Overview


Volubill Business System (VBS) Convergent Charging is a real-time charging, service authorisation and customer management platform for broadband and mobile data services. In addition to charging it also provides modular capability for:

• Real-time Rating
• Service and Monetary Balance Management
• Active mediation between network and business systems
• Online, Offline and Real-time User Dialogue Generation and Distribution
• Voucher management
• Customer Care & Self Care
• Product & Service Catalogue
• Subscriber Profile Repository
• Partner Management

It enables real-time charging of data services across pre-paid, post-paid and on-demand customers, with charging dynamic by factors such as customer segment type, service, location, application, time, session/unit types, quota, volume, quality and thresholds.

When deployed with service delivery platforms and network access equipment, VBS Convergent Charging fulfils the roles of:

• 3GPP Online Charging System (OCS)
• WiMAX CSN Solution
• Intelligent AAA server
• Active Mediation
• Federated Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR)

Convergent Charging system supports multi-session nature of subscriber data access by orchestrating simultaneous consumption of different services against a single balance for complete credit and revenue control. In addition VBS Convergent Charging is able to convert and manage quota from money to service units with real-time rating. User dialogue management enables dynamic messages to be created for customer service and charging advice. Additionally, voucher management and self-care supports calling cards, promotions/discounts and service personalisation.

In the context of IT B/OSS systems VBS Convergent Charging can on its own can provide comprehensive revenue management, customer account and product catalogue management functionality supporting all data services across all payment mechanisms: pre-pay (including vouchers), post-pay and on-demand (i.e. credit card, e-commerce and m-commerce).

To enhance and maximise existing B/OSS investments VBS Convergent Charging can also act as an broker between the IT and network domains by working in tandem with assets such as:

• Platforms holding the master balance: billing systems, IN platforms and e-wallet systems
• Customer profile platforms: CRM and data warehouse systems
• Rating and billing engines that hold product catalogue information and price plans
• Content Partner Management, Partner Relationship Management and Interconnect systems
• Active Mediation

VBS Convergent Charging services following types of network and service delivery systems:

• Network Gateways including GGSN/PDN, B-RAS, PDSN and ASN-GW gateways
• Embedded or standalone service assurance systems such as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and session controllers including Volubill Network System Service Controller and Core Controller
• Service Delivery Platforms and Application Functions such as IMS (including CSCF), VoIP, Triple-play and Content platforms

Figure 1, outlines the key VBS Convergent Charging interfaces in a service providers ecosystem.

VBS Convergent Charging benefits service providers by:

• Performing data service charging in real-time for revenue-assurance across pre-, post- and on-demand customers
• Enabling the segmentation and personalisation of data services through new charging models that drive service usage and ARPU
• Maximising customer satisfaction by providing real-time advice of charge, credit limits and bill shock management
• Enabling swift-time-to-market with in-built network adaptors and common service configurations
• Seamlessly pre-integrating with VNS Service Controller and VNS Core Controller for a complete subscriber service control and monetisation system
• Strategically supporting LTE and network evolution