Subscription Management System for Redundant Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

As users subscribe to multiple online data sources, subscription management becomes cumbersome, often leading to redundant subscriptions and overpayment due to the need for higher-priced bundles instead of lower-priced upgrades.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines if a user has access to a data source and identifies upgrade packages that allow access, using a datastore to manage authorizations and present users with sorted upgrade options based on cost, profit margin, and marketing preferences, thereby automating subscription management and preventing redundant subscriptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users subscribe to multiple data sources manually, then users can access desired data sources, but subscription management becomes cumbersome and leads to redundant subscriptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubscription managementVSAvoidtime spent managing subscriptions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors user subscriptions, checks for redundancy, and identifies upgrade opportunities without requiring manual user intervention. The system self-manages the complex task of tracking multiple subscriptions and comparing them against available upgrade packages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the user's subscription portfolio and provides feedback about potential redundancies and upgrade opportunities. This feedback loop enables the system to adaptively manage subscriptions by comparing current subscriptions against available packages and notifying users of optimization possibilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If users are presented with higher-priced bundles to ensure access to all desired data sources, then access completeness is improved, but users may overpay by not selecting lower-priced upgrade options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to data sourcesVSAvoidmoney spent on subscriptions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system analyzes multiple parameters including user preferences, access requirements, and pricing structures to dynamically determine the optimal subscription package. By changing the evaluation parameters from simply ensuring access to optimizing the balance between access completeness and cost, the system identifies the most economical subscription option.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of presenting users with complete bundled packages that guarantee all access needs, the system identifies partial upgrade options that provide exactly the needed access without unnecessary extras. This partial action approach avoids over-subscription by matching upgrades precisely to user requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If the system presents all available upgrade packages to users, then users have complete information, but the complexity of decision-making increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about upgrade optionsVSAvoidcomplexity of subscription options
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and highlights only the most relevant upgrade information based on user needs and preferences, separating essential details from unnecessary complexity. By taking out only the critical factors needed for decision-making, the system reduces information overload while maintaining completeness of essential information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments upgrade information into organized categories and prioritized lists, breaking down the complex set of available packages into manageable segments. This segmentation allows users to process information in structured portions rather than facing all options simultaneously, reducing perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7805315B2Subscription management
Publication Date: 2010.09.28 TAHOE RES LTD
  • US7805315B2 patent drawing
  • US7805315B2 patent drawing
  • US7805315B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A process, method, and system includes determining if a user has access to a data source. In response to the user being denied access to the data source, a determination is made concerning which upgrade packages would allow the user to access the particular data source.