PRODUCTS / RATING
  
Billing Components Rating Engine

The Billing Components Rating Engine consists of two separates modules:

> usage processing
> volume discounting

The usage processing module determines the billable entity for events or transactions and identifies the appropriate usage tariff structure. The events are rated and sent to the definable output. The usage processing module is capable of operating with multiple parallel processes and on multiple machines to reach highest performance and scalability. Rating is coupled loose to the subscriber database with asynchronous data exports thus allowing independent rating from the subscriber database. Rating includes long call handling and sophisticated duplicate control over long periods. It aggregates usage on multiple dimensions and allows for fast reaction on unexpected usage patterns.

By defining “rating packages”, it is possible to define different rates depending on a reached counter threshold, providing a stepped pricing on sums. It also allows the definition of different discounts in the same way, thus preserving the original price and applying a discount value. The thresholds are observed by Rating itself, i.e. online and as near to the real time as Rating receives the calls.

The volume discounting module supports definition and calculation of discount plans based on origination and destination of chargeable records as well as used service.

Billing Components rating checks in near real time that a usage credit threshold has not been exceeded. Actions up to suspensions or on-demand bills can be triggered when reaching thresholds. 

The Billing Components Rating Engine fully supports Carrier Account Reconciliation, also known as transferred account procedures (TAP), which is used between network operators to settle the charges incurred by roaming subscribers. This procedure is GSM/PCS specific but similar procedures will be required in the future e-business world to define charging principles and exchange rated and un-rated usage events. Currently TAP Versions 2, 2+ and TAP3 are available.

Rating Engine
> Processing of usage data charges for different kind of services
> Parameterised und staggered usage charges
> Tariffs for virtual private networks (VPN)
> "Friends and Family" Tariffs
> Volume discounting
> Continuous usage limit control with freely definable actions
> Continuous accumulation of usage amounts
> Support for Hot Rating
> Management of roaming agreements
> Support of transferred account procedures (TAP)
> Mapping of customer parameters to network parameters
> Buffering of transactions for network elements and auto-repeat of transactions