EXSET SMS

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

EXSET is a conditional access system (CAS) through which the provisioning signals of video streaming subscriptions can be managed. 

CRM.COM integrates with EXSET, using the EXSET Subscriptions Management System (SMS) - Billing Exchange provisioning module, which primarily handles the activation and deactivation of signals transmitted to devices.  The module can also be used to send messages to subscribers through their devices and to check for piracy.

Major features

  • Integration with EXSET SMS.

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

  • Simultaneous activation and deactivation of multiple subscriptions.
  • Messaging multiple subscribers at once.
  • Utilities can be used to manage individual subscriptions (e.g., to pair devices or send messages).
  • Archiving of former provisioning requests (refer to Utilities for more information).

Using EXSET SMS 

CRM.COM and EXSET CAS communicate through TQUEUE.

TQUEUE logs all provisioning requests that are sent from CRM.COM to EXSET CAS through the Subscription Management System.  TQUEUE is not a CRM.COM entity and can only be found on the SMS side.  As a result, CRM.COM must update and use the information from TQUEUE table and  SMS forwards the commands to the CAS.

The procedure is as follows:

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

 

Using Batch Processes to Handle Subscriptions

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 Infocas 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 that is used to identify the 'Pending' communications to be processed by the run.

Broadcast Period (in minutes): The duration of the Infocas message (up to '10080').

Broadcast Interval (in minutes): The time interval between each message broadcast must be up to 1440 minutes and smaller than the Broadcast Period.

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

 

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Sending a fingerprint

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 Segments: A list of subscriber segments that will receive the fingerprint.

Excluded Segments: A list of subscriber segments that will not receive the fingerprint.

Input Settings

Broadcast Period (in Minutes): The duration for which the fingerprint message should be sent(up to '10080').

Broadcast Interval (in Minutes): The time interval between each fingerprint broadcast must be up to 1440 minutes and smaller than the Broadcast Period.

Show Time (in Seconds): The duration of each fingerprint message on the screen (up to '65535').

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

  • 1: RC button
  • 2: On time

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

Window Transparency (between 0-100%)

Window Background color

Font Transparency (between 0-100%).

Font color of the fingerprint message.

Process Immediately: Determines whether the request is sent directly to EXSET, or created and processed subsequently by the provisioning request processing run.

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Using a Utility to Handle a Subscription

Billing > Provisioning > EXSET SMS

Utilities are used to handle one subscription at a time.

Sending a fingerprint

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

Provide the information required by the utility and submit. 

Main Information

(Settings used to identify and construct the 'Display Fingerprint' provisioning requests)

Send to: Determines whether the fingerprint will be sent to a specific subscriber or to all.

Smartcard of the specific subscriber that will be checked with the fingerprint.

Broadcast Period (in Minutes): The duration for which the fingerprint message should be sent(up to '10080').

Broadcast Interval (in Minutes): The time interval between each fingerprint broadcast must be up to 1440 minutes and smaller than the Broadcast Period.

Show Time (in Seconds): The duration of the fingerprint message on the screen every time that is broadcasted (up to 65535 minutes).

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

  • 1: RC button
  • 2: On time

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

Window Transparency (between 0-100%)

Window Background color

Font Transparency (between 0-100%).

Font color of the fingerprint message.

Process Immediately: Determines whether the request is 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.

Provide the required information starting with the type of text.  As the message text is provided through the utility, there is no related Communication (unlike Infocas message runs).

Main Information

(Settings used to identify and construct the Infocas requests)

Send to: Determines whether the message will be sent to a specific subscriber or to all.

Smartcard of the specific subscriber that the message will be sent to.

Broadcast Period (in minutes): The duration of the infocas message (up to '10080').

Broadcast Interval (in minutes): The time interval between each infocas broadcast must be up to 1440 minutes and smaller than the Broadcast Period.

Text (message) 

Process Immediately: Determines whether the request is sent directly to EXSET, or created and processed subsequently by the provisioning request processing run.

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Resetting a subscription

The utility is used to re-authorize subscription services. In most cases, the 'Recall' command is used by the provider to reset and re-authorize all smartcard services (when a customer reports a malfunction).  Define the smartcard and subscription on which the services should be re-authorized and SUBMIT the request.

 

 

EXSET SMS Requests

The table below displays CRM.COM processes and actions that trigger EXSET SMS requests, as well as the parameters sent for each request.

Activation and deactivation commands are not directly triggered by the execution of subscription actions.  System conditions (in the Trigger Logic column) must be met during the execution of the 'provisioning request processing run definition', in order for the respective EXSET SMS command to be created.

RequestUseTriggered ByTrigger LogicParameters
Add Subscription

Register a new subscriber in EXSET.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription service is NOT of type 'Usage'.
  • The subscription has at least one authorized 'Effective' or 'Short-term Effective' subscription service that is not authorized1.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier
  • The subscription identifier
  • The distributor linked to the subscription service 
  • The CA ID of the subscription service
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good.
Remove SubscriptionDeactivate a subscription service in EXSET.
  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription service is 'Effective' or 'Short-term Effective'.
  • The subscription has at least one 'Not Effective', 'Regretted', 'Swapped', 'Removed', 'Cancelled', 'In Resting' or 'Short-term Not Effective' subscription service, that is authorized1.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier
  • The subscription identifier
  • The distributor linked to the subscription service 
  • The CA ID of the subscription service
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good. 
Renew Subscription

Send 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'.
  • The subscription has at least one 'Effective' or 'Short-term Effective' subscription service, that is not authorized1.
  • The distributor 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 to the subscription service 
  • The CA ID of the subscription service
  • The CA ID of the associated physical good.
Change Device

Register a new installed item related to the subscription.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription has at least one 'Effective' or 'Short-term Effective' subscription service distributed to:
    • At least one smartcard that is not initialized2.
    • At least one STB that is initialized2.
    • A deleted smartcard that is initialized2 and not used by another subscription
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor linked to the subscription service 
  • The subscription identifier
  • The CA ID of the replaced physical good
  • The CA ID of the new physical good.
Pair - Unpair Device

Pair and unpair decoders and smartcards.

  • Provisioning request processing run
  • The subscription has an 'Effective' or 'Short-term Effective' subscription service distributed to:
    • At least one smartcard that is not initialized2.
    • At least one STB that is not initialized2.
  • The TQUEUE entry unique identifier 
  • The distributor linked with the smartcard (if applicable)
  • One of the following (for unpairing) or both (for pairing):
    • The CA ID of the associated smartcard
    • The CA ID of the associated decoder.

Add Broadcast Infocas

 

Send 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 broadcast duration in minutes
  • The time interval in minutes between each message broadcast.

Add Individual Infocas

 

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 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

Send 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 subscribed to a specific service
  • Fingerprint parameters, such as window type and positions
  • The communication queue number that was processed by the provisioning request (if applicable).

Add Individual Fingerprint

 

Send 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 and positions
  • 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-authorize 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 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 PAIR UNPAIR DEVICE RECEIVER (Smartcard and Decoder)
  • 2 ADD SUBSCRIPTION
    • 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 ADD SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID = AF1 (Flat product channel)
  • 2 REMOVE SUBSCRIPTION
    • 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 ADD SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID = RFB1 (Religion channel)
    • CA ID = BFB2 (Baby channel)
  • 2 REMOVE SUBSCRIPTION
    • CA ID = GFA1 (Geological channel)
    • CA ID = EFA2 (Entertain channel)

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Sending mail messages to subscriber's box

Conax Web Services 'Mail & Bark Messages' Utility

Scenario 3

Company ZX wants to send personalized messages to its subscribers that are:

  • Directly accessible through their set-top boxes (STBs) 
  • Displayed on their TV.



Solution

Agents should use the Infocas Messages Utility', select the appropriate type of message for each method of communication and provide the message.

Messages that can be accessed through the subscriber's STB inbox

Mail Message

Messages that are shown on the subscriber's TV

Bark Message

Notes

 

Glossary

CRM.COM Term
Definition
Conditional Access System (CAS)

A system (in this case EXSET) that provides content to subscribers through their devices.

Subscriptions Management System (SMS)A system 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 conditional access (CA) commands based on subscription information. The information from CA commands is subsequently retrieved by the SMS.  CRM.COM is the billing system for EXSET provider.
TQUEUEThe entity in the SMS responsible for registering the provisioning requests sent from CRM.COM.

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.

Infocas Message

An on-screen message sent by the provider to the customer which appears on the screen.

Fingerprint

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