Virtual Community Routing for Seamless Carrier Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Companies face integration issues when consolidating different systems and infrastructure during mergers or acquisitions, and consumers face inconvenience when changing phone service providers, often requiring them to update contact information.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows communication entities to form special communities, enabling users to subscribe to these communities for preferential ratings and billing, using special identifiers to indicate community membership and apply special charges for communication events across disparate networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If companies consolidate and merge different business units, then productivity and competitiveness are improved, but integration issues and system compatibility problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into distinct virtual communities, each with its own routing rules and billing parameters. This allows consolidated companies to maintain separate operational identities within a unified infrastructure, resolving integration issues while preserving productivity gains from consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal routing framework that can handle multiple community types and billing models simultaneously. This multi-functional system allows different companies with disparate systems to interoperate through a common platform, eliminating integration barriers while maintaining individual system characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If consumers change phone service providers, then they can access better services, but they face inconvenience in updating contact information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic number portability where the consumer's phone number is automatically transferred to the new provider through the virtual community framework. This self-service mechanism eliminates the manual update process, allowing consumers to switch providers while maintaining their contact information automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a number portability intermediary system that mediates between the old and new service providers. This intermediary automatically handles the number transfer process, shielding consumers from the complexity of coordinating between multiple providers and ensuring seamless service transition.
3Reliability
If a new service provider allows customers to maintain the same contact information, then customer goodwill is maintained, but the provider incurs additional operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the number portability functionality into the core routing infrastructure through virtual communities. By combining these previously separate functions (number porting, routing, billing) into a unified virtual community framework, the system maintains customer goodwill while reducing operational complexity through consolidation.
4Ease of operation
If communication entities form special communities with preferential billing, then user experience is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic virtual communities that can be created, modified, and dissolved based on business needs. This dynamic approach allows preferential billing arrangements to be flexibly configured without permanently hardcoding complex rules into the system, enhancing user experience while managing system complexity through adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter-based routing where virtual communities are defined by configurable parameters (billing rates, routing rules, membership criteria). By changing parameters rather than restructuring system architecture, the system can offer enhanced user experiences for special communities without increasing fundamental system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A number of communication entities can be associated to provide one or more special communities. A special rating can be applied to certain communication events of users associated with a special community. Users associated with a special community can be offered various services if they have subscribed to one or more plans. A user who has subscribed to a special community can communicate with other users of the same network or a different network who are also part of the special community for a special charge, such as without charge for example.