Skip to end of banner
Go to start of banner

Usage Service Catalogues

Skip to end of metadata
Go to start of metadata

You are viewing an old version of this page. View the current version.

Compare with Current View Page History

« Previous Version 6 Next »

On this page

Overview

Usage Service catalogues (USCs) are catalogues for products that are offered on customer request and charged based on their consumption. USCs contain information on pricing and service validity and options for integrating with third party provisioning systems.  

Usage Service catalogue Features

  • Services in USCs include Pay-per-view (PPV) or Video on demand (VOD) movies, video games or telephone calls, making USCs suitable for supporting the Over-the-top (OTT) business model.  Despite their name, USCs can also contain physical goods (such as fuel) and can therefore support diverse lines of business.
  • Use usage service catalogue definitions to define standard rates for services of the same type, for efficiency when creating usage service catalogues.
  • Usage services are added to subscriptions, managed and billed through the 'Add Usage Service' subscription action.
  • Addition of usage services to a subscription may require the presence of a termed service on the subscription, which can be defined through the usage service catalogue.
  • Usage services from multiple catalogues may be selected and added to a subscription.
  • When a usage service is added a Usage Detail Record is created which holds information related to the order of the usage service and used for billing.
  • Already rated (billed) usage services (i.e. UDRs) can be imported into CRM.COM from external system in which cases billing in CRM.COM can handle only additional discounts provided.


Setting Up Usage Service catalogues

 Configuration > Finance Application > Usage Service catalogues

Definitions

A usage service catalogue definition is the set of business rules that determine the behaviour of catalogues maintained in the system.

The following must be defined when creating a catalogue:

  • The types of usage services that will be available
  • Default billing rates for each service that can be added to the catalogue
  • The available provisioning providers


Usage Service catalogue Definition Data Entry page

Usage Service Catalog Definition Data Entry page

Definition fields

The table describes the sections of the Usage Service catalogue Definition Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.

 Mandatory   Configurable

Allowed Attributes

Defines the attributes that can be used for creating or modifying Usage Service catalogues.

Provisioning Providers

Define the providers that will be available when creating new service catalogues, and a default provider.  If the service is offered by a third party, then its provider and necessary information (e.g., the provisioning ID) will be available directly from the catalogue.

Usage Service Types

Define the product types that can be added to the catalogue and the default type when creating a new catalogue.

Default Rates Per Usage Service Type

Predefined rates based on product type speed up the setup of catalogues.

The rate for each added product type is assigned in the definition and can be modified

Rated: Select for usage services imported to CRM.COM (through the WEB API) whose billing rates are determined by third party systems.  When checked, the 'Base Rate' and 'Tiered Rates' fields in the catalogue will be unavailable.

Base Rate: The basic charge for the service type, which is applied if tiered rates are not defined or their conditions are not fulfilled.

Tiered Rates

Used to provide discounted rates as long as the conditions are met. Several tiered rates can be specified as long as their conditions do not overlap. Each rate is defined in a different row and applied if the row conditions are met.

Tiered rates consist of:

  • Conditions
    • Usage Method
    • Device
    • Source Category (that will initiate the provisioning)
    • Destination Category (that will receive the provisioning)
    • Usage Start Time (inclusive)
    • Usage End Time (inclusive)
    • Minimum Usage (inclusive)
    • Maximum Usage (inclusive)
  • Rate

Related configuration areas

The following module is related to usage service catalogues and may be configured for the usage service catalogues module to operate at its full capacity.

Manual LinkAreaDescription
ProductsProduct Types and Products

Product types must be configured in order to be rated.

Usage Detail Records (UDRs)Setting up UDRsSet up Usage Detail Records attributes which can be used as conditions in the tiered rates of catalogues and catalogue definitions

Normal Subscriptions

Billing Term SchemeDefine the maximum number of unbilled UDRs that should be present in the system or the maximum cumulative amount from ordered UDRs (within a subscription), before being billed.

Back to top

Using Usage Service catalogues

Finance > Product & Pricing > Usage Service catalogues > Manage Usage Service catalogues

Usage Service catalogue Data Entry page

Usage Service Catalog Data Entry page

 

Usage service catalogue fields

The table describes the sections of the Usage Service catalogue Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.

 Mandatory   Configurable

Main Information

Termed Service Requirements:

Subject to business rules, subscribers can be charged a monthly service fee (such as a VOD service subscription fee), as a prerequisite for ordering a usage service (e.g., a movie).  The service fee can be defined in CRM.COM as an optional termed service. Select between:

  • Requires an Effective Termed Service (a termed service must be present and effective on the subscription)
  • Requires a Termed Service (a termed service must be present on the subscription)
  • Does Not Require a Termed Service

Provisioning Provider: A catalogue is associated with a third-party service provider, so that information (such as the provisioning ID) can be obtained directly from the catalogue.  The provider must be defined in the active usage service catalogue definition to be available for selection.

Life Cycle State represents the operational condition of the catalogue, which can be: 

  • Draft
  • Effective
  • Not Effective
  • Cancelled

Services can only be added to subscriptions from 'Effective' usage service catalogues.

Validity

The period during which the catalogue is available and its services can be added to subscriptions.

It can be set to 'Always Valid' or 'Valid for Specific Period'.

E.g., Some movies can be made available only during summer.

Usage Services

The list of offerings of the specific catalogue, their rates (which can be conditional) and their validity.

Usage Service: An offering from the specific catalogue. Only services of the type designated in the active usage service catalogue definition can be added.  

Rated: Select for usage services imported to CRM.COM (through the WEB API) whose billing rates are determined by third party systems.  When checked, the 'Base Rate' and 'Tiered Rates' fields in the catalogue will be unavailable.  Usage services with a type designated in the active catalogue definition as Rated, will automatically be enabled in the catalogue.

Base Rate: The basic charge for the service type, which is applied if tiered rates are not defined or their conditions are not fulfilled.

Provisioning ID: Identification supplied for each service by the third-party provider.  An ID must be provided for all usage services whose product type is classified as a provisioning service.
The ID can also be entered through the Data Entry page of each provider in the provisioning module.

Start Date / Time: when the provisioning of a service (such as a Pay-per-view show) will begin. E.g., at 09:00 on 1 Jan. 2017.

End Date / Time: when the provisioning of the service will end. E.g., 00:00 on 2 Jan. 2017.

Tiered Rates

Used to provide discounted rates as long as the conditions are met. Several tiered rates can be specified as long as their conditions do not overlap. Each rate is defined in a different row and applied if the row conditions are met.  Each rate is defined in a different row.

Tiered rates consist of:

  • Conditions
    • Usage Method
    • Device
    • Source Category (that will initiate the provisioning)
    • Destination Category (that will receive the provisioning)
    • Usage Start Time (inclusive)
    • Usage End Time (inclusive)
    • Minimum Usage (inclusive)
    • Maximum Usage (inclusive)
  • Rate

Subscription Conditions

Define the  Types of subscriptions, Billing Term Schemes, subscriber Price Plans and Termed Subscription Services that should be present on subscriptions to enable the addition of services from this catalogue.

Multiple rows can be added in each section and at least one of the conditions should be fulfilled in each row for the usage service catalogue to be available.

Conditions added in multiple sections (such as an account classification and subscription type) must all be fulfilled.

Accounts Receivable Conditions

Define the accounts receivable Classifications and Credit Ratings that enable the addition of services from this catalogue.

Multiple rows can be added in each section and at least one of the conditions should be fulfilled in each row for the usage service catalogue to be available.

Conditions added in multiple sections (such as an account classification and subscription type) must all be fulfilled.


Back to top

Creating and processing usage service catalogues

Actions are subject to validations, which take place before an action is initiated (prerequisite) or after it is submitted (postcondition).

Selecting and creating a usage service catalogues



Specify the criteria that match the usage service catalogues you are interested in or use 
NEW from the Actions menu to create a new catalogue. Provide the mandatory information and SAVE the catalogue. The life cycle state of the catalogue must be 'Effective' in order to start adding services to a subscription from the catalogue.

Editing existing usage service catalogues



Use 
EDIT from the Actions Menu to add new, edit or delete existing usage service rates or change the validity and conditions set on the catalogue.   

 Additional Information

Prerequisites

Catalogues must be in a 'Draft', 'Effective' or 'Not Effective' life cycle state to be updated.

Postconditions

Usage services can be removed from catalogues in a 'Draft', 'Effective' or 'Not Effective' life cycle state, provided that services added on subscriptions are already billed.

Information on the service can be updated even if the service was added to a subscription and not billed.

 

Deleting a usage service catalogue



Use DELETE from the Actions Menu to remove a usage service catalogue from the list of available catalogues.

Additional Information

Prerequisites

Catalogues can be deleted if their life cycle state is 'Draft' or 'Cancelled' and as long as any services added on subscriptions are already billed.

Cancelling a usage service catalogue



Cancel a catalogue and its included services so that it is no longer available to subscriptions.  Cancelled catalogues can still be viewed in the system.  They can be deleted but not modified. 
To cancel a catalogue from the Data Entry page, click Cancel in the Actions Menu.

Additional Information

Prerequisites

Catalogues in a 'Draft', 'Effective' or 'Not Effective' life cycle state can be cancelled, provided that services added on subscriptions are already billed.

Changing the life cycle state of a usage service catalogue


The life cycle state of a usage service catalogue can be altered from the Actions Menu.

Select 'Set as Effective' to make the catalogue available to subscribers.  'Not Effective', 'Draft' and 'Cancelled' catalogues are not available to subscribers.

Additional Information

Prerequisites

The life cycle state of a catalogue can go from 'Draft' or 'Not Effective' to 'Effective', and from 'Effective' to 'Not Effective'.

Back to top

Usage Service Catalogues Business Example

Company ZX OTT Model

Scenario 1

Company ZX has introduced new packages for (Over-the-top) OTT subscribers. The OTT packages include several PPV (Pay-per-view) movies.

• Movies are charged €5.00 when provided between 00:01 and 6:59 and €10.00 during the rest of the day.
• Older movies are always charged €3.00.
• To order a PPV movie, subscribers must have an 'Effective' PPV service on their subscription.
• Movies are free for VIP subscribers.
• Movies should be billed instantly.

Customers can place their orders from their decoders or by calling the call centre.



Solution

To meet the above requirement:

• Product types of classification 'service' and service type, 'usage' and 'termed' must be configured
• Movies must be imported or created in the system with a usage service classification product type
• Provider must be configured (provisioning IDs for each OTT Service should be defined)
• Usage service catalogue definitions must be configured and activated
• Two usage service catalogues must be created including the available movies, one for VIP and one for normal subscribers
• Normal billing term scheme and usage service billing rules must be set for billing to take place whenever one or more movies are added.

Configuration

Product Types

Product TypesClassificationService TypeComposition MethodUsed For Provisioning
Usage ServicesServiceUsageFlatYes
Termed ServicesServiceTermedFlatYes

 

Products

ProductTypeInformation
PPV ServiceTermed ServicesNecessary in order to authorise the addition of PPV movies to the subscription.
 
PPV movies

One product must be created for each available PPV movie.

Usage services are added in usage service catalogues (not price plans).

Lord of the Rings 1Usage service 
SerendipityUsage service 
LimitlessUsage service 

 

Provisioning Provider example
NagraVision Media Live provider

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 Main

Define through Usage Service catalogues

Thomson Decoders

 

 

Usage Service catalogue Definitions

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

Usage Service catalogue for Normal Subscribers

Provisioning ProviderValidityUsage Services
  Usage ServiceBase RateProvisioning IDTiered RateConditionsComments
Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidLord of the Rings€10.001AQ8€5.00
  • Usage Start Time: 00:01
  • Usage End Time: 06:59

Usage service details will be set automatically according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions).

Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidLimitless€10.001BQ1€5.00
  • Usage Start Time: 00:01
  • Usage End Time: 06:59

Usage service details will be set automatically according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions).

Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidSerendipity (old movie)€5.001BQ4Usage service details will be set automatically, according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions); the user must manually update the base rate to €5.00 and remove any tiered rates.

 

 

Usage Service catalogue for VIP Subscribers

Provisioning ProviderValidityUsage ServicesAccounts Receivable Conditions
  Usage ServiceBase RateProvisioning IDTiered RateConditionsComments 
Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidLord of the Rings€0.001AQ8€0.00

 

Usage service details will be set automatically according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions); the user must manually update all to 0 and remove tiered rates.

Classification = VIP
Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidLimitless€0.001BQ1€0.00

 

 

Usage service details will be set automatically according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions); the user must manually update all to 0 and remove tiered rates.

Classification = VIP
Nagra Media Live PlatformAlways ValidSerendipity (old movie)€0.001BQ4€0.00 

Usage service details will be set automatically according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions); the user must manually update all to 0 and remove tiered rates.

Classification = VIP

Normal Billing Term Scheme

Usage Services Billing Rules
Maximum number of unbilled UDRs
1

 

User Process
Subscribers can order PPV movies through:

  • a portal that can be integrated to CRM.COM using its WEB API library
  • the subscriber's device, provided it is integrated with CRM.COM
  • the CRM.COM User Interface, using Add Service Usage.

Notes

 

Back to top

Glossary  

CRM.COM TermDefinition
Over-the-top (OTT)A broadcasting model where media (video, audio) are transmitted via the Internet as standalone products, without the need for a cable or satellite operator.
Usage Detail Records (UDRs)Information describing the use of Usage Subscription Services.
Provisioning ProviderThird-party systems Conditional Access (CA) and Over-the-top (OTT) platforms with which CRM.COM integrates to provide services such as video content, telephony or games.
Termed ServiceA service that is billed for a recurring period.
SubscriptionA collection of customer services billed on a recurring, usage or one-time basis.
Accounts ReceivableA ledger of the financial transactions carried out between a company and its customers, such as invoices and payments.
  • No labels