity increases due to eligibility verification and temporary provisioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated eligibility verification system that automatically checks whether customers meet the criteria for speed preview (e.g., current service tier, account status, equipment compatibility) without requiring manual review. The system self-provisions the temporary bandwidth increase by automatically adjusting routing parameters and monitoring the trial period, reducing the need for complex manual intervention while maintaining operational control.
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary Internet bandwidth increase is provided. A speed preview interface is presented for obtaining a request for an Internet bandwidth increase from a customer. The eligibility of the customer for the requested increase of the Internet bandwidth is verified. The increase of Internet bandwidth for the customer is provisioned for a predetermined period of time based on the verification of eligibility of the customer. The predetermined period of time may be a temporary fixed period of time or a period of time based on billing status. When the predetermined period of time is a temporary fixed period of time, the increase in Internet bandwidth is terminated after lapse of the temporary fixed period of time.