Token-Based Data Inspection for Network Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile network operators face challenges in accurately tracking and charging for content consumption as existing methods do not scale well and lack security, making it difficult to implement reliable revenue protection and charging schemes, especially in saturated network environments.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves passing metadata in the form of a token from the content provider to the mobile network operator, which interprets the token to determine a charging and/or policy treatment for the content flow, ensuring secure and accurate billing by integrating with existing charging functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing charging methods are used to track content consumption, then charging functionality is provided, but the methods do not scale well and lack security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a token as an intermediary data structure that carries charging information from the content provider to the network elements. This token-based approach decouples the charging logic from the content delivery path, enabling secure and scalable charging by allowing independent verification of charging parameters without requiring direct trust between all system components
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is segmented into independent components: content providers generate tokens with charging information, network elements validate and enforce charging policies based on these tokens, and billing systems process the token data. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving both security (through specialized validation) and scalability (through distributed processing)
2Quantity of substance
If network connectivity reaches saturation and MNOs attempt to increase subscribers, then revenue increase is attempted, but competition drives down prices and decreases revenue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pricing parameters by introducing granular, content-specific charging models instead of flat-rate subscriptions. By enabling detailed tracking and billing of actual content consumption through tokens, MNOs can implement flexible pricing strategies (pay-per-view, subscription tiers, bundled packages) that maximize revenue from existing subscriber bases without requiring continuous subscriber acquisition
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where content consumption data is continuously collected, analyzed, and used to adjust charging policies and pricing strategies. This enables MNOs to respond dynamically to market conditions and subscriber behavior, optimizing revenue by identifying high-value content and adjusting prices or promotions accordingly
3Productivity
If content consumption tracking is implemented without secure methods, then charging information can be collected, but fraud prevention is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Charging information is embedded in tokens before content delivery occurs. The content provider signs the token with authentication credentials, and network elements validate these signatures before allowing content access. This preliminary authentication and embedding of charging parameters prevents fraud by ensuring that only authorized content with valid charging terms can be delivered and billed
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for inspecting data to determine a charging treatment is described. The method comprises receiving, from a user equipment, first data including a request for content and sending, to a content provider system, the first data including the request for content. The method comprises receiving, from the content provider system, second data including the requested content. The method comprises inspecting the first data or the second data to determine a charging treatment for the requested content. The method comprises sending, to the user equipment, the second data including the requested content while applying the charging treatment to the requested content.