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Back to Usage Service Catalogs Main Page

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Understand the usage application of Usage Service Catalogs within CRM.COM

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Table of Contents

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What are Usage Service Catalogs?

Usage Service Catalogs are used to maintain all usage service information and to define the business rules, dependencies and prerequisites between services that determine the services that are allowed to be offered to subscribers, their price rates and the conditions that should be fulfilled in order for those services to become availableService Catalogs are used to maintain information related to Usage Services, which are provided upon customer request and charged based on their usage. Information included in Usage Service Catalogs includes the pricing of the Service, the Service provider and their identifier, as well as information related to the validity of the Services. The Over-The-Top (OTT) business model is supported by using Usage Service Catalogs.

Note

Usage Services are the only Product Type whose pricing is defined in Usage Service Catalogs and not Price Plans.


Usage Service Catalogs Glossary

TermDescription
Usage Services

Services that are provided upon customer request and are billed on a recurring basis, charged based on their usage, e.g. a Video on Demand movie.

Termed ServicesA Subscription Service that is provided to customers and is charged recurrently, e.g. a TV channel or VOD Enabler Service.
Provisioning ProviderProvisioning Providers are third-party systems with which CRM.COM integrated and are used to provide Services to subscribers such as Video Content, Telephony or games.
Provisioning ServiceA Subscription Service (either Termed or Usage), for which provisioning signals are sent to the Subscriber.
Within CRM.COM, Provisioning Services are defined at the Product Type Level, where a 'Use for Provisioning' flag is checked.
Usage Detail RecordsUsage Detail Records (UDRs) are used to hold raw information describing the use of subscription services.
Usage Service Catalogs Key
Subscription Services.
Price PlansPrice Plans are a set of rates which define the amount an Accounts Receivable should be billed based on the Services or Physical Goods that were sold. Price Plans provide rates for Termed Services, One Time Services, Expenses and Physical Goods. Usage Service pricing is defined through Usage ServiceCatalogs.

Usage Service Catalogs Key Processes and Concepts

 

 

OTT
Processes / ConceptDescription
Usage Service Catalogs Usage

While the rates used to bill products in CRM.COM are obtained from the Price Plansd, Services of the Usage Service Product Type are an exception.

Products billed based on their usage such as VOD, PPV, telephone calls and games are considered Usage Services in CRM.COM,and their price rate is defined in the Usage Service Catalogs (along with additional information).

The information in the Usage Service Catalogs is used by several CRM.COM modules:

  • The 'Add Service Usage Action' uses the information to load the Usage Services to be ordered by subscribers based on predefined Subscription or Accounts Receivable conditions.
  • The Billing Engine uses the information to charge subscribers for their usage, considering base and tiered rate conditions.
  • The Conditional Access system uses the information to Activate the ordered Usage Service on the Usages action's device using the provisioning ID.
Add Service Usage Action and WEB API

Subscribers order Services on their device via the Add Service Action. The action is available in the Subscription Service Action list in the Action Panel of the Subscription Data Entry page.
In cases where subscribers can order Usage Services directly from their devices (i.e. their computer, decoder, smartphone) integration with CRM.COM is required, using the available WEB API.
Refer to the Add Service Usage WEB API for a detailed description of its functions.

Adding a Product to a Usage Service Catalog via the Products page

There are two ways to add a Usage Service to a Usage Service Catalog:

  • Via the Usage Service Catalog Data Entry page, by adding all the Usage Services once they are created and providing the necessary information for each one.
  • Via the Products Data Entry page, by adding the Usage Service Catalogs where appropriate and providing the information for each one, either during the creation or editing of a product.

 

Usage Service

Catalogs Network Characteristics

Catalogs Access & Viewing Controls

Business Network Characteristics define the level of access for each recordentry. i.e. Whether it will be available for selection, for viewing or editing etc.

EntityNetwork CharacteristicsDescription
Usage Service CatalogsControlled Selection Access EntitiesUsage Service Catalogs DefinitionsGlobal Viewing EntityServices from a Usage Service Catalog can be added to a Subscription, provided the user adding the Servicebelongs to one of the Allowed Organisational Units (AOU) defined in the Usage Service Catalog, or a collaboration exists between their unit and the AOU of the Usage Service Catalog, or is a Super User.

 

Usage Service Catalogs Related Modules

EntityInteraction EntityHowof Usage Service Catalogs with the Entity
ProductsOTT services Services such as PPV, VOD, games,telephone-calls need to be created as Products of type Type Usage Service
Conditional Access / ProvisioningProvider The provider is responsible for sending the signals to subscribers that have placed a subscriber's device for which an order was placed.

Usage Detail Records

When an order for a usage service Usage Service is executed, UDRs will be are automatically created.
SubscriptionsInclude the Termed service Usage Services can be added to Subscriptions via the Add Service Usage action, only if a related Termed Service (defined in the Subscription Conditions of the Usage Service Catalog) on which the Usage services Services will be added, is available on the Subscription.
Normal Billing
  • Related to Billing Term Definition: Defines the execution time of the billing Determines when the billing of Usage Services takes place, according to the configuration of Billing Term Definition.
  • Bills the subscription termed and usage services during Normal BillingBills the subscription termed and usage services by utilising Subscription Usage Services through Normal Billing Runs or "Bill Subscriber" action.
Prepaid Billing
  • Related to Billing Term Definition: Defines the execution time of the billing Determines when the billing of Usage Services takes place, according to the configuration of Billing Term Definition.
  • Bills the subscription termed and usage services Subscription Usage Services during Prepaid Billing.

 

Usage Service Catalogs Service Catalogs - Business Examples

The following section provides business examples to help you understand of how the CRM.COM Usage Service Catalogs module is used.

Set up an OTT business model

More Information on modules used for
  • in one of the following ways:
    • A portal that can be integrated to CRM.COM using our WEB API library
    • The subscriber's device. Integration to CRM.COM is required
    • Through CRM.COM User Interface using Add Service Usage 
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titleCompany ZX OTT Model

Business Requirement

Company ZX has introduced new packages for OTT subscribers. The OTT packages include a plethora of PPV several PPV (Pay-Per-View) movies.

• These movies Movies are charged for 5 euros €5.00 when provided during between 00:01 and 6:59 and for 10 euros if ordered for the rest of the hours€10.00 at other times.
• Older movies are charged for 3 euros, independent of the time
• In order to €3.00 at all times.
• To be able to order any PPV movies, subscribers will must first need to have an 'Effective' PPV Service on their subscription and it needs to be effectiveSubscription.
• Movies ordered by subscribers who are VIPs then all the movies are for free are free for VIP subscribers.
• The movies should be billed instantly.

Orders can be done via the customer's placed through customers' decoders or by calling at the Call Centre.


CRM.COM Solution

In order to To meet the above requirement the following needs to be configured in the systemSystem configurations must be performed:

• Product Types (Type Service Usage)
• Movies must be imported or created in the system System with Usage Service Type
• Provider must be configured (provisioning ids IDs for each OTT service Service should be defined)
• Usage Service Catalog Definitions must be configured and activated
• Usage Service Catalogs must be created and include including the movies to be made available
○ 1 Catalog for VIP subscribers
○ 1 Catalog for Normal subscribers 
• Subscription Billing Term Definitions must be set so that Usage Services Billing Rules define that billing should take place every time one or more movies are added.

 

  • Configuration

    • Product Types

      Product TypesClassificationPhysical Good TypesService TypeComposition MethodUsed For Provisioning
      Usage ServicesService UsageFlatYes
      Termed ServicesService TermedFlatYes

       

      Products

      ProductTypeVAT RateInformation
      PPV serviceServiceTermed Services10%This service Service will be used to authorise the usage of addition of PPV movies on to the subscriptionSubscription.
       
      PPV movies

      You will need to create one product One product must be created per PPV movie you would like to make be made available.

      Usage service Services are not added in Price Plans but in Usage Service Catalogs and not in Price Plans.

      Lord Of the Rings 1Usage Service10% 
      SerendipityUsage Service10% 
      LimitlessUsage Service10% 

       

    • Provisioning Provider
             NagraVision Media Live has been is used as an example:

      Provisioning ProviderProvisioning ProtocolEnd PointUsernamePasswordEncodingDistributorsServicesPhysical Goods
      Nagra Media PlatformNagra Media Live Platformhttp://ott.nagra.com/customer/VTV/api/smsservice_1.2?wsdlRequest passwordRequest passwordUTF-8Nagra Media Live MainDefine via Usage Service CatalogsThomson Decoders

    • Usage Service Catalog Definitions

      Life Cycle StateAllowed AttributesDefault Rates per usage service Service Type
       Usage Service TypesProvisioning ProvidersService TypeBase RateTiered RateConditions
      ActiveUsage ServicesNagra Media LiveUsage Services105€10.00€5.00
      • Usage Start Time: 00:01
      • Usage End Time: 06:59

      Usage Service Catalog for Normal Subscribers

      Provisioning ProviderValidityUsage Services
        Usage ServiceBase RateProvisioning IDTiered RateConditionsComments
      Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidLord of the Rings10€10.001AQ85€5.00
      • Usage Start Time: 00:01
      • Usage End Time: 06:59
      		Usage Service details Details will be automatically set as defined in the definition. Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions).
        Limitless10€10.001BQ15€5.00
      • Usage Start Time: 00:01
      • Usage End Time: 06:59
      		Usage Service details Details will be automatically set as defined in the definition. Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions).
        Serendipity (Old Movie)5€5.001BQ4Usage Service details Details will be automatically set as defined in the definition. 'Defined' (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions)
      In this case you will need to update manually , in which case the user must update the Base Rate to 5 €5.00 manually and remove any set Tiered Rates set.

       

       

      Usage Service Catalog for VIP Subscribers

       

      Provisioning ProviderValidityUsage ServicesAccounts Receivable Conditions
        Usage ServiceBase RateProvisioning IDTiered RateConditionsComments 
      Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidLord of the Rings0€0.001AQ80€0.00

       

      		Usage Service details Details will be automatically set as defined in the definition. Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions)
      In this case you will need to , in which case the user must update them all to 0 €0.00 and remove Tiered Rates.      		Classification = VIP
        Limitless0€0.001BQ10€0.00

       

       

      		Usage Service details Details will be automatically set as defined in the definition. Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions)
      In this case you will need to , in which case the user must update them all to 0 €0.00 and remove Tiered Rates.      		 
        Serendipity (Old Movie)0€0.001BQ40€0.00 Usage Service details Details will be automatically set as defined in the definition. Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions)
      In this case you will need to , in which case the user must update them all to 0 €0.00 and remove Tiered Rates.      		 

      Subscription Billing Term Definition

      Usage Services Billing Rules 
      Maximum number of unbilled UDRsApplicable on Billing Term Schemes
      1All Normal Billing Term Schemes

       

  • User Process
    Users Subscribers can order PPV movies either by WEB API or by calling at the Call Centre. If the order is done via a call then the agent will need to proceed with the following
    • Find the Subscription
    • Confirm the subscription has the PPV Service (Termed Service) and it is effective. (If the service is not on the subscription then it should be added using Add Effective Services action.
      Note: The service needs to be distributed on the distributor of the configured provider as defined in the Usage Service Catalog 
    • Once the PPV service is added then the user should open modal for action Add Service Usage
      • The distributor related to the configured Provider must be selected
      • Search for the available PPV movies
        If the order is not to be executed directly, then first select the scheduled date, so that the correct PPV movie list is populated 
      • Select the PPV movie that the subscriber wants to order
      • Provide information to be added on the UDR to be created (and which will be used for the Billing of the movie)
      • Submit the action

 

Note
Note

Further information on modules used in the example can be found at:

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