Telecom Subscription Mediator for Privacy and Simplicity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for telco customers to obtain service subscription offers are often complex and may require manual login to their telco account, posing difficulties for users and raising security concerns by sharing sensitive account information.
Innovation Solution
A method and device configuration that allows a radio device to request and manage service subscription offers directly with the telco through a user interface, using a service provider-provided address to contact the telco without requiring the user to log in to their telco account, thus simplifying the process and maintaining privacy by not sharing sensitive IDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the telco customer manually logs in to the telco customer portal and enters the username of the service account, then the service subscription offer can be activated, but the procedure becomes complicated and security concerns arise from sharing sensitive account information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between the telco customer portal and the service provider. Instead of the customer manually sharing their service account username with the telco, the intermediary system automatically exchanges subscription information between the telco portal and service provider using automated protocols. This eliminates the need for customers to perform manual login steps and share sensitive information, while still enabling the service subscription offer to be activated.
2Reliability
If the telco is provided with the username of the service account for activation, then the offer can be activated, but security and integrity risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system serves as a secure mediator that prevents direct exposure of sensitive service account usernames to the telco. The system uses automated protocols to exchange only the necessary subscription activation information without requiring the telco to handle or store the customer's service account credentials. This maintains security and integrity by ensuring that sensitive account information is never shared with the telco, while still enabling reliable offer activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automation where the intermediary system automatically performs the subscription activation process without requiring manual customer intervention. The automated protocols handle the exchange of information between the telco portal and service provider, eliminating the need for customers to manually provide sensitive information. This both improves security by reducing human handling of sensitive data and maintains reliability through automated verification and activation processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed in a radio device comprising a client of a service. In accordance with an embodiment, the method comprises sending, from the radio device to the service provider, a request requesting information about whether a telecommunications operator (telco), which the radio device is connected via, provides any offer for a subscription to the service; receiving a message comprising an indication that the telco provides such an offer and an address for contacting the telco regarding said offer; sending a message by means of the received address of the telco, regarding available offers; receiving a confirmation message comprising information about an available offer for a subscription to the service; receiving an indication that the available offer is accepted; and, to the service provider, sending a message indicating that the available offer has been accepted and should be activated.