Understanding Usage Detail Records
- p_demou (Deactivated)
- Former user (Deleted)
- Persia Xenopoulou (Deactivated)
Back to Usage Detail Records Main Page
Table of Contents
What are Usage Detail Records?
Usage Detail Records (UDRs) are used to hold raw information related to the usage of Services focusing on events such as viewing films, placing telephone calls or playing games. UDRs are processed by the Billing Engine either in Real-time or by a background process.
Usage Detail Records Glossary
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Usage Service | Services that are provided following a customer request and are billed based on their usage. |
| Termed Services | Services that are provided continuously and are billed on a recurring basis, regardless of their usage. A Termed Service must be present on the Subscription for which a Usage Service is ordered. |
| UDR Billing Directive | The UDR Billing Directive provides guidelines to the Billing Engine regarding the handling of the UDR and can have one of the following values:
|
| UDR Life Cycle State | The UDR Life Cycle State can have three values and provides the following information:
|
| UDR Rating State | The value of the UDR Rating State determines whether or not a UDR has been rated by the Billing Engine.
|
| Usage Service Catalogs | Usage Service Catalogs are used to maintain information related to Usage Services. |
| Rated Billing Items | Rated Billing Items hold information related to the billing of a Product and are generated by the Billing Engine during the Rating step of the Billing Run. |
Usage Detail Records Key Processes and Concepts
| Processes / Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Billing of UDRs for Prepaid Subscriptions AVAILABLE FROM CRM.COM R10.0.0 | Billing of UDRs is necessary for the billing of Usage Services. The billing of Usage Services added on a Subscription with a Prepaid Billing Term Scheme will result in the debiting of the Wallet associated with the Subscription.
|
| Billing of UDRs for Normal Subscriptions | Billing of UDRs is necessary for the billing of Usage Services. The billing of Usage Services added on a Subscription with a Normal Billing Term Scheme will result in the debiting of the Account associated with the Subscription.
|
| Handling Billing of UDRs imported from third party systems AVAILABLE FROM CRM.COM R12.0.0 | Billing of UDRs is done based on the rates defined in Usage Service Catalogs. Usage Services are defined as Post-Rated or Pre-Rated in Usage Service Catalogs .
|
| UDR Actions and Rated Billing Items Relation
| UDRs are processed by the Billing Run, and Rated Billing Items are created for each UDR. |
Usage Detail Records Access & Viewing Controls
Business Network Characteristics define the level of access for each record. i.e. whether it will be available for selection, viewing or editing.
| Entity | Network Characteristics |
|---|---|
| UDR Types | Controlled Selection Access Entity |
Usage Detail Records Related Modules
| Entity | How Usage Detail Record Interact with Entity |
|---|---|
| Rated Billing Items | Rated Billing Items rate the Usage Detail Record as soon as it is Billed. |
| Usage Services | Whenever a Usage Service is added to a Subscription, a Usage Detail Record is created holding its raw data. |
| Usage Service Catalogs | Usage Service Catalogs define the (Subscription) Usage Services available to be added to the Subscription (filtered by the catalog's conditions) and the billing price of the Services. The UDRs are created based on this information. |
| Additive Discounts | Additive Auto-Apply Discounts are considered in Usage Detail Records. Once a Usage Service is added to a Subscription, the criteria configured in the Discount Definition are validated against the Service's attributes and (depending on the result) the Discount may be applied on the UDR |
| Bills | Billsfor Normal Subscriptions that include UDRs are created either once the 'Add Service Usage' Action is submitted or during the next Normal Billing Run. |
Usage Detail Records - Business Examples
The following section provides business examples of how the CRM.COM Usage Detail Records module is used.
Set up an OTT business model
Business Requirement
Company ZX has introduced new packages for OTT (Over-The-Top) 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 at other times.
• Older movies are charged €3.00 at all times.
• To be able to order any PPV movies subscribers must first have an 'Effective' PPV Service on their Subscription.
• Movies are free for VIP subscribers.
• The movies should be billed instantly.
Orders can be placed through customers' decoders or by calling the Call Centre.
CRM.COM Solution
To meet the above requirement the following System configurations must be performed:
• Product Types (Type Service Usage)
• Movies must be imported or created in the System with Usage Service Type
• Provider must be configured (provisioning IDs for each OTT Service should be defined)
• Usage Service Catalog Definitions must be configured and activated
• Usage Service Catalogs must be created 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 BillingRules define that billing should take place every time one or more movies are added.
- Configuration
Product Types
Product Types Classification Physical Good Types Service Type Composition Method Used For Provisioning Usage Services Service Usage Flat Yes Termed Services Service Termed Flat Yes Products
Product Type VAT Rate Information PPV Service Termed Services 10% This Service will be used to authorise the addition of PPV movies on the Subscription. PPV movies One product must be created per PPV movie to be made available.
Usage Services are added in Usage Service Catalogs and not in Price Plans.
Lord Of the Rings 1 Usage Service 10% Serendipity Usage Service 10% Limitless Usage Service 10% Provisioning Provider
NagraVision Media Live is used as an example:Provisioning Provider Provisioning Protocol End Point Username Password Encoding Distributors Services Physical Goods Nagra Media Platform Nagra Media Live Platform http://ott.nagra.com/customer/VTV/api/smsservice_1.2?wsdl Request password Request password UTF-8 Nagra Media Live Main Define via Usage Service Catalogs Thomson Decoders Usage Service Catalog Definitions
Life Cycle State Allowed Attributes Default Rates per Usage Service Type Usage Service Types Provisioning Providers Service Type Base Rate Tiered Rate Conditions Active Usage Services Nagra Media Live Usage Service €10.00 €5.00 - Usage Start Time: 00:01
- Usage End Time: 06:59
Usage Service Catalog for Normal Subscribers
Provisioning Provider Validity Usage Services Usage Service Base Rate Provisioning ID Tiered Rate Conditions Comments Nagra Media Live Platform Always Valid Lord of the Rings €10.00 1AQ8 €5.00 - Usage Start Time: 00:01
- Usage End Time: 06:59
Usage Service Details will be automatically set as in the Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions). Limitless €10.00 1BQ1 €5.00 - Usage Start Time: 00:01
- Usage End Time: 06:59
Usage Service Details will be automatically set as in the Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions). Serendipity (Old Movie) €5.00 1BQ4 Usage Service Details will be automatically set as 'Defined' (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions), in which case the user must update the Base Rate to €5.00 manually and remove any set Tiered Rates. Usage Service Catalog for VIP Subscribers
Provisioning Provider Validity Usage Services Accounts Receivable Conditions Usage Service Base Rate Provisioning ID Tiered Rate Conditions Comments Nagra Media Live Platform Always Valid Lord of the Rings €0.00 1AQ8 €0.00 Usage Service Details will be automatically set as in the Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions), in which case the user must update them all to €0.00 and remove Tiered Rates. Classification = VIP Limitless €0.00 1BQ1 €0.00 Usage Service Details will be automatically set as in the Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions), in which case the user must update them all to €0.00 and remove Tiered Rates. Serendipity (Old Movie) €0.00 1BQ4 €0.00 Usage Service Details will be automatically set as in the Definition (Base Rate, Tiered Rate, Tiered Rate Conditions), in which case the user must update them all to €0.00 and remove Tiered Rates. Subscription Billing Term Definition
Usage Services Billing Rules Maximum number of unbilled UDRs Applicable on Billing Term Schemes 1 All Normal Billing Term Schemes
- User Process
Users can order PPV movies either through the WEB API or by calling the Call Centre. If the order is made by phone then the agent will need to:- Find the Subscription
- Confirm the Subscription has an 'Effective' PPV (Termed) Service. If the Service is not on the Subscription then it should be added using the Add Effective Services Action.
Note: The Service needs to be distributed to the Provisioning Distributor of the configured Provider as defined in the Usage Service Catalog. - Once the PPV Service is added, the user should open the modal for the Add Service Usage Action.
- Select the Distributor related to the configured Provider.
- Search for the available PPV movies.
If the order is not to be executed directly, then first select the scheduled date so that the appropriate 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.
UDRs will be directly billed because of the rule set at the Subscription Billing Term Definition.