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Overview

Usage Service Catalogs (USCs) contain products that are offered on customer request and charged based on their consumption. USCs offer information on the pricing and validity of products and options for integrating CRM.COM with third-party provisioning systems.

Usage service catalog features

Usage Service Catalogs (USCs) are required for the operation of the over-the-top (OTT) business model, as services include pay-per-view (PPV) or video on demand (VOD) movies, video games, and telephone calls.
USCs are not limited to services. The catalogs can also contain physical goods, such as fuel, supporting diverse lines of business.
Usage services are added, managed and billed through the Add Usage Service subscription action.
Usage services from more than one catalog can be added to the same subscription.
The presence of a termed subscription service can be required for the addition of services.
Each time a service is added, a Usage Detail Record (UDR) is created for billing purposes.
UDRs of billed services can be imported into CRM.COM from external systems, to provide additional discounts.
Standard rates for services of the same type can be defined through USC definitions, to simplify the process of creating catalogs.

Setting Up Usage Service Catalogs

Configuration > Finance Application > Usage Service Catalog

Definitions

A usage service catalog definition is the set of business rules that determine the behavior of catalogs maintained in the system.

When creating a new catalog, the following must be defined:

The types of usage services that will be offered through the catalog
Default billing rates for each service that can be added to the catalog
The available provisioning providers.

Definition fields

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

Mandatory Configurable

Allowed Attributes Defines the attributes that can be used for creating or modifying usage service catalogs
Provisioning Providers	Define the providers that will be available when creating a new service catalog, and a default provider. If a third party offers the service, then the provider and provisioning ID will be available directly from the catalog.
Usage Service Types	Define the product types that can be added to the catalog and the default type when creating a new catalog.
Default Rates Per Usage Service Type Predefined rates based on product type speed up the setup of catalogs. The rate for each added product type is assigned in the definition and can be modified
Rated: Enable 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 catalog will be unavailable. Apply Additional Discount: Enable to allow the application of additional discounts to rated usage services through CRM.COM. Unit of Measurement: The unit used for rating usage services of the specific product type; the field is read-only and defined when the UDR type is selected. 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 modules are related to usage service catalogs and may be configured for the usage service catalogs module to operate at its full capacity.

Manual Link	Area	Description
Products	Product types and products	Product types must be configured so that they can be rated.
Usage Detail Records (UDRs)	Setting up UDRs	Attributes used as conditions in the tiered rates of catalogs and of catalog definitions must be set up.
Normal Subscriptions	Billing term scheme	The maximum number of unbilled UDRs that can be present in the system and the maximum total unbilled amount resulting from ordered UDRs (within a subscription), must be defined.
Additive Discounts	Additive discount definitions	Define discounts for usage services.

Using Usage Service Catalogs

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

Usage service catalog fields

The table describes the sections of the Usage Service Catalog Data Entry page and explains how the fields on 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 (in any life cycle state) Installed Item Requirements: Subject to business rules, subscribers may need to have a registered installed item on their subscription to be allowed to order a usage service. Requires an Installed Item: An installed item will have to be selected before ordering when using the Add Service Usage subscription action. Does Not Require an Installed Item Provisioning Provider: A catalog is associated with a third-party service provider, so that information (such as the provisioning ID) can be obtained directly from the catalog. The provider must be defined in the active usage service catalog definition to be available for selection. Life Cycle State represents the operational condition of the catalog, which can be: Draft Effective Not Effective Cancelled Services can only be added to subscriptions from 'Effective' usage service catalogs. Accounts Receivable (available if the catalog is assigned to a corporate customer): The account that the catalog is used for, according to the pricing agreement.
Validity
The period during which the catalog is available and its services can be added to subscriptions. E.g., certain movies are only available during the summer months. Validity can be set to 'Always Valid' or 'Valid for Specific Period'.
Usage Services
The list of offerings of the specific catalog, their rates (which can be conditional) and their validity. Usage Service: An offering from the specific catalog. Only services of the type designated in the active usage service catalog definition can be added. If multi-country network is enabled in General Settings, then additional rates in other currencies can be specified. Same service can be defined multiple times as long as it is in a different currency. Pre-Rated: Enable, for usage services imported into 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 catalog become unavailable. 'Rated' usage services (type designated in the active catalog definition) are automatically enabled in the catalog. Apply Additional Discount: Enable to allow the application of additional discounts to rated usage services through CRM.COM. Unit of Measurement: The unit used for rating usage services of the specific product type; the field is read-only and defined when the UDR type is selected. Currency: in which the USC base rate is specified for the specific USC and product (must be different than the system currency as defined in the Global Settings). 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. Tax Model: Define whether the base and tiered rates of the specified usage service catalog are tax inclusive. By default, the tax rate follows the model defined in the Tax Definition.
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 catalog. 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 catalog 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 catalog. 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 catalog to be available. Conditions added in multiple sections (such as an account classification and subscription type) must all be fulfilled.

Creating and processing usage service catalogs

Validations take place before an action is initiated (prerequisite) or after it is submitted (postcondition).

Selecting and creating usage service catalogs

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

Editing existing usage service catalogs

Use EDIT from the Actions menu to add new, edit or delete existing usage service rates or change the validity and conditions set in the catalog.

Additional Information

Prerequisites	Catalogs must be in a 'Draft', 'Effective' or 'Not Effective' life cycle state to be updated.
Postconditions	Usage services can be removed from catalogs 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.

Prerequisites

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

Postconditions

Usage services can be removed from catalogs 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 catalog

Use DELETE from the Actions Menu to remove a usage service catalog from the list of available catalogs.

Additional Information

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

Canceling a usage service catalog

Catalogs and their included services are canceled so that they are no longer available to subscriptions.

Canceled catalogs can still be viewed in the system. They can be deleted but not modified.
To cancel a catalog from the Data Entry page, click Cancel in the Actions menu.

Additional Information

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

Changing the life cycle state of a usage service catalog

The life cycle state of a usage service catalog can be changed from the Actions menu.

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

Additional Information

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

Usage Service Catalogs 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.
• Subscribers must have an 'Effective' PPV service on their subscription to order a PPV movie.
• Movies are free for VIP subscribers.
• Movies should be billed instantly.

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

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.
• A provider must be configured (provisioning IDs for each OTT Service should be defined).
• Usage service catalog definitions must be configured and activated.
• Two usage service catalogs 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 Types	Classification	Service Type	Composition Method	Used For Provisioning
Usage Services	Service	Usage	Flat	Yes
Termed Services	Service	Termed	Flat	Yes

Products

Product	Type	Information
PPV Service	Termed Services	Necessary in order to authorize 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 catalogs (not price plans).
Lord of the Rings 1	Usage service
Serendipity	Usage service
Limitless	Usage service

Provisioning Provider example
NagraVision Media Live provider

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 through usage service catalogs	Thomson decoders

Usage Service Catalog Definitions

Life Cycle State	Allowed Attributes		Default Rates by Usage Service Type
	Usage Service Types	Provisioning Providers	Service Type	Base Rate	Tiered Rate	Conditions
Active	Usage Services	Nagra Media Live	Usage Services	€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 set automatically according to the definition (base rate, tiered rate, tiered rate conditions).
Nagra Media Live Platform	Always Valid	Limitless	€10.00	1BQ1	€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 Platform	Always Valid	Serendipity (old movie)	€5.00	1BQ4	Usage 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 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 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 Platform	Always Valid	Limitless	€0.00	1BQ1	€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 Platform	Always Valid	Serendipity (old movie)	€0.00	1BQ4	€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 integrated with CRM.COM using its WEB API library
A subscriber device that is integrated with CRM.COM
the CRM.COM user interface, using Add Service Usage.

Notes

If you are using a previous release, view CRM.COM Release Changes.
Use the usage service catalogs WEB API to create and manage usage service catalogs from an external system, such as a customer portal. View the usage service catalogs WEB API for a complete list of actions available through the WEB API. Use the Add Service Usage WEB API to add services to a subscription.

Glossary

CRM.COM Term	Definition
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 Provider	Third-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 Service	A service that is provided continuously and billed for a recurring period, regardless of usage.
Subscription	A selection of customer services billed on a recurring, usage or one-time basis.
Accounts Receivable	A ledger of the financial transactions carried out between a company and its customers, such as invoices and payments.

Overview

Usage service catalog features

Setting Up Usage Service Catalogs

Definitions

Definition fields

Related configuration areas

Using Usage Service Catalogs

Usage service catalog fields

Creating and processing usage service catalogs

Selecting and creating usage service catalogs

Editing existing usage service catalogs

Deleting a usage service catalog

Canceling a usage service catalog

Changing the life cycle state of a usage service catalog

Usage Service Catalogs Business Example

Glossary

Related Links

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