Split Billing for Multi-Party Telecom Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional telecommunications billing systems are inadequate for handling scenarios where multiple parties need to be billed separately for different types of telecommunications services associated with a single user and multiple electronic devices, such as telematics and infotainment services in a car, leading to manual coordination issues.
Innovation Solution
A system that activates a user on multiple billing systems using unique IMSI/MSISDN pairs for each type of service, allowing data from user devices to be routed through specific APNs and generating separate call detail records for each billing system, enabling differentiated billing for telematics and infotainment services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single billing system is used for all telecommunications services, then billing system complexity is reduced, but the ability to separately bill multiple parties for different services is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the billing system into multiple independent billing systems, each responsible for specific service types (telematics, infotainment). Each billing system maintains separate rate plans, customer information, and billing logic, enabling independent operation and separate billing of different parties while reducing the complexity of any single billing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mediation layer that includes profile information and mediation data. This intermediary structure enables communication and coordination between multiple billing systems, allowing them to work together seamlessly while maintaining their independence. The mediation layer handles the complexity of inter-system coordination without requiring changes to the individual billing systems.
2Measurement precision
If multiple billing systems are used for different services, then accurate separate billing for multiple parties is achieved, but system management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal profile information structure that can be used across all billing systems. The profile information contains customer-specific data that is relevant to all services, while mediation data contains service-specific information. This universal structure enables consistent and accurate billing across multiple systems without requiring separate management procedures for each system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary activation of the user on each billing system before service delivery. During activation, the system pre-configures the appropriate profile information and mediation data for each billing system based on the service type. This preliminary setup ensures that when billing occurs, all necessary information is already in place, eliminating the need for complex real-time coordination and reducing management complexity.
3Productivity
If manual coordination is used for multi-party billing, then system complexity is reduced, but time consumption and efficiency are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated feedback mechanisms between billing systems through the mediation layer. When billing events occur in one system, the mediation layer automatically communicates relevant information to other billing systems and updates the profile information accordingly. This automated feedback loop eliminates manual coordination, ensures consistent billing across all parties, and significantly improves billing efficiency without increasing system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a typical telecommunications billing system, a user is activated on a single billing system where taxation, invoicing, and retail billing functions are performed and maintained. However, as embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) and Internet of Things (loT) technologies become more widespread, scenarios arise in which a single billing system is unable to adequately meet the needs of telecommunications service providers and end users. For example, a scenario in which a single user purchases a car having telematics capabilities (e.g., navigation or real-time monitoring of driver behavior) and infotainment capabilities (e.g., streaming multimedia such as movies or music to an electronic device installed inside of the car) could raise such concerns. This is particularly true if the telematics usage is charged under a first rate plan (e.g., a flat monthly fee) that is billed directly to a first party such as a car dealership or a car manufacturer, while the infotainment usage is charged under a second rate plan (e.g., a per-gigabyte fee) that is billed directly to a second party such as the user herself. Under traditional billing systems, a single bill would be generated and sent to only one party (e.g., the car dealership or the user), causing the party receiving the bill to manually coordinate payment with one or more other financially responsible parties. These and other problems exist with traditional billing systems. Therefore, a need exists to provide split billing for a user across multiple billing systems such that two or more individual parties may be billed separately for telecommunications services associated with a single user having multiple electronic devices.