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EXSET SMS

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Overview

EXSET is a Conditional Access System (CAS) through which video streaming subscriptions can be managed with regards to provisioning signals. CRM.COM integrates with EXSET, using the EXSET SMS - Billing Exchange Provisioning module, which is primarily responsible for handling the activation and deactivation of signals transmitted to devices.  The module can also be used to send messages to the subscriber devices and check for piracy.

Major features

  • Integration to EXSET SMS 

  • Provisioning is a two-step process, executed in a batch mode.

    1. Changes in CRM.COM are received by SMS on a regular basis)
    2. SMS processes and forwards the requests to EXSET, from where the actual signals are transmitted to subscribers' devices.
    3. SMS reports whether the commands were successfully handled by the CAS to CRM.COM.
  • Activation and deactivation of multiple subscriptions simultaneously
  • Sending of messages to multiple subscribers simultaneously
  • Usage of utilities to handle one subscription at a time for various tasks such as, pairing devices or send messages
  • Option to archive old provisioning requests. For more information refer to Utilities

Using EXSET SMS 

The communication of CRM.COM and EXSET CAS is succeeded through the usage of TQUEUE .

TQUEUE is the entity which logs all of the provisioning requests sent from CRM.COM to the EXSET CAS through the SMS. The TQUEUE entity is not a CRM.COM entity but exists only at the SMS side; therefore, CRM.COM is responsible for updating and using information from this entity, whereas the SMS will forward the commands to the CAS.  The series of events is usually as follows:

  1. CRM.COM (Billing participant) submits new unprocessed commands in TQUEUE(found in SMS).
  2. SMS retrieves the unprocessed commands and forwards them to the CAS.
  3. EXSET CAS accept provisioning commands coming from SMS, send the appropriate signal to the decoder and then respond to the SMS.
  4. SMS receives the respond to each command and update its status in the TQUEUE Table.
  5. CRM.COM gets the updated status of each processed command ('Completed' or 'Rejected') and updates the provisioning request's status in CRM.COM.

Setting Up EXSET SMS

Billing > Provisioning > EXSET SMS > 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

 

Handling Subscriptions Through Batch Processes

Billing > Provisioning > EXSET SMS

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 infocas 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 Mail and Bark Messages 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: The Communication Queue External System that will be used to identify which 'Pending' Communications must be processed by the Run.

Broadcast Period (in minutes): The duration in minutes for which the provider will be sending the Infocas message.  Values can be from '1' to '10080'.

Broadcast Interval (in minutes):The time interval in minutes between each message broadcast. It must be smaller than the 'broadcasting period' and between '1' to '1440'.

 Process Immediately: Determines if the request will be sent directly to EXSET or created and processed subsequently by the provisioning request processing run

 

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Sending fingerprinting

Fingerprinting runs are used to detect piracy:

  • The runs identify subscriptions that are not abiding to the contract agreement (e.g., the subscriber signed up as a home user and is using the subscription for public viewing).
  • The runs identify users that do not have a subscription and are using one illegally.

Fingerprinting sends a message that is displayed on the screen of the subscriber. An employee must be on location to confirm whether or not the subscription is legal.

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

 Mandatory   Configurable

Main Information
Name & Alternative Code

Criteria

Included in Segment: A list of segments which includes the subscribers which will receive the fingerprint

Not included in Segment: A list of segments which includes the subscribers that will not receive the Fingerprint.

Input Settings

Broadcast Period (in Minutes): The duration in minutes for which the provider will be sending the fingerprint message which can be between '1' to '10080'.

Broadcast Interval (in Minutes): The time interval in minutes between each fingerprint broadcast. It must be smaller than the 'broadcasting period' and between '1' to '1440'.

Show Time (in Seconds): The duration in seconds of the fingerprint message on the screen every time that is broadcasted which can be between '1' and '65535'.

Window Type: The close mode of the fingerprint message window. The available allowed values are:

  • 1: RC button
  • 2: On time

Position (X,Y): The position of the fingerprint on the screen measured in pixels. The X value, defines the horizontal position starting from the left side of the video frame. The Y value, defines the vertical position starting from the top side of the video frame. If not specified, then the position is set randomly, based on the CA system settings. The allowed values are 0-65535 pixels.

Window Transparency: The fingerprint message window transparency (allowed values 0-100%)

Window Background color: The fingerprint message window background.

Font Transparency: The transparency of the fingerprint message fonts (allowed values 0-100%).

Font color: Color of the fingerprint message.

Process Immediately: Determines if the request will be sent directly to EXSET or created and processed subsequently by the provisioning request processing run.

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Handling a subscription through a utility

Billing > Provisioning > EXSET SMS

Utilities used to handle specified subscriptions.

Sending fingerprinting

Sends a fingerprinting command to a single device to check for piracy.

Provide the information required by the utility and submit. 

Main Information

Determine the settings that will be used to identify and construct the 'Display Fingerprint' Provisioning Requests

Send to: Determines whether the fingerprinting will be sent to all subscribers or a specific one

Smartcard: The smartcard of the subscriber the fingerprinting check will take place if the Send To is set to 'Specific Subscriber'

Broadcast Period (in Minutes): The duration in minutes for which the provider will be sending the fingerprint message which can be between '1' to '10080'.

Broadcast Interval (in Minutes): The time interval in minutes between each fingerprint broadcast. It must be smaller than the 'broadcasting period' and between '1' to '1440'.

Show Time (in Seconds): The duration in seconds of the fingerprint message on the screen every time that is broadcasted which can be between '1' and '65535'.

Window Type: Defines the close mode of the fingerprint message window. The available allowed values are:

  • 1: RC button
  • 2: On time

Position (X,Y): The position of the fingerprint on the screen measured in pixels. The X value, defines the horizontal position starting from the left side of the video frame. The Y value, defines the vertical position starting from the top side of the video frame. If not specified, then the position is set randomly, based on the CA system settings. The allowed values are 0-65535 pixels.

Window Transparency: The fingerprint message window transparency (allowed values 0-100%)

Window Background color: The fingerprint message window background.

Font Transparency: The transparency of the fingerprint message fonts (allowed values 0-100%).

Font color: Color of the fingerprint message.

Process Immediately: Determines if the request will be sent directly to EXSET or created and processed subsequently by the provisioning request processing run.

 

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Sending infocas messages

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

. 

Start by selecting the Type of text to be sent and provide the rest of the required information. Unlike 'Infocas message runs', no Communication is related to messages that are sent through the utility as the text to be included in the message is provided through the utility.

Main Information

Determine the settings that will be used to identify and construct the 'Display Fingerprint' Provisioning Requests

Send to: Determines whether the message will be sent to all subscribers or a specific one

Smartcard: The smartcard of the subscriber the message will be sent to, if the Send To is set to 'Specific Subscriber'

Broadcast Period (in minutes): The duration in minutes for which the provider will be sending the Infocas message.  Values can be from '1' to '10080'.

Broadcast Interval (in minutes):The time interval in minutes between each message broadcast. The Broadcasting Interval must always be smaller than the Broadcasting Period. Values can be from '1' to '1440'.

Text: the body of the message sent. 

 Process Immediately: Determines if the request will be sent directly to EXSET or created and processed subsequently by the provisioning request processing run

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Resetting a subscription

Used to re-authorize the enabled subscription services. In most cases, the 'Recall' command is used by the provider to reset and re-authorize all services provided by the smartcard, when a customer notifies the operator regarding a service which is not working. Define the smartcard and the subscription on which the services should be re-authorised and SUBMIT the request.

 

 

EXSET SMS command mapping

The table below displays the CRM.COM processes and actions that trigger each EXSET SMS command (a request) as well as the parameters sent for each request.

The table below displays the processes that can trigger an EXSET SMS command.

Commands associated with service activation and deactivation or registration of installed items are not directly triggered by the execution of CRM.COM subscription actions. Once the Provisioning Request Processing Run Definition is executed, the system is checked against the logic available under the Trigger Logic column, and the respective EXSET SMS command is created, provided the necessary conditions are met.

EXSETSMS CommandUsageTriggered ByTrigger LogicParameters
ADD_SUBSCRIPTION

Registers a new subscriber in EXSET.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription service is NOT of type 'Usage'.
  • Has at least one 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service, which is not authorized1.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier
  • The subscription identifier
  • The distributor linked with the subscription service 
  • The subscription service CA ID
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good 
REMOVE_SUBSCRIPTIONDeactivates a subscription service in EXSET.
  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription service is Effective' or 'Short Term Effective'
  • Has at least one 'Not Effective', 'Regretted', 'Swapped', 'Removed', 'Cancelled', 'In Resting' or 'Short Term Not Effective' subscription service, which is authorized1.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier
  • The subscription identifier
  • The distributor linked with the subscription service 
  • The subscription service CA ID
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good 
RENEW_SUBSCRIPTION

Sends re-authorization commands to activate subscription service if 30 days have passed since the last activation provided the subscription is still 'Effective' in CRM.COM.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription service is NOT of type 'Usage'.
  • Has at least one 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service, which is not authorized1.
  • The distributor's authorization date plus 30 days is less than or equal to the current date.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier
  • The subscription identifier
  • The distributor linked with the subscription service 
  • The subscription service CA ID
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good 
CHANGE_DEVICE

Registers a new installed item related to the subscription.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • Has at least one 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service distributed to
    • at least one smartcard which is not initialized2.
    • at least one STB which is initialized2.
    • a deleted smartcard which is initialized2 and not used by another subscription
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor linked with the subscription service 
  • The subscription identifier
  • The replaced physical good's CA ID
  • The CA IDof the new physical good 
PAIR_UNPAIR_DEVICE_RECEIVER

Pairing and unpairing decoders and smartcards.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • Has an 'Effective' or 'Short Term Effective' subscription service distributed to
    • at least one smartcard which is not initialized2.
    • at least one STB which is not initialized2.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor linked with the smartcard (if applicable)
  • One of the following, in caseof unpairing, or both, in caseof pairing:
    • TheCA ID of the associated smartcard
    • The CA ID of the associated decoder

ADD_BROADCAST_INFOCAS_MESSAGE

 

 

Sends a message to multiple subscribers.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The command is triggered when the Send Infocas Message Utility is submitted with the Type set to 'All Subscribers'.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The message that will be sent to the subscriber
  • The message's broadcast duration in minutes
  • The time interval in minutes between each message broadcast

ADD_INDIVIDUAL_INFOCAS_MESSAGE

 

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • Entries exist in the communication queue in a 'Pending' Life Cycle State.
  • External system of the provider is equal to the external system specified on the 'infocas message run definitions.'
  • The associated communication is classified as 'Outgoing' and refers to a subscription or notification having the subscription in the notification information.
  • The subscription has at least one installed item distributed to EXSET SMS.
  • The subscription does not have another provisioning request related to a TQUEUE entry in a 'New' or 'Under Processing' state
    OR
  • The command is triggered when the 'send infocas message utility' is submitted with the type set to 'single subscriber'.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor linked with the smartcard (if applicable)
  • The CA ID of the associated smartcard
  • The message that will be sent to the subscriber
  • The message's broadcast duration in minutes
  • The time interval in minutes between each message broadcast
  • The communication queue number that was processed by the provisioning request (if applicable)

ADD_BROADCAST_FINGERPRINT_MESSAGE

Sends a Fingerprinting message (used to check for piracy) to multiple subscribers.
  • Provisioning request processing run
  • Fingerprinting Run
 
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The service CA ID if the message is sent to subscribers having a specific service
  • Fingerprint parameters, such as window type, positions etc.
  • The communication queue number that was processed by the provisioning request (if applicable)

ADD_INDIVIDUAL_FINGERPRINT_MESSAGE

 

Sends a fingerprinting message (used to check for piracy) to a single subscriber.
  • Provisioning request processing run
  • Display fingerprint utility
 
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor linked with the Smartcard (if applicable)
  • Fingerprint parameters, such as window type, positions etc.
  • The CA ID of the associated Smartcard
  • The service CA ID if the message is sent to subscribers having a specific service
  • The communication queue number that was processed by the provisioning request (if applicable)
RECALL_SUBSCRIPTION

Re-authorises the services enabled on a subscription.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • Recall subscription utility
 
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor(s) linked with the subscription 
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good 

1. 'Authorized' is a field kept in CRM.COM for every subscription service which represents its state at the provider.

  • authorized = active (1)
  • not authorized = inactive (0)

2. 'Initialized' is a field kept in CRM.COM for every installed item which represents its state at the provider.

  • initialized= registered (1)
  • not initialized= not registered (0)


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EXSET SMS Business Examples

Subscription with multiple viewing points 

Provisioning Distributors

Scenario 1

Company ZX offers to its customers the option to have multiple viewing points per subscription. This enables its customers to have a separate box and card in each of the rooms, and choose between having the same channels or different channels available through boxes. The maximum number of viewing points that can be added to a subscription is 4.

Solution

For each set of box and card that will be made available to subscribers, CRM.COM must have a different provisioning distributor available, in order to set the channel availability and restrictions per box.

In order to support this, the following distributors must be set up in the Provisioning Provider.

  • Main
  • TWIN1
  • TWIN2
  • TWIN3

 

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Provisioning of 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 requests that are being sent, 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, having Geological and Entertain, the following requests will be sent:

  • 1 PAIR_UNPAIR_DEVICE_RECEIVER (Smartcard and Decoder)
  • 2 ADD_SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID=GFA1 which represents the Geological channel
    • CA ID=PFA2 which represents the Entertain channel


Example 2: On swapping from Flexible Bundle to a flat product

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

  • 1 ADD_SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID = AF1 which represents the Flat product channel
  • 2 REMOVE_SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID=GFA1 which represents the Geological channel
    • CA ID=PFA2 which represents the 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 the other the following Requests will be sent:

  • 2 ADD_SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID = RFB1 which represents the Religion channel
    • CA ID = BFB2 which represents the Baby Channel
  • 2 REMOVE_SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID=GFA1 which represents the Geological channel
    • CA ID=EFA2 which represents the Entertain channel

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Send mail messages to subscriber's box

Conax Web Services 'Mail & Bark Messages' Utility

Scenario 3

Company ZX would like to send personalized messages to its subscribers, that will be directly accessible via their Set-Top Boxes (STBs). Specifically, it wants to be able to send:

  1. Messages that can be accessed via the subscriber's STB inbox.
  2. Messages that are shown on the subscriber's TV.

Solution

Agents should use the "Mail & Bark Messages Utility" and the appropriate type for each of the above method of communication. The agents should type the message that they would like to send to the subscriber.

Messages that can be accessed via their STB inbox

Mail Message

Messages that are shown on their TV

Bark Message

Notes

 

Glossary

CRM.COM Term
Definition
CASThe Conditional Access System, which in this case is EXSET.
SMSStands for Subscriptions Management System.  The SMS is responsible for retrieving data for processing from the billing system (in this case CRM.COM), and subsequently forwarding it to the CAS (Exset).
Billing SystemA system responsible for creating unprocessed CA commands based on subscription information. The CA commands' information is subsequently retrieved by the SMS. 
CRM.COM is the Billing System for EXSET Provider.
TQUEUEThe entity in SMS responsible for registering the provisioning requests sent from CRM.COM.'
Provisioning State

The provisioning state of a subscription service (i.e. a channel) that can be either 'Active' or 'Inactive'.

  • 'Active' state: Provisioning signals are sent to the subscriber's device.
  • 'Inactive' state: No provisioning signals are sent to the subscriber's device.
Infocas Message

A message sent by the provider to the customer which appears directly on the screen (On-Screen-Message).

Fingerprint

A fingerprint is a visible text displayed for a limited time on screen by the STB that can be used to identify subscribers that de-scrambled content or do not abide by the signed contract terms.

 

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