Subscription Manager for Wireless Messaging Short Code Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of wireless messaging, users face challenges with limited short code resources, spam messages, opt-in/opt-out processes, and billing complexities in managing messaging activities across different carriers and service providers.
Innovation Solution
A Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor (MICV) system with a Subscription Manager (SM) module that processes messages, manages short codes, detects spam, handles opt-in/opt-out processes, and performs billing functions, operating between service users and providers to enhance messaging experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a Service Provider uses a Short Code to receive user messages, then the user experience is enhanced (easier to remember and enter), but the Short Code becomes a limited and scarce resource
Solution Approach 1:
The MICV acts as an intermediary between service providers and users, managing the allocation and administration of short codes. This mediator role allows the system to coordinate short code usage across multiple providers, preventing exhaustion of the resource while maintaining user-friendly access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The common short code environment provides a universal platform that serves multiple service providers simultaneously. A single short code infrastructure supports diverse services from different providers, maximizing the utilization of the limited short code resource base across the entire ecosystem.
2Productivity
If unsolicited messages are delivered to users, then service providers can reach users, but users experience nuisance and incur delivery charges
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by requiring users to explicitly opt-in before receiving messages from service providers. This advance consent mechanism prevents unsolicited messages from being delivered, eliminating the spam nuisance before it occurs while still allowing legitimate communication channels to function.
Solution Approach 2:
The opt-in/opt-out system provides continuous feedback between users and service providers. Users can control message flow by opting in or out, and the system responds by adjusting delivery accordingly. This feedback loop ensures users only receive desired messages while providers can still reach consenting users effectively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex billing activities are performed dynamically, then flexible pricing is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The MICV billing system acts as an intermediary between service providers and wireless carriers, handling the complexity of dynamic pricing and billing calculations. This mediator absorbs the computational and procedural complexity, allowing providers to offer flexible pricing models without each provider needing to build complex billing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple billing functions (price determination, transaction processing, billing management) into a single integrated MICV billing system. This consolidation merges complex operations into one unified platform, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining billing flexibility across multiple providers and carriers.
Data Source
AI summary
A subscription manager module or message processing engine operating within a messaging inter-carrier vendor (MICV) provides value added services to both service users (e.g., mobile telephone users) and service providers (e.g., information brokers, vendors, news sources, etc.). The MICV is disposed between a plurality of service users and a plurality of service providers and messages sent between these parties are processed by a subscription manager module, or message processing engine, which is configured to, among other things, manage short codes, detect undesirable spam messages, operate service user opt-in and opt-out processes, and perform billing functions.