Multi-Tenant Billing System for Sponsored Content Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data network billing models discourage users from accessing feature-rich content due to metered data plans, leading to reduced revenue for content providers and decreased user experience, as users are charged for every kilobyte of data used, which limits content experimentation and consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multi-tenant billing system that redirects data network usage fees for select 'free' content from end users to content providers, using deep packet inspection to track and filter data usage, allowing users to access designated content without incurring data charges while incentivizing providers to promote their content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If metered data plans are used to charge end users for every kilobyte of data used, then service providers can recover infrastructure costs, but end user access to feature-rich content is discouraged and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consumption costVSAvoidcontent access freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments content into sponsored (free for users) and non-sponsored content, creating separate billing streams. Sponsored content is funded by content providers or advertisers, while users access it without consuming their data allowances, thus resolving the contradiction between data cost recovery and content access freedom

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sponsored content intermediary layer where third-party sponsors (content providers or advertisers) pay for content delivery. This intermediary funding mechanism allows users to access content without direct charges, maintaining access freedom while still enabling service providers to recover infrastructure costs through alternative billing streams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If data access plans with capped amounts are offered to control costs, then service providers can manage infrastructure expenses, but end user content consumption is limited and experimentation is discouraged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata usage controlVSAvoidcontent consumption volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a segmented content delivery model where sponsored content is separated from traditional metered content. Users can consume sponsored content without it counting against their data caps, effectively providing unlimited access to sponsored content while maintaining control over non-sponsored content usage, thus increasing overall content consumption volume without losing infrastructure cost control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows users to exceed their traditional data caps for sponsored content without additional charges. Users can consume more content than their plan would normally allow because sponsored content is funded separately, enabling excessive content consumption in the sponsored category while maintaining strict control over non-sponsored content to preserve infrastructure cost management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If content providers want to monetize their content through sales and advertising, then revenue can be generated, but user access costs increase and content reach is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent revenueVSAvoidcontent distribution reach

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sponsorship as an intermediary funding model where content providers or advertisers sponsor content delivery. This allows content to reach users without direct user payment, expanding distribution reach. The sponsored content mechanism enables content providers to monetize through sponsorship deals rather than direct user charges, maintaining both revenue generation and broad accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional billing model by making the content provider or advertiser pay for content delivery rather than the end user. Instead of users paying to access content, the model allows sponsored content to be delivered free to users with costs borne by sponsors, thereby expanding content reach while maintaining monetization through alternative revenue streams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8862516B2Systems and methods for billing content providers for designated content delivered over a data network

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 DRNC HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

Some embodiments provide multi-tenant billing systems and methods whereby data network usage fees that are associated with delivering select content of different content providers over a data network are passed to the content provider that originates or is the source for that select content instead of the end users that request and receive the select content. A deep packet inspection server or a billing server may be configured with a list of identifiers to distinguish between the network usage that is related to the delivery of the designated free content from the network usage that is not related to the delivery of the designated free content. The network usage can be distinguished by filtering or processing usage logs that track the network usage using the configured list of identifiers. Such filtering or processing can be done in real-time or in a delayed manner in a standalone or integrated system.