Panaccess Cableview Services

Owned by Persia Xenopoulou (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jun 20, 2018
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Overview

Panaccess Cableview is a conditional access system (CAS) that provides pay-TV business solutions, such as streaming digital video broadcasting (DVB) subscriptions.  

CRM.COM provides a ready-made implementation of Panaccess Cableview using the Panaccess Cableview Services provisioning module, which handles the activation and deactivation of signals and communications with subscriber devices.

The Panaccess Cableview implementation submits requests on Panaccess Cableview CAS asynchronously using WEB services. Panaccess Cableview CAS subsequently responds to CRM.COM.

Major features

  • Integration with Panaccess Cableview Services.
  • Simultaneous activation and deactivation of multiple subscriptions.
  • Messaging multiple subscribers at once.
  • Utilities can be used to manage individual subscriptions (e.g., to send a message or to obtain information on a Panaccess subscription).

Using Panaccess Cableview Services

  • Panaccess Cableview Services implementation submits requests on Panaccess system asynchronously using batch provisioning requests runs.
    • Subscription actions update the subscription provisioning state.
    • Provisioning request runs identify subscriptions whose provisioning state must be updated in Panaccess and send the respective requests.

Setting Up Panaccess Cableview Services

Billing > Provisioning > Panaccess Cableview Services > Set Up Provisioning Provider

Provisioning provider

The parameters that are necessary to access the CA/OTT platform and to map the CRM.COM services and physical goods to be provisioned can be supplied from Provisioning Provider Data Entry page.

Provider fields

The table describes the standard sections of a Provisioning Provider Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.

 Mandatory   Configurable

Main Information
Provider Information

Name and Alternative Code of the provider

Provisioning Protocol

Life Cycle State: Must be 'Effective' to send commands to the CA/OTT platform.

Connection Parameters

End Point that will be used when calling the CA/OTT platform.

User Name, Password: Credentials used to login to the CA system.

Character Set Encoding used by the web services (defaults to UTF-8).

Distributors

 

Distributors are used to associate the services and devices (installed items) of a subscription with the provisioning provider.  Multiple distributors on a subscription represent separate viewing locations.  Each device can offer different services.  In a pay TV subscription, for example, two distributors can represent the decoder and channels available in a living room and bedroom.

Create the distributors that can be provisioned through the provider.  One or more provisioning distributors must be present for a provider to be 'Effective'. 

ADD a new distributor and supply the information required in the modal.

Main Information

Name,  Alternative Code for the provisioning distributor.

Allowed Services

Define the services available through the distributor. Once a distributor is selected, only the services defined as 'Allowed' will be available for selection when adding subscription services.

Two options are supported:

  • All Provisioned Services: All services provisioned by the provider can be distributed.

  • Specific Provisioned Services: Only the services in the list can be distributed. 

The available services are filtered and validated against those defined in the 'Services' section, which can be provisioned by the associated provider.

Restrictions

Minimum/Maximum Optional/Mandatory service restrictions determine the number of services that can be added to the distributor.

Restrictions per Service Type: Define the minimum and maximum number of services that can be added to the distributor, from specific service types.

Restrictions per Physical Good Type: Define the minimum and maximum number of installed items that can be added to the distributor, from specific physical good types.

Dependencies

Define services, service types, physical goods or physical good types that must be added to the distributor, if enabled.

Services

One or more service mappings must be present for a provider to be 'Effective'.

Service: Termed and usage services that can be provisioned by the provider.

CA ID: The unique identifier for the service at the CA/OTT platform.

An ID is not mandatory for a non-provisioning service (i.e. a service whose product type is not set as 'Used for Provisioning').


Physical Goods

A list of devices that are necessary for provisioning through the provider. For example, a decoder and a smartcard, or only a decoder or only a modem.  A specific device type may be mandatory for a certain provider.

The Installed Item Alternative Code represents the ID of devices communicated to the CA/OTT platform.

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Related configuration areas

Mandatory modules must be configured for the provisioning module to work.

Manual LinkArea DescriptionConfiguration
Products
  • Physical Good Types
  • Service Types
  • Physical Goods
  • Services

Configure the physical good and service types, and the physical goods and services that will be offered to subscriptions, by adding them to the provisioning provider.

 Mandatory
CommunicationsCommunication Queue External SystemSet up the external system that will be used to handle mail messages created for the provider.Optional

 

Using Batch Processes to Handle Subscriptions

Billing > Provisioning > Panaccess Cableview Services

Processing provisioning requests

Provisioning request runs are used to create and submit new provisioning requests when a modification to a subscription affects its activation status.  When the process is executed, the system searches for subscriptions that meet the following criteria and sends the respective requests to the CA/OTT platform (so that the services, hardware and status of the subscriptions match on the two systems):

  • Subscriptions have services that should be activated ('Active' in CRM and 'Inactive' in CA/OTT platform).
  • Subscriptions have services that should be deactivated ('Inactive' in CRM and 'Active' in CA/OTT platform).
  • Subscriptions have a set of installed items that are defined in CRM and not in CA/OTT platform.

The process also gathers and submits to the CA/OTT platform all requests that are pending in CRM.COM, which were created by one of the following (if supported by the provisioning provider):

  • Web APIs
  • Provisioning provider utilities that are not set to be executed immediately.
  • Batch processes, such as mail runs or fingerprint runs, that are not set to be executed immediately.

Provisioning request runs are created when a provisioning request process run definition is submitted. 

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Sending OSM messages

Mail runs are used to send messages to subscriber devices.  The messages can be displayed in the set-top box (STB) mailbox or directly on the screen (once or repeatedly).

Messages can be scheduled to appear as soon as they are sent or at a specific time.

The process run does not create the messages; the messages are created in the system as communications (through notifications) and remain 'Pending' in the communication queue until the mail run is executed.  The mail run identifies the communications that should be handled by matching each entry in the communication queue 'Communication Queue External System' with one defined in the mail run.

The table describes the sections of OSM Run Definition Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.

 Mandatory   Configurable

Main Information
Name, Alternative Code

Input Settings 

Communication Queue External System that will be used to identify the 'Pending' communications to be processed by the run.

Start Indication Date Time on which the message will be displayed.

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

 

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Using a Utility to Handle a Subscription

Billing > Provisioning > Panaccess cableview services

Utilities are used to handle one subscription at a time.

Get Cableview Service information 

Retrieves information on a specific subscription from the provider, such as which services and devices are active.

 

   

The utility can be used to synchronize CRM.COM and Panaccess services.

  • When a modification in CRM.COM is reflected in Panaccess, allow a couple of minutes before executing the 'Get Information' command.
  • The utility does not create provisioning requests. It only retrieves information regarding the Smartcard or STB, by directly calling Panaccess Web Services.

Provide the smartcard or STB and SUBMIT the request.  Use the returned information to decide whether synchronization is required. 

If Panaccess has gone out of sync, click on SYNCHRONISE SERVICES in the Actions menu.

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Sending OSM messages

Sends on-screen or inbox messages to a subscriber device.

Select whether the message is intended for one specific subscriber or for all.

Provide the required information, starting with the type of message to be sent.  As the message text is provided through the utility, there is no related Communication (unlike message runs).

Main Information

Type: Determines whether the message is intended for a specific subscriber or for all.

Smartcard / Set Top Box that should receive the message (for the 'Specific Subscriber' type).

Tex (message)

Start Indication Date Time on which the message will be displayed.

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

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Panaccess Cableview Services Requests

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

'Set Packages' requests are not directly triggered by the execution of subscription actions.  System conditions (in the Trigger Logic column) must be met during the execution of the 'provisioning request processing run definition'.

Request

UseTriggered byTrigger LogicParameters
Set Packages
  • Activate or deactivate subscription services

  • Provisioning request processing run

  • Retrieve all subscription services enabled on Panaccess provisioning distributor.
    • Retrieve only subscription services of 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscriptions.
      • Find all 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription services with an 'Authorised'1 value of '1' or '0'.
      • Retrieve the service ID for each affected subscription service.

 

Whenever a service is added or removed, all services must be resent.

  • The subscription provisioning distributor linked to the subscription service.
  • The subscription identifier (the subscription with which the service is linked).
  • The CA ID(s) of the subscription service(s).
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good.
Send OSMSend a regular mail message to the customer's device inbox.
  • OSM message runs
  • OSM message utility
  • Provisioning request processing runs
  • Entries in a 'Pending' life cycle state are present in the communication queue.
  • External system of the provider is equal to that specified in the OSM run definition.
  • The related communication is classified as 'Outgoing'.
  • The related communication refers to a subscription or notification containing the subscription in the 'Notification Information'.
  • The subscription has at least one installed item distributed to Panaccess Cableview Services provider.
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good (if the message is intended for a specific box).
  • The message that will be sent to the subscriber.
  • The delay of the message, i.e. whether is going to be sent immediately or after a specific amount of time.
  • The display duration in seconds.
  • The message type (whether it is intended for one specific subscriber or for all).
  • The cycle time of the message (during which the CA system will attempt to send the message).
  • The communication queue number processed by the provisioning request (if applicable).
Get InformationProvide a list of the 'Active' Panaccess Cableview subscription services.
  • Panaccess Information Utility
  • Not applicable
  • The smartcard CA ID.

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)


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Panaccess Cableview Services Business Examples

Subscriptions with multiple viewing points 

Provisioning 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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Notes