Telecommunications Resource Pooling and Chargeback Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current telecommunications expense management systems within enterprises lack the ability to efficiently allocate and chargeback telecommunications services from multiple providers, failing to account for resource pooling and usage-based charging, leading to increased costs and lack of accountability.

Innovation Solution

A centralized resource management system that includes a usage analyzer, service plan optimizer, and resource planner to optimize service plans based on usage patterns, geography, and business functions, allowing for exact chargeback to agents and minimizing costs through resource pooling and aggregation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a per-device approach is used to manage telecommunications services, then individual device billing and service plan selection can be optimized, but the ability to pool resources and aggregate purchasing across multiple service providers is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice plan selectionVSAvoidresource pooling capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple service provider resources into a unified pool that can be allocated across multiple devices. The system aggregates purchasing power across the enterprise and allows dynamic allocation of telecommunication resources from multiple providers, resolving the contradiction between individual device optimization and resource pooling capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If traditional billing methods are used that follow service provider arcane methods, then service provider profit maximization is achieved, but enterprise cost optimization and usage-based chargeback are prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling accuracyVSAvoidcost optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism that tracks actual usage patterns and uses this information to optimize service plan selection and allocate resources dynamically. The system continuously monitors usage, adjusts allocations, and performs usage-based chargebacks, enabling both accurate billing and cost optimization simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the billing parameters from traditional service provider-centric methods to enterprise-centric usage-based charging. It transforms the cost structure by implementing usage-based chargeback mechanisms and optimizing service plans based on actual consumption patterns rather than fixed provider-defined plans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If resources are not pooled and aggregated across service providers, then individual service provider relationships are simpler, but enterprise purchasing power and service cost are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice management complexityVSAvoidpurchasing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary resource management system that sits between multiple service providers and enterprise devices. This intermediary aggregates purchasing power, manages relationships with multiple providers, and allocates resources optimally, thereby increasing enterprise purchasing power without proportionally increasing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If usage patterns are not analyzed and optimized, then service plan selection is simpler, but cost effectiveness and usage matching are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice plan selectionVSAvoidtelecommunication cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of usage patterns to predict future telecommunication needs and pre-optimizes service plan selections. By analyzing historical usage data in advance, the system can proactively select cost-effective service plans and allocate resources before usage occurs, reducing costs without requiring complex real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8346212B2Resource and utilization management of telecommunication devices
Publication Date: 2013.01.01 GLOBAL WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
  • US8346212B2 patent drawing
  • US8346212B2 patent drawing
  • US8346212B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems for resource and utilization management of telecommunications devices within an enterprise, where the enterprise contracts for telecommunications service from one or more service providers, comprising components configured to receive quantity data corresponding to the amount of telecommunications service used by the enterprise per period into a resource management system including a microprocessor executing programmed instructions, group telecommunications devices into pools of shared use for the telecommunications service, the pools of shared use including one or more telecommunication devices, analyze for each telecommunications device telecommunications services plans available from the service providers to determine the total quantity of telecommunications service provided by the service providers and the cost per unit of telecommunications service, select selected telecommunications service plans for each telecommunications device that accommodate a target quantity of projected telecommunications service use per period, and subscribe the telecommunications devices to the selected service plans.