Unified Charging Management for Multi-Carrier Virtual Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face complexity in managing charges from multiple carriers when using terminals that connect to communication facilities owned by different carriers, leading to fragmented billing and increased user-side administrative burdens.
Innovation Solution
A charging management apparatus and method that unify charging management by specifying user identification information for terminals connected to virtual communication networks, allowing centralized charging across multiple carriers, enabling unified billing and service charging based on user accounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users have terminals connecting to multiple carriers' communication facilities, then communication service coverage and versatility are improved, but charging management complexity and billing fragmentation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges charging management functions from multiple carriers into a single unified charging system. The charging management apparatus consolidates charging information and billing processes for multiple carriers, transforming fragmented charging management into an integrated system that handles all carriers through one centralized interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging management apparatus is designed with universal functionality to manage charging for multiple carriers simultaneously. It can identify users across different carriers, retrieve charging information from various sources, and process billing uniformly, making the system adaptable to diverse carrier networks without requiring separate management for each.
2Ease of operation
If centralized charging management is implemented, then charging management simplicity and user convenience are improved, but system integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging management apparatus acts as an intermediary between users and multiple carriers' charging systems. It mediates the complex interactions by providing a unified interface for users while automatically handling the technical complexity of connecting to and coordinating with multiple carrier networks in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service charging management where the apparatus automatically retrieves charging information from carriers, processes billing calculations, and manages user accounts without requiring manual intervention. This automation simplifies user operations while the system internally handles the complexity of data retrieval and coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
User identification information for identifying a user of a first terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtual communication operator via a communication network of a first communication operator is specified, and, based on the user identification information, charging for communication of the first terminal and charging for a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the user identification information are managed.