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Billing Mediation Fundamentals

Price: $1,599.00
Course Number: 2205
Length: 2 Days

In a telecommunications network environment, various Network Elements like telephone switches encode and store
accounting data, known as Call Detail Records (CDRs), in different formats. The mediation Platforms collect this
data, converts it into a normalized output format, and then distributes it to third-party applications such as billing,
traffic analysis, fraud management systems etc.

These platform enable service providers to tie in multiple types of network elements into a homogenous
architecture. It can handle multiple switches with wide variety of network interface options. It is scalable, open,
flexible and highly manageable and is available as a simple low-cost platform to high-end high-availability clustering
platform.

This course is the guide to telecommunications billing mediation. The outline encompasses the entire billing
mediation processes end-to-end, with major focus on the interfaces with OSSs, BSS, network management, and
CRM.

Who Should Attend

Designed for technical professionals, non technical , operations, sales and marketing telecom professionals. Those
new to billing from telecom, IT, finance, audit...in user and vendor communities Those billing professionals who
need an update and refresher on developments in the billing processfor IP, and Wireless Marketing, sales and sales
support from billing systems vendors, integrators and consultants

Outline
Executive Summary

Telemanagement Concerns and Headaches Increasing Network Complexity

Introduction of New Technologies
Inaccurate Cost Tracking and Revenue Leakage
Performance Issues
Anxiety about the Future
Convergence of Telephony and IT
Approaches to Telemanagement
Inventory and Technology Management
Carrier Bill Reconciliation
Usage Tracking and Monitoring
Reimbursable Billing
Automation

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SCOPE OF MEDIATION IN TELCO CCB SYSTEMS

Why Mediation is Essential for Today's Operator

Operational and Economic Advantages of Mediation Platforms
Speed and Timeliness
Data Integrity and Traceability
New Ways of Exploiting Data
Open Modular and Scalable Architecture
Types of Mediation Related Applications
Rating and Billing
Interconnect Accounting
Subscriber Management
Fraud Management
Decision Support Systems
Number Portability Network Management and Quality of Service Assurance

AN INTRODUCTION TO MEDIATION

Definition and Scope of Mediation

Types of Mediation Solution
Standalone Mediation Systems
Mediation as Part of a Network Management Platform
Mediation in Changing Environments
Mediation in Changing Technological Environments
Mediation in Changing Service Environments
Features of Mediation-based Revenue Assurance
Data Validation
Data Repair
Inter-carrier Accounting
Profiling and Credit Limit Checks
Performance Management
Revenue Assurance Case Studies

Definition and scope of mediation

Scope of mediation in telco CCB systems

Distribution logic from mediation system
Mediation platform technology
Large amount data management (scalability of systems)
Key Performance Indicators for Mediation

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 Separation of functions between Mediation and Billing systems
Impact of mediation on CCB system architectures
Intelligent Information Management
The Changing Role of Mediation)
Transmission issues (protocols and security)

MEDIATION PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY

Billing Mediation for Voice Service and Data

Role of Switch
Call Record Collection
Buffering
Call Record Validation
Data Transformation
Auditing and Reporting
Mediation for Service Provisioning
Billing Mediation for Packet Based Service
Validation & In-Stream Record Correction
Data Reduction (Filtering & Aggregation)
Transformation/Normalization
Record Creation (Usage Record Cloning)
Record Enrichment (Using Complex Reference Data)
Automatic Reference Data Loading from external sources including real-time data base updates via CORBA
Integration with external Customer Databases
Complex Correlation (Long Duration Calls, GSM, GPRS and IP events)
Distribution (to one or more destinations)
Duplicate Data Detection (down to individual events)
Errored Record Processing
Real-Time Rating Module
User Level System Security
Data Integrity and Audit Capabilities
Error Messaging and Alarming
User Friendly GUI Interface
Context Sensitive Help
Roaming Manager
Content Manager

CDR Collection

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 Automatic and on-demand collection of CDR files or records from different types of NEs and other Mediation
systems
Interfaces
Protocols
Switches
Schedules
Polling or pushing
Time-driven or event-driven
Manually initiated by the operator

Mediation and event processing

Defining the range of measured network events - voice; page/SMS; data streams, etc.
Explaining the key information required for each measured option
Coordinating network changes with billing
Audit procedures that ensure successful network changes Identifying the different possible sources of usage
data
Examining the size and complexity of common CDR data structures
Tracing the mediation process for different types or traffic
Acquiring the usage data: the call data collection process
Profile matching
Pattern recognition
Making a common logical record format
Auditing the mediation process
Highlighting the limitations of the current billing mediation process

Post Processing

Format conversion (CDR normalization)

Filtering
Validation
Rejection/selection
Aggregation
Merging
Other custom post processing

Distribution to downstream applications

Real time CDR file forwarding to Billing and other downstream Systems
Multiple networks
Multiple file transfer protocols
Support for encryption
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Configuration/Management

User friendly GUI front end Java Client to connect and configure TeleMedia from anywhere on the Internet
Remote Address Management
SNMP

Event/Error Notifications

SNMP extension agent

Alarm generation/Viewer
E-mail on errors
6 Security
Login requirement
Multiple Access types

Help and Usage

Extensive Context Sensitive Help

User Guide
Logging/Reports
Backup
System Requirements
Performance
Interoperability

IMPACT OF MEDIATION OF CCB SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES

Mediation Systems in CCB Architectures

Usage Mediation
Service Provisioning Mediation
Management Layer
Mediation in a PTT/ILEC Operator Architecture
Mediation in a Mobile Operator Architecture
Example of Mediation in a Cable Operator Architectures
Impact of New Services on Future CCB Architectures
Mobile Data Service
IP Mediation

IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT

Issues in Selection and Implementation of a Mediation Platform

The Case For and Against System Purchase
What to Look for in a Mediation System

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 Quantifying the True Costs and Benefits of Implementation
Quality Issues
Quantifying the Costs and Benefits of a Mediation System
Essential Services Provided by Suppliers
Pre-installation Services
Post Installation Help

FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN MEDIATION

Future Developments in Billing-Related Technologies

IP Service Billing
Convergence Billing
New Network Service Architectures
Advanced Intelligent Networks (AIN)
Wireless Intelligent Networks
Third Generation Mobile Service
Mobile Roaming: Data Message Handler

Products

An Overview of Mediation Platforms and Products

Examining a generic framework of a mediation platform architecture
Identifying the interfaces to other billing processes
Identifying key mediation suppliers and vendors
Comparing current mediation software products
Multi-service mediation systems
Examining different mediation implementation strategies
Outsourcing vs in-house solutions
Selecting a mediation system
Identifying the requirements for the mediation system
Pre-paid
Legacy systems
KEY SUPPLIERS AND PRODUCTS
SUPPLIERS OF MEDIATION SYSTEMS INTEGRATED WITH BILLING
VENDORS OF IP DATA COLLECTION TECHNOLOGY

Workshop 1: Decision Making Process

Should I buy a mediation system or rely on my billing system to do the job?

What systems are available that would fit the needs of my company?
What can I expect to pay for a mediation system?

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 What is the future for mediation?
Is there a future for outsourced mediation services?

Workshop 2: The Billing Mediation Process

Understanding Relationship between Mediation With Other Network Processes

Examining the interfaces between the mediation platform and the network management, service
management, customer care and decision support systems
Coping With The Additional Challenges of IP Mediation
How is mediation for IP different from mediation for voice traffic?
Identifying the challenges
Lack of standards
Coping with dynamic IP addresses
Usage (volume) based billing for IP services
Collecting IP billing information (IPDRs) from routers and servers
Examining the hardware and software requirements for IP mediation
How will new software and equipment integrate with your legacy mediation platform?
Upgrading Your Mediation Processes To Enable Real Time Billing
Understanding why and when real time billing may be required
Hot billing and fraud management
What added requirements will real time billing place on your mediation system?
Rapid data consolidation
Real time mediation
Determining which billing data you should process in real time and which you should not
Future Developments in Wireless Billing Mediation
Forecasting future mediation needs How does the increasing complexity of services impact the mediation
process?
Billing for content
Examining the mediation challenges associated with IP
Fully convergent mediation platform

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