Telecom Expense Management Reconciliation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Telecom Expense Management (TEM) systems often lack real-time verification and reconciliation with carrier systems, leading to inaccurate data, rejected changes, and unexpected cost increases due to obsolete or incorrect device information, which hampers automated procurement and plan modifications in large enterprises.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that verifies and reconciles local TEM systems with carrier systems in real-time through API interfaces or Robotic Process Automation (RPA), ensuring device information accuracy by updating records before executing changes, and using customizable logic to automate decision-making for plan adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If real-time verification and reconciliation with carrier systems is implemented, then data accuracy is improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary reconciliation system that acts as a mediator between the TEM system and carrier systems. This intermediary layer performs automated verification and reconciliation of device information, plan details, and pricing data, thereby improving data accuracy without requiring direct complex integrations between all systems. The intermediary handles the complexity of real-time verification internally while presenting a simplified interface to users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual verification processes with automated electronic reconciliation systems that use API interfaces and robotic process automation. This substitution eliminates the need for manual data entry and verification, improving data accuracy while reducing the operational complexity associated with manual processes. The automated systems continuously reconcile data without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated procurement and plan modifications are implemented without real-time verification, then processing speed is improved, but reliability of operations deteriorates due to rejected changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidoperation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary verification and reconciliation actions before automated procurement and plan modifications are executed. The system performs automated checks to verify device information, plan eligibility, and pricing accuracy in advance of the actual procurement operations. This preliminary action ensures that subsequent automated operations are based on verified accurate data, improving reliability without significantly impacting processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the reconciliation system continuously monitors and verifies data accuracy throughout the automated procurement process. When discrepancies are detected, the system automatically corrects them or alerts users before operations are executed. This feedback loop ensures that automated operations maintain high reliability while preserving processing speed through continuous verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If frequent updates of device information are performed, then data currency is improved, but loss of time for update operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata currencyVSAvoidupdate time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic automated reconciliation cycles that update device information at optimized intervals rather than continuously. The system schedules reconciliation operations to occur at strategic times, balancing the need for current data with the time required for update operations. This periodic action ensures data currency is maintained while minimizing the time impact on operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous automated reconciliation processes that operate in the background without interrupting primary business operations. The system continuously verifies and updates device information, plan details, and pricing data through automated processes that run concurrently with normal procurement activities. This continuity ensures data currency is improved while the time loss is distributed and minimized through non-intrusive update operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12003663B2Update and procurement of telecom lines using automated reconciliation of device information
Publication Date: 2024.06.04 TANGOE US INC
  • US12003663B2 patent drawing
  • US12003663B2 patent drawing
  • US12003663B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method of performing automated reconciliation of devices and features in telecom expense management systems prior to running programs to optimize expense relative to usage or procuring new lines. The reconciliation accessing and carrier systems and devices and using enterprise configurable rules and live data from end point management systems. The system ensures accurate and up to date data is available for processing by downstream robotic process automation systems that perform the procurement/modification of plans and devices.