telecom oss/bss overview
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Telecom OSS/BSS
Overview
Prepared by : Magid Fatehy
Telecom OSS Team Leader at Giza Systems
www.magid.tk
Before we Begin
• This presentation is a very high level
overview for the most Telecom OSS/BSS
components.
• Any information or examples in the
presentation are not related to a specific
operator or vendor.
• Any similarity with any implementation is
not intended.
Agenda
General Concepts
Data Collection
Mediation
Billing
SS7 Monitoring
Revenue Assurance
Fraud Management
Fulfillment / Provisioning
Number Portability Management
General Concepts
Numbering Plan +20 10 1234567
• + or 00 To dial international number
• 20 Egypt prefix
• 10 Vodafone prefix
• 1234567 Subscriber number
Call Scenario
Local Internal Trunks Internal Trunks Local
Loop Loop
Toll Exchange or Tandem Switch : connects multiple switches
to route the calls
CDR / EDR / xDR
• CDR: Call Detail Record
• Generally called EDR (E for Event) or xDR
• The switch generate the EDR which contain mainly
• A#: Calling Number
• B#: Called Number
• Duration: Call Duration
• Start Date Time: Date & Time of the call
There are a lot of other fields generated in the EDR depending on the
event type; Voice call, Video call, SMS, MMS, etc.
SS7 Monitoring
Revenue Assurance
Provisioning / Service Fulfillment
Interconnect Billing System(s)
Main OSS / BSS Components
CRM
Contact
Management
Order
Management
Service
Activation
Retail Billing System(s)
Rating BillingBill
ProductionMediation
Fraud Management
Network
Inventory
Data
Collection
Call Center
Test Call Generator
Switch
Collection
Workforce
Management
Loyalty &
Retention
Data Collection
Data Collection Design
• Alcatel OCB, HC3.1, HC3.2, HC3.4
• Siemens EWSD
• Lucent 5ESS
• Ericsson AXE, AXD
• Nortel DMS
• Huawei UNO, CDMA, C&C08
• ZTE UNO, CDMA
Data Collection (Cont.)
Exchanges Types
Data Collection (Cont.)
Billing Files Types
AMA (Automatic Message Accounting)
• Contain the detailed events information
(EDRs)
METER
• Contain the subscriber number and his
counters (pulsing)
• Obsolete
Data Collection (Cont.)
Front Collector (FC) Function
Interact with the exchange by its network protocol
(X.25, Ethernet, etc)
Polling data files
Data files storage
The process is not just file coping, it is a self
managed process,
Automated scheduling of collection, automated
failure recovery, etc
Data Collection (Cont.)
Central Access Network Server (CANS)
Polling Files from FCs
Transferring Files to Mediation
Billing Files Storage
Mediation
Mediation (Cont.)
Set of pre processing functions that are applied to EDRs and other billing related records. Provide the mediated data to the end systems:
• Retail Billing • Interconnect Billing • Revenue Assurance & Fraud Management • Data Warehouse
What is Mediation ?
Mediation (Cont.)
Collection and Archive From Data Collections or from the switches (in another setup)
Parsing Applying The Business Rules
Main Mediation Functions
Mediation (Cont.)
The process of decoding the input files and transforming it to the required format by the end system
The Input files formats: ASCII (Delimited, Fixed Size) Binary (Fixed block size / variable block
size)
Parsing / Reformatting
Mediation (Cont.)
Normalization • e.g.: Numbers Format, Time Format
Filtration • e.g.: Zero call durations, Non billing CRDs
Correlation & Aggregation • e.g.: OVERFLOW calls, Long call duration
Duplicate Detection Data Enrichment
Applying The Business Rules
Mediation (Cont.)
Reporting • e.g.: Number of CDRs in specific switch per
day, month, etc.
Error Processing • Errors reporting & reprocessing.
Auditing & Reporting
Billing
Retail Billing (“Billing” only)
• For postpaid subscribers
Interconnect Billing (Wholesale
Billing)
• For other network operators
Retail Billing
Rating
• Rate each EDR with the corresponding rate
Billing
• Calculate the fixed charges, discounts, etc
(Bill Cycle)
Bill Production
• Produce and print the invoices
Collection & Payment
• Can be a part of billing system or a dedicated
system
Retail Billing (Cont.)
The rate Depend On :
•Service Type (Voice, SMS, MMS, etc)
•Destination (Local, Mobile,
International, etc)
•Time of the call (Peak, Off Peak)
•Subscriber's rate plan
Interconnect Billing
Network Operator (NOP)
Path
Node
Point of interconnect
OrganisationGroup
Franchise 1
NetworkAddress
Franchise 2
InterconnecT Owner
Network Operator (NOP)
Path
NodeNode
Point of interconnectPoint of interconnect
OrganisationGroup
Franchise 1
NetworkAddress
Franchise 2
InterconnecT Owner
Interconnection Terminology
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
NOP
Interconnect Owner
Call Direction ‘To’
Invoice is based on the NOP’s charge for terminating a call
Invoice Direction ‘From’
Payment Direction
Interconnection Scenario
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
Call Types
Outgoing (Retail & Interconnect)
Transit (Interconnect)
Operator A Interconnect
Owner
Operator B
Incoming (Interconnect)
Retail
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
Interconnect Process
Network Operator
Reconciliation Settlement
Incoming Statement
Outgoing Statement
Call Detail Records
Summary Pricing
Invoice
Invoice
Negotiations
Negotiations
Network Operator
Payment
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
• Direct Incoming / Outgoing
• Indirect Incoming / Outgoing
• Traditional Transit
• Reverse Incoming / Outgoing (Free Phone)
• Refile / Hubbing
Call Scenarios
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
• The international interconnection agreements differ than
the national interconnection agreements in many
aspects. e.g.
• National: Invoices
• International: Declaration
International Agreements
Optimized Routing
• A system which dynamically update the
routing table on the switch to select the best
route to every destination.
• The best route can be determined based on
the price, line quality, interconnect agreement
conditions, etc.
• The Optimized Routing system gets feeds
from interconnect billing and SS7 monitoring
to select the best route and update switches.
SS7 Monitoring
SS7 Protocol
• Signaling protocol between network
elements (Switches)
SS7 Monitoring Solutions
• Monitor the signals between switches and generate reports / Build EDRs from these information.
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
Switch A Switch B
SS7 Monitoring Solution
Probes
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
(1) IAM [called #]
(2) ACM
(3) ANM
Switch A
(4) REL
(5) RLC
Switch B
Signals for a call from Switch A to Switch B
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
SS7 Monitoring Importance
For Network Analysis
Based on SS7 signals reports
• Identify network problems (e.g. Congestion)
• Identify Routing
• Control and increase the Quality of Service; QoS
• Planning future extendibility of the network
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
SS7 Monitoring Importance
For Revenue Assurance
Based on the EDRs built from SS7 signals
• Compare SS7 signaling EDRs with Switch
EDRs
• Identify possible fraud
Revenue Assurance
Revenue Assurance focus on detection
& correction of data discrepancies
between the operator‘s systems &
processes
RA get feeds from all systems and
apply a reconciliation to ensure that there
is no revenue loss in any system.
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
Revenue Assurance Types:
1. Usage Assurance • Reconcile the traffic (EDRs) between the systems;
Switches, Mediation and Billing.
• e.g. Compare the pre mediated EDRs (switches
EDRs) with post mediated EDRs (after mediation)
to ensure the mediation process.
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
Revenue Assurance Types:
2. Subscription Assurance • Reconcile the subscribers’ profiles between the
switches and billing to avoid:
1. Under Billing: subscribers have the service but
not charged for it (exist in the switch but not
exist in the billing)
2. Over billing: an opposite of Under Billing
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
RA System Life Cycle
Files
from all
Systems Transformation RA
Database
Measures
KPIs
Reports
Dashboard
The transformation specification for each file called a Parser Number of Parsers = Numbers of different input formats
Test Call Generator
• Can be considered under RA umbrella.
• Generate test calls to test any new service,
network element, route, etc.
• Generate calls using a pre configured
parameters; time, duration, destination, etc.
• Feed the RA with the log of generated calls and
RA reconcile it with switch EDRs to ensure the
correct charging.
Fraud Management
•Fraud management system focus on
detection any abnormal behavior
(pattern) within the network.
•Fraud management system apply
rules to detect any abnormal
behavior and fire alarms in a near real time fashion.
Fraud Management (Cont.)
Rules Examples
• If a subscriber makes 100 international
calls per day Fire an alarm
• If a new subscriber makes GSM calls by
1000 EGP per day Fire an alarm
Fraud Management (Cont.)
Examples of Fraud Types
1. Call Selling
a) The fraudster get a normal home phone.
b) Offers cheap rate international calls to public
c) Escapes away without paying the bills
• Pattern: Huge international traffic for different countries from a normal home user
Fraud Management (Cont.)
Examples of Fraud Types
2. Cloning
A. The fraudster clone a SIM card to another SIM
B. Fraudster make huge calls using the new SIM
C. The operator bills the original legitimate subscriber for these calls and he refused to pay
• Pattern: Two calls from the same numbers in the same time
Fulfillment / Provisioning
• Fulfillment / Provisioning is the automation
process for providing the services to the
customer.
• The process starting from the customer order
till activation the services on the network and
billing.
Provisioning (Cont.)
The Old Manual Process
Customer Service Office
PBXShipping
$
Billing System
Copy
Shipping
Work
Order
Customer
TE CallCenter
Agent
Work Order
Switch
Provisioning (Cont.)
The Automated Process
CRM
Channels:
IVR
Web Site
Call Center
Customer Point
eTopup Channels
Provisioning
Sub Systems:
Network Inventory
Service Activation
Workforce Management
Billing
Network
Customer
Provisioning (Cont.)
• The provisioning process contain of multiple
subsystems organized by a process workflow.
• The Provisioning / fulfillment solution can be
implemented as a suite or separated systems
integrated together.
• The level of automation is dependent on the
implementation of the provisioning systems.
Provisioning (Cont.)
Service Activation
• The system who activate the service on the network
element (Switches)
• Interact with the different network elements by different
languages & commands
Provisioning (Cont.)
Network Inventory
• Holds all detailed information about the network
elements (switches, ports, cables, etc.)
• Using this information, the operator can
determine the best way for providing the service.
e.g. what is the shortest route to connect two
sites using the leased line.
Provisioning (Cont.)
Workforce Management System
• Distribute the work orders automatically on the
labor for providing a service or solving a problem.
• Distribution can be based on location,
capabilities, tools availability, work load, etc.
Number Portability Management
• The Number Portability is the ability for
subscribers to change their service provider
(Telecom Operator) without changing their
phone numbers.
• e.g. Mobinil (012 1234567) Vodafone (012
1234567)
Number Portability Management
Number Portability Management
Systems
• NPC: Number Portability Clearinghouse
• NPG: Number Portability Gateway
Number Portability Management
Number Portability Clearinghouse (NPC)
• Centralized reference database for ported
numbers.
• Existing at the Regulator.
• Mange the portability process between the
Telecom Operators.
Number Portability Management
Number Portability Gateway (NPG)
• The interface of Number Portability service at
each Telecom Operator.
• Mange the portability process between the
Telecom Operator & NPC.
Number Portability Management
Call Routing Types
1. Indirect
Each call to a ported number
should go to the original operator
(Donor) and he forward it to the
Recipient operator.
Number Portability Management
Call Routing Types
2. Direct
Each operator know where the
ported number be and forward the
call direct to his new network.
Finally, We Cover
General Concepts
Data Collection
Mediation
Billing
SS7 Monitoring
Revenue Assurance
Fraud Management
Fulfillment / Provisioning
Number Portability Management
Thanks to all my colleagues who help me for preparing this
presentation.
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