Perception
- Persia Xenopoulou (Deactivated)
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Overview
Perception TV is an over-the-top (OTT) video platform that streams content to pay-per-channel (PPC) or video-on-demand (VOD) based subscriptions.
CRM.COM provides a ready-made implementation for Perception TV using the Perception 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, Perception TV is immediately updated and provisioning signals are sent to the subscriber devices to activate the registered services.
In addition to handling provisioning signals, the Perception module can be used to send personal and broadcast messages to subscriber devices, to update device PINs and to terminate active sessions across all devices that a subscriber is logged in from.
Although provisioning is a real-time application, batch processing makes it possible to synchronize subscriptions when the transmission of a request fails.
Major features
- Integration with Perception v4.8.
- Real-time activation and deactivation of subscriptions.
- Batch processes can be used to manage out of sync subscriptions simultaneously.
- Utilities can be used on individual subscriptions (to reset an out of sync subscription, update a PIN or remove multiple sessions).
- Archiving of former provisioning requests (refer to Utilities for more information).
Using Perception
- The Perception implementation submits requests to the Perception system in real-time.
- Subscription actions update the subscription provisioning state in CRM.COM. If the modification should be reflected in Perception, a request is constructed (using Perception commands) and forwarded to Perception.
- In case subscription modifications take place while CRM.COM and Perception are experiencing a communication issue (e.g., during a downtime of Perception), a reset run is available. The run identifies the subscriptions that must be updated, constructs a request (using Perception commands) and forwards it to Perception.
Setting Up Perception
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 |
|
Connection Parameters |
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 |
|
| 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:
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 Restrictions per Physical Good Type: Define the minimum and maximum number of installed items that can be added to the distributor, from specific |
| Dependencies | Define |
Services | |
One or more service mappings must be present for a provider to be 'Effective'.
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. | |
Connection Parameters | URL used when calling the Perception Web API. Client ID: The username used by the Web API. Identifier: The password used by the Web API. Version of the Web API. Defaults to v4.8 if not specified. Timeout in Seconds before the connection is terminated ('5' by default). Click on Test Connection once all the information is provided to verify that a connection to Perception can be established. |
|---|---|
| Default Values | Default PIN that will be assigned to new subscribers (up to 14 characters, '0000' by default). Default Post Code assigned to set-top boxes (STBs) when added on subscriptions (up to 256 characters). Default Region assigned to new subscribers (up to 200 characters). The region can be specified manually or through a search link that retrieves all the regions available in Perception. Default Network OTT Method: 'Enabled' or 'Disabled'. |
Related configuration areas
Mandatory modules must be configured for the provisioning module to work.
| Manual Link | Area | Description | Configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products |
| 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 |
| Communications | Communication Queue External System | Set 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 > Perception
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 | |
|---|---|
| |
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. |
Using a Utility to Handle a Subscription
Billing > Provisioning > Perception
Utilities are used to handle individual subscriptions.
Set subscription PIN
Resets the PIN of a single STB, either to its default value or to a value specified by the user.
Select a smartcard to reset its PIN. Provide a new PIN, otherwise, the PIN is reset to the default value of provider. Select the subscription you wish to reset and SUBMIT the request.
Remove subscription sessions
Use to terminate sessions which are used by a Perception subscriber (e.g., on a mobile phone, laptop or tablet). Provide the subscription whose multi-sessions should be removed and SUBMIT the request. If the request is successful, a 'Sessions removed successfully' message is displayed.
Reset single subscription
Updates an out of sync subscription, so that the provider reflects the state in CRM.COM.
Perception Requests
The table below displays CRM.COM processes and actions that trigger the requests sent to Perception.
- Contract represents the 'Main' CRM.COM subscription service.
- Packages represent the 'Additional' CRM.COM subscription services.
| Request | Use | Triggered By |
|---|---|---|
| Add Subscribers | Register a subscriber in Perception. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Service Actions
Installed Item Actions
|
| Remove Subscribers | Un-register a subscriber from Perception. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Related Actions
|
| Set Subscriber Contract | Add the main package (subscription service) on the subscription. There is no command to remove 'Contracts' (unlike 'packages'). The removal of a 'Contract' amounts to the cancellation of the subscription and is handled by another command. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Service Actions
|
| Disable Subscribers | Deactivate a Perception subscription and all of its related services. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Service Actions
|
| Enable Subscribers | Activate a Perception subscription and all of its related services. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Service Actions
|
Add Packages | Register a new 'Usage' or a 'Termed' provisioning service in Perception.
| Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Service Actions
|
| Remove Packages | Deactivate a 'Usage' or a 'Termed' provisioning service in Perception. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Cancel UDRs Subscription Actions
Service Actions
|
Add STB | Register the subscription set-top box to Perception. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Service Actions
Installed Item Actions
|
Remove STB | Un-register the subscription set-top box from Perception. | Subscription reset run Reset subscription utility Subscription Actions
Installed Item Actions
|
| SET PIN | Reset the PIN of a subscriber. | Set Subscription PIN utility |
| Remove Sessions | Terminate active subscriber sessions on any registered device. | Remove Subscription Sessions Utility |
Perception Business Examples
Subscription with multiple viewing points
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
Notes
- If you are using a previous release, view CRM.COM Release Changes.
- Use the WEB API to create and manage Perception from an external system, such as a customer portal. Refer to the Perception WEB API for a comprehensive list of available actions.
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. |
| Pay-per-channel (PPC) | Live channel streaming in which the customers select channels from a menu. |
| Video on demand (VOD) | A system that allows users to select and view content (e.g., a movie) for a specific period. |
| PIN | Subscriber personal identification number, used for authentication on their devices (e.g., required to add or remove parental control). |
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. |
| Out of Sync | Subscriptions that have a different provisioning state in CRM.COM than in their provisioning provider (Perception). |
| Contract | The term used by Perception for CRM.COM main subscription services that are added to a subscription. Only one contract can be added for each subscription. |
| Package | Any additional subscription service added to a perception subscription. |
| Provisioning ID | The ID used by Perception to identify the subscription service devices to which signals should be transmitted. Perception separates Provisioning IDs into Contract and Package IDs. |
| Media Access Control (MAC) Address | The unique ID number of a piece of hardware. The MAC address of Perception set-top boxes (STBs) is kept by CRM.COM. |