Tucano

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

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Overview

Tucano is an over-the-top (OTT) platform that streams content to pay-per-channel (PPC) or video-on-demand (VOD) based subscriptions.  

CRM.COM provides a ready-made implementation for Tucano using the Tucano provisioning module, which primarily handles the activation and deactivation of signals transmitted to devices.  For example, when a new subscription is created in CRM.COM, Tucano is immediately updated and provisioning signals are sent to the subscriber devices to activate the registered services. 

Major features

  • Integration with Tucano.
  • Real-time activation and deactivation of subscriptions.
  • Batch processes can be used to manage out of sync subscriptions simultaneously.
  • Utilities can be used to reset individual subscriptions.
  • Archiving of former provisioning requests (refer to Utilities for more information).

Using Tucano

  • The Tucano implementation submits requests on the Tucano system in real-time.
    • Subscription actions update the subscription provisioning state in CRM.COM.  If the modification should be reflected in Tucano, a request is constructed (using Tucano commands)and sent to Tucano.
  • In case subscription modifications take place while CRM.COM and Tucano are experiencing a communication issue (e.g., during a downtime of Tucano), a reset run is available.  The run identifies the subscriptions that must be updated, constructs a request (using Tucano commands) and forwards it to Tucano.

Setting Up Tucano

Billing > Provisioning > Tucano > 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 > Tucano


Resetting out of sync subscriptions 

Billing > Provisioning > Common Services > Perform Reset Subscription Runs

Reset subscription runs are used to identify and synchronize subscriptions that have gone out of sync, by communicating the necessary commands to the CA/OTT platform. It is possible to preview the subscriptions that will be reset by the run, by using Preview from the Actions menu.

The table describes the sections of Reset Subscription Runs Data Entry page and explains how the fields in the page are used.

 Mandatory   Configurable

Main Information

Provisioning Protocol: Select an effective provisioning provider to synchronize with CRM.COM.

Criteria (optional)

(Used to identify the subscriptions that should be reset)

Subscription Creation Period: Define the period during which the subscriptions to be processed were created (otherwise, all subscriptions will be processed).

Subscription Types that should be included in the run.

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Using a Utility to Handle a Subscription

Billing > Provisioning > Tucano

Utilities are used to handle individual subscriptions.

Reset subscription

Updates an out of sync subscription, so that the provider reflects the state in CRM.COM.

 

Authenticating Tucano Subscribers Before an Order

The principle of OTT is to enable customers to order and view an event directly, using their selected device. The signals required for streaming the video come directly from the provider and are authenticated through CRM.COM once an order is placed.

For example, when a user orders a movie on a tablet, CRM.COM authenticates the user through an account and subscription number and sends the user a token for viewing the movie on the tablet.

This is required when a VOD or PPV order is executed from a third-party system such as a portal. Further implementation from the third-party is required, to call CRM.COM authentication WEB API and provide subscriber details (subscription number and account).

The subscriber is authenticated in CRM.COM and subsequently in the provider. The token is sent back to the third-party so that the subscriber can start viewing the movie.

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Tucano Requests

The table below displays the CRM.COM processes and actions that trigger the Tucano requests.

RequestUseTriggered by
Create Account

Register a subscriber in Tucano.

Subscription reset run

Reset subscription utility

Subscription Actions

  • Become subscriber ('Effective')
  • Activate subscription
  • End short-term subscription deactivation
  • End subscription resting
  • Short-term subscription activation
  • Change subscription distribution

Service Actions

  • Add Effective services
  • Start services
  • Swap services
  • Add service usage

Installed Items Actions

  • Add installed items
  • Swap installed items
Activate Options

Register a new 'Usage' or 'Termed' subscription service in Tucano.

Subscription reset run

Reset subscription utility

Subscription Actions

  • Activate subscription
  • End short-term subscription deactivation
  • End subscription resting
  • Short-term subscription activation
  • Change subscription distribution

Service Actions

  • Add Effective services
  • Start services
  • Swap services
Suspend Options

Deactivate a 'Usage' or 'Termed' subscription service in Tucano.

Subscription reset run

Reset subscription utility

Subscription Actions

  • Deactivate subscription
  • Terminate subscription for 'Regretting'
  • Terminate subscription for 'Canceling'
  • Rest subscription
  • End short-term subscription activation
  • Short-term subscription deactivation
  • Change subscription distribution

Service Actions

  • Remove services (Cancel)
  • Remove services (Regret)
  • Stop services
  • Swap services

Add Material

Register the subscription set-top box to Tucano.

Subscription reset run

Reset subscription utility

Subscription Actions

  • Become subscriber ('Effective')
  • Change subscription distribution

Installed items Actions

  • Add installed items
  • Swap installed items

Remove Material

Un-register the subscription set-top box from Tucano.

Subscription reset run

Reset subscription utility

Subscription Actions

  • Deactivate subscription
  • Terminate subscription for regretting
  • Change subscription distribution

Installed items Actions

  • Remove installed items
  • Swap installed items

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Tucano Business Examples

Subscription 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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Provisioning flexible and fixed bundle products

Handling of Flexible and Fixed Bundle Products

Scenario 2

Company ZX offers its customers flexible and fixed bundle products as well as single channels. Subscribers can request to switch between the available product offerings at any time. It is required that the agents can view the sent requests, to ensure that the signals are provisioned to the customers.

 

Solution

Consider the following provisioning mapping:

  • Components of Flexible Bundle A
    • Geological CA ID = GFA1
    • Entertain CA ID = EFA2
  • Components of Flexible Bundle B
    • Religion CA ID = RFB1
    • Baby channel CA ID = BFB2
  • Flat Products
    • Agriculture CA ID = AF1


Example 1: Provisioning of a flexible bundle

On provisioning a Flexible Bundle A, which includes the Geological and Entertain channels, the following requests will be sent:

  • 1 CREATE_ACCOUNT
  • 1 ADD MATERIAL
  • 2 ACTIVATE OPTIONS
    • CA ID = GFA1 (Geological channel)
    • CA ID = PFA2 (Entertain channel)


Example 2: On swapping from a flexible bundle to a flat product

On swapping Flexible Bundle A to Agriculture the following requests will be sent:

  • 1 ACTIVATE OPTIONS 
    • CA ID = AF1 (Flat product channel)
  • 2 SUSPEND OPTIONS
    • CA ID = GFA1 (Geological channel)
    • CA ID = PFA2 (Entertain channel)

Example 3: On upgrading the Flexible Bundle A to Flexible Bundle B with Geological and Religion

On upgrading from one flexible bundle to another the following requests will be sent:

  • 2 ACTIVATE OPTIONS
    • CA ID = RFB1 (Religion channel)
    • CA ID = BFB2 (Baby channel)
  • 2 SUSPEND OPTIONS
    • CA ID = GFA1 (Geological channel)
    • CA ID = EFA2 (Entertain channel0

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Notes

 

Glossary

CRM.COM Term
Definition
Over-the-top (OTT)Media content, such as audio or video, that is delivered over the internet with no intervention from the service provider.
Out of SyncSubscriptions that have a different provisioning state in CRM.COM than in their provisioning provider (Tucano).

Provisioning State

In reference to a termed subscription service (channel), it is 'Active' when provisioning signals are sent to the subscriber device and 'Inactive' when signals are not sent.

Tucano AccountA Tucano subscriber (customer).
Tucano MaterialsDevices (STBs) that can be registered to Tucano subscribers.
Tucano OptionsServices that can be provided to Tucano subscribers as business offerings.