SSL Gateway Client Hello Redirection for Data Cap Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication service providers face challenges in efficiently managing data volume limits and parental controls, particularly when users exceed data caps or lack premium subscriptions, leading to service denials that can negatively impact user experience and increase customer care costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that mediates data communication by using a data communication gateway to analyze SSL Client Hello messages, embed redirection extensions in SSL Server Hello messages, and redirect users to web servers for courtesy messages, allowing for dynamic adaptation of session layer communications and avoiding encryption barriers in HTTPS protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service providers deny data communication when users exceed data caps or lack premium subscriptions, then service providers can enforce data limits and parental controls, but user experience deteriorates and customer care costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary notification system that mediates between the service denial decision and the user. Instead of directly denying service, the system sends a courtesy notification message to the user's device explaining the denial reason (data cap exceeded, parental control restriction, or premium service requirement) and providing options to resolve the issue. This intermediary communication preserves user experience while maintaining service control enforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system enables self-service by providing users with actionable information directly on their devices. The courtesy messages include instructions and options that allow users to independently resolve service denials (such as upgrading services or understanding restrictions) without requiring customer care intervention, thereby reducing operational costs while maintaining adaptability.
2Productivity
If service providers implement strict service denial policies, then operational costs are reduced through automated enforcement, but customer care inquiries increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by providing users with immediate, explanatory notifications when service is denied. The courtesy messages clearly communicate the reason for denial and available resolution options, enabling users to take corrective action without contacting customer care. This feedback loop reduces the quantity of customer care inquiries while maintaining automated enforcement efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By equipping users with information and options directly in the notification messages, the system enables them to self-resolve service denials. Users can understand restrictions and take actions (such as service upgrades) without human intervention, thereby reducing customer care workload while preserving automated enforcement productivity.
3Loss of information
If service providers send detailed courtesy messages about service denial, then user understanding and satisfaction improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is segmented into distinct functional components: detection of service denial conditions, selection of appropriate notification templates, customization with user-specific information, and delivery through existing communication channels. This segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the overall system into manageable modules while maintaining high information transparency in the delivered messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses universal notification templates that can handle multiple service denial scenarios (data cap exceedance, parental control restrictions, premium service requirements) through a common framework. This multi-functionality approach reduces system complexity by avoiding the need for entirely separate notification systems for each denial type, while still providing detailed, customized information to users.
Data Source
AI summary
A data communication gateway. The gateway comprises a processor, a non-transitory memory, and an application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the application receives a secure socket layer (SSL) client hello message identifying a server and an application layer communication protocol from a client executing on one of a user equipment (UE), a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a desktop computer and determines to deny an application layer communication service access of the client to the identified server. In response to determining to deny service access, sending a SSL server hello message comprising a client redirection extension to the client that identifies a web server configured to provide a courtesy message associated with the service denial in response to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) GET message or a secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) GET message.