Wireless Billing System Using MCS Resource Metrics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless networks lack a mechanism to link adaptive modulation and coding operations with billing and subscription control, making it difficult to recover costs for resource-intensive operations like Ultra High Coverage Mode (UHCM), which trades speed and latency for increased coverage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that monitor usage of reserved services in wireless networks, allowing access only to authorized subscribers and adjusting billing based on system resources used, rather than just the amount of data delivered, enabling differentiated access and billing based on modulation and coding schemes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If adaptive modulation and coding is used to transmit data over poor quality channels, then coverage is extended to marginal signal conditions, but system resources are consumed at a higher rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsystem resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the billing parameter from data volume to resource consumption metrics (MCS index, resource blocks, time duration) to reflect the actual cost of providing service in marginal conditions. This allows the network to charge according to the true resource expenditure while maintaining extended coverage capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary billing system that sits between the radio access network and the subscriber, translating technical resource consumption (MCS, resource blocks) into monetary charges. This intermediary layer enables differentiated billing without modifying the core adaptive modulation and coding operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If current billing models charge only based on data delivered, then billing is simple, but cost recovery for resource-intensive operations is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling simplicityVSAvoidcost recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the billing parameter from simple data volume to a composite metric including MCS index, resource blocks, and time duration. This provides more accurate cost recovery while maintaining a relatively simple billing structure that can be implemented through existing network elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If core network nodes generate Call Data Records, then billing information is centralized, but access to modulation and coding scheme information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling system centralizationVSAvoidmodulation and coding scheme information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base transceiver station acts as a mediator, collecting MCS information from the radio interface and forwarding it to core network billing nodes. This allows centralized billing while preserving access to technical parameters needed for differentiated charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the billing information collection process, with the base station responsible for gathering radio-specific parameters (MCS, resource blocks) and the core network responsible for aggregation and billing calculation. This segmentation allows each node to perform its specialized function while maintaining overall system integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2989814B1Method and system for providing differentiated wireless network access and billing to subscribers
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 SIERRA WIRELESS INC
  • EP2989814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2989814B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2989814B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology provides a method and system for monetizing the usage of a certain "reserved service," which comprises usage of certain reserved wireless operating modes, such as Ultra High Coverage Mode (UHCM), usage of one or more reserved Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCSs), or a combination thereof. In some embodiments the reserved MCSs may be employed solely when using the reserved operating mode. Similarly, the reserved operating mode may be defined at least in part by its usage of the reserved MCSs.