Virtual Subscriber Service Single Device Multi-Plan Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunications systems require multiple terminating devices for each unique service plan, leading to inefficiencies such as multiple bills, inflexible device placement, and inability to manage communications from multiple services with a single device.
Innovation Solution
The Virtual Subscriber Service (VSS) allows a subscriber to associate multiple mutually exclusive telephone numbers with a single terminating device, enabling management of communications and features for each number independently without requiring additional devices, using a pre-paid account and configurable prefixes to distinguish between primary and virtual numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a subscriber subscribes to multiple telecommunications service plans, then each service plan can be managed independently with its own features and billing, but the subscriber must designate a separate terminating device for each service plan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single terminating device to perform multiple functions by associating it with multiple service plans. The system allows one device to terminate communications for multiple service plans through a unified interface, eliminating the need for separate devices for each plan while maintaining independent management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple service plan management functions into a single terminating device. By merging the capabilities of multiple dedicated devices into one universal device, the system reduces device complexity while preserving the ability to manage multiple service plans independently with separate billing and features.
2Ease of operation
If a subscriber uses multiple terminating devices for different service plans, then each service can be accessed independently, but the subscriber incurs multiple bills and experiences increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal terminating device that can access multiple service plans through a single interface. This multi-functional device consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices, reducing the number of bills and simplifying management while maintaining independent access to each service plan's features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the terminating device and multiple service plans. This intermediary enables a single device to interact with multiple service plans independently, providing ease of access to each service while consolidating device requirements and simplifying billing through unified management.
3Reliability
If a subscriber designates a terminating device for a service plan, then the service can be properly terminated and managed, but the subscriber loses flexibility in device placement and portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single terminating device to serve multiple service plans, which maintains reliable service termination for each plan while greatly increasing device placement flexibility. The universal device can be placed in one location and still provide reliable termination for multiple service plans, eliminating the need to distribute multiple devices across different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining multiple service plan terminations into a single device, the system maintains the reliability of service termination while merging what would otherwise require multiple geographically distributed devices. This consolidation provides flexibility in device placement while ensuring each service plan is properly terminated and managed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a subscriber carries multiple telephones for personal and business use, then communications for each purpose can be kept separate, but the subscriber experiences inconvenience and increased device management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single telephone to function as multiple specialized devices by associating it with multiple service plans. A subscriber can maintain separate personal and business communications through one device, with each service plan providing dedicated features, billing, and communication separation, thereby eliminating the need to carry and manage multiple telephones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functionality of multiple specialized telephones (personal and business) into a single universal device. This consolidation maintains the ability to keep communications separate through different service plans while greatly simplifying device management and eliminating the inconvenience of carrying multiple phones.
Data Source
AI summary
A Virtual Subscriber Service (VSS) is a system and method for operators to provide multiple mutually exclusive telephone numbers, each with its own unique plan features, to a subscriber who is associated with a single terminating device. VSS makes it possible for a subscriber to manage communications directed toward any telephone number associated with his telephone as if any one of the telephone numbers were the only number associated with the telephone. Further, in addition to the primary number, a VSS subscriber can originate communications or return missed communications from the virtual telephone numbers associated with his terminating device. More specifically, some embodiments of a VSS involve the use of a pre-paid account associated with a telecommunications service that has a primary destination code as well as a virtual destination code directed toward a common terminating device such as a mobile telephone. Advantageously, embodiments of a VSS provide a telecommunications operator with a system and method that enables a subscriber to have an additional private telephone number, mutually exclusive from a primary telephone number, without purchasing another telephone or purchasing a multi-SIM card.