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Learn to work with Conax Contego SMS Services

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Overview

Conax Contego is a TV platform that streams content to digital video broadcasting (DVB), internet protocol television (IPTV) and over-the-top (OTT) based subscriptions.

CRM.COM provides a ready-made implementation of the Conax

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What do Conax Contego Web Services manuals cover?

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Contego Subscriptions Management System (SMS) Services protocol and uses the Conax Contego SMS Services provisioning module, which primarily handles the activation and deactivation of signals transmitted to devices.  The module can also be used to send messages to subscribers through their devices. 

Major features

  • Integration with Conax Contego 2.0 SMS.
  • Simultaneous activation and deactivation of multiple subscriptions.
  • Logging and review of errors from the CRM.COM software.
  • Ability to message multiple subscribers at once.
  • Utilities can be used to manage individual subscriptions (e.g., to pair devices or send messages).
  • Archiving of former provisioning requests (refer to Utilities for more information).

Using Conax Contego SMS Services

  • The Conax Contego SMS Services implementation submits requests on the Conax Contego system asynchronously using FTP.
    • Subscription actions update the subscription provisioning state.
    • Provisioning request runs identify the subscriptions whose provisioning state must be updated in CONAX Contego system and create 'Pending' requests.
    • 'Pending' CRM.COM requests are grouped together in a file that is subsequently transferred to CONAX Contego system through FTP to be processed. 
  • Conax uses 'Error Handling' runs to provide CRM.COM with 'Accepted' or 'Rejected' requests.  CRM.COM subscriptions are subsequently updated accordingly.

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Setting Up Conax Contego SMS Services

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Billing > Provisioning > Conax Contego SMS Services > Set Up Provisioning Provider

Provisioning provider

Include Page
Provisioning Provider
Provisioning Provider

Operations Parameters

Maximum Number of Records in Each File: The maximum number of client IDs that can be included in each file (20000 by default)

Add Subscription End Period in Months: A value between 1 (default) and 36, used when a request is sent to activate a subscription, to calculate the end date of the services.

Renewal Frequency in Months: A values between 1 (default) and 35, which determines how often each subscription should be renewed.

Renew Subscription End Period in Months: A value between 1 (default) and 36, used when a request is sent to renew a subscription, to calculate the end date of the services.

Cancel Subscription End Period in Months: A value between 1 (default) and 36, used to calculate the end date of the deactivation and set the Cancel Subscription End Date.

Note

A subscription request sent to CONAX SMS must always contain a predefined end date, calculated using the Add Subscription End Period in Months. A 'renewal request' must be sent (from CRM to Conax) so that the subscription is not deactivated once the end date is reached (Renewal Frequency in Months). The Renew Subscription End Period in Months will be used to calculate the new end date of the subscription once the Renewal request is sent.


 

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Related configuration areas

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Provisioning - Related Configuration Areas
Provisioning - Related Configuration Areas

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Using Batch Processes to Handle Subscriptions

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Billing > Provisioning > Conax Contego SMS Services

Processing provisioning requests

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Provisioning - Process Provisioning Requests
Provisioning - Process Provisioning Requests

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Handling rejected requests 

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Provisioning requests resulting from the provisioning processing run are sent to Conax through FTP, in a 'Pending' life cycle state. 

Once updated, Conax responds to CRM.COM, reporting whether each request was rejected or failed. CRM.COM is subsequently synchronized to Conax Contego. 

The responses are handled by 'error handling file runs', which in case of an error in Conax, revert changes on subscriptions.

Error handling file runs are created through the error handling files run definition, once it is submitted.

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Sending mail & bark messages

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Provisioning - Perform Mail Runs
Provisioning - Perform Mail Runs

The table describes the sections of the mail and bark messages run definition Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.

 Mandatory   Configurable

Main Information
Name, Alternative Code

Input Settings 

Message Type: 'Mail Message' or 'Bark Message'.

Communication Queue External System: The system used to identify the 'Pending' communications to be processed by the run.

Sequence: A value between '1' and '255' (default) that determines the order in which Conax will handle the messages. 

Duration in Seconds of bark messages on the screen of the subscriber ('20' by default).

Process Immediately: Determines whether the request is sent directly to Conax, or created and processed subsequently during the provisioning request processing run.

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Using Utilities to Handle a Subscription

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Billing > Provisioning > Conax Contego SMS Services

Utilities are used to handle one subscription at a time.

Pairing smartcards and set-top boxes (STB)

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Provisioning - Pair Smartcards & STBs
Provisioning - Pair Smartcards & STBs

Specify the smartcard and STB that should be paired. If the selected smartcard and STB are already paired, then the pair is automatically loaded. Set the Priority to 'Express', so that Conax handles the pairing as soon as possible.

Note

If the request is successful the 'Installed item provisioning distribution' Initialized field is updated to 'Yes'.

 

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Sending mail & bark messages

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Provisioning - Send Mail Messages
Provisioning - Send Mail Messages

Provide the required information, starting with the type of message to be sent.  

There is no related Communication as the message text is provided through the utility (unlike message runs).

Main Information

Message Type: 'Mail Message' or 'Bark Message'.

Smartcard that should receive the message. 

Text (message)

Sequence: A value between '1' and '255' (default) that determines the order in which Conax will handle the messages. 

Display Duration in Seconds of bark messages on the screen of the subscriber ('20' by default).

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Conax Contego SMS Requests

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The table below displays the CRM.COM processes that trigger Conax Contego SMS requests, as well as the parameters sent for each request.

Activation and deactivation commands are not directly triggered by the execution of subscription actions.  

Once the 'provisioning request processing run definition' is executed, system conditions available under the Trigger Logic column must be met, in order for the respective Conax Contego command to be created.

 

 

Request

Use
Triggered by
Trigger Logic
Parameters
Add Subscription

Activates subscription services

There is at least one 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service, which is not authorized1.

  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the subscription service
  • The subscription service CA ID
  • The smartcard CA ID.
Cancel Subscription

Deactivates subscription services

There is at least one 'Not Effective', 'Regretted', 'Swapped', 'Removed', 'Cancelled', 'In Resting' or 'Short Term Not Effective' subscription service, which is authorized1.

  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the subscription service
  • The subscription service CA ID
  • The smartcard CA ID.
Renew Subscription

Renews subscription services

There is at least one 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service, which is authorized1.

The subscription provisioning distributor's authorization date AND the 'Renewal Frequency' defined in the Provider's configuration is less than or equal to the current date.

  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the smartcard (if applicable)
  • The smartcard and STB CA ID
  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the STB (if applicable).

Create PairingPairs Smartcards and STBs

There is at least one 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service distributed to at least one smartcard or STB, which is not initialized2.

  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the smartcard (if applicable)
  • The smartcard and STB CA ID
  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the STB (if applicable).

Send Message

Sends messages to subscribers
  • Mail & Bark message utility
  • Mail & Bark message run
  • Provisioning request processing run

For requests through the mail & bark definition:

  • There are entries in the communication queue in a 'Pending' life cycle state.
  • The external system of the provider is the one specified in the Mail & Bark Message run definition.
  • The related communication is classified as 'Outgoing'.
  • The related communication refers to a subscription or notification having the subscription in the notification information.
  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the smartcard  
  • Smartcard CA ID
  • Text that will be sent to the subscriber
  • Type of message ('Mail' or 'Bark')
  • Communication queue number processed by the provisioning request (if applicable)
  • The sequence that should be used to send the message. This is the order by which the messages will be handled by Conax. 
  • The duration in seconds that the bark message will be displayed on the screen of the subscriber.
Info

1. 'Authorized' is a field kept in CRM.COM for every subscription service that represents its state at the provider.

  • Authorized = Active (1)
  • Not authorized = Inactive (0)

2. 'Initialized' is a field kept in CRM.COM for every installed item that represents its state at the provider.

  • Initialized = Registered (1)
  • Not initialized = Not registered (0)


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Conax Contego SMS Services Business Examples

Subscriptions with multiple viewing points 

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titleProvisioning Distributors

Scenario 1

Company ZX offers its customers the option to have multiple viewing points for each subscription. Customers can have a separate 'box and card' pair in each room, and choose to have a different selection of channels available from each pair.  Up to four viewing points can be added to a subscription.

Solution

CRM.COM must have a different provisioning distributor available for each pair (box and card) offered to subscribers, as channel availability and restrictions can be set separately for each box.

To support this, the following distributors must be set up in the provisioning provider.

  • Main
  • TWIN1
  • TWIN2
  • TWIN3

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Sending mail messages to subscriber boxes

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titleConax Web Services 'Mail & Bark Messages' Utility

Scenario 2

Company ZX wants to send personalized messages to its subscribers that are:

  • Directly accessible through their set-top boxes (STBs) 
  • Displayed on their TV.

Solution

Agents should use the 'Mail & Bark Messages Utility', select the appropriate type of message for each method of communication and provide the message.

Messages that can be accessed through subscriber's STB inbox

Mail Message

Messages that are shown on subscriber's TV

Bark Message
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  • Use the WEB API to create and manage Conax Contego SMS Services provisioning requests from an external system. Refer to the Conax Contego SMS Services WEB API for a comprehensive list of available actions.

 

Glossary

CRM.COM TermDefinition
Conditional Access (CA)A system (in this case Conax Contego) that provides content to subscribers through their devices.
Mail MessageA message sent by the provider to the customer, which appears in the set-top box (STB) mailbox when it is received or at a predetermined time.
Bark MessageA message sent by the provider to the customer, which appears directly on the screen when it is received or at a predetermined time.
Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)A suite of internationally accepted open standards for digital television.
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)A system that delivers television content using the internet protocol, instead of the traditional terrestrial or satellite signal.
Over-the-top (OTT)Media content, such as audio or video, that is delivered over the internet with no intervention from the service provider.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)The standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network. (Wikipedia)
Service CA ID or Provisioning IDAn ID used in Conax Contego to identify a subscription service (channel) that should be handled (added, activated, deactivated, removed).
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