Communications Architectural

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview
December 2007 Version 1.0
PURPOSE STATEMENT: THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF FEATURES AND ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDED IN: ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS BILLING AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT 7.3.1 ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK MEDIATION 5.1 ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS ORDER AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT 6.3 ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS OBJECTEL 2.10.1 ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS SUBSCRIBER AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT 3.1.6 ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS ASAP 5.2.2 ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS IPSA 5.1.3 ORACLE COMMUNICATION AND MOBILITY SERVER 10.1.3 ORACLE APPLICATION INTEGRATION ARCHITECTURE FOR COMMUNICATIONS 2.0 ORACLE SIEBEL CRM 7.8.2
IN ADDITION TO DESCRIBING CURRENT GENERALLY AVAILABLE PRODUCT RELEASES, THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES A STATEMENT OF INTENT OF POSSIBLE FUTURE FUNCTIONALITY. IT IS INTENDED SOLELY TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR I.T. PROJECTS.
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DISCLAIMER: THIS DOCUMENT IN ANY FORM, SOFTWARE OR PRINTED MATTER, CONTAINS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION THAT IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF ORACLE. YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THIS CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF YOUR ORACLE SOFTWARE LICENSE AND SERVICE AGREEMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN EXECUTED AND WITH WHICH YOU AGREE TO COMPLY. THIS DOCUMENT AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE DISCLOSED, COPIED, REPRODUCED OR DISTRIBUTED TO ANYONE OUTSIDE ORACLE WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ORACLE. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT PART OF YOUR LICENSE AGREEMENT NOR CAN IT BE INCORPORATED INTO ANY CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH ORACLE OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES. THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS INTENDED SOLELY TO ASSIST YOU IN PLANNING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND UPGRADE OF THE PRODUCT FEATURES DESCRIBED. IT IS NOT A COMMITMENT TO DELIVER ANY MATERIAL, CODE, OR FUNCTIONALITY, AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON IN MAKING PURCHASING DECISIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT, RELEASE, AND TIMING OF ANY FEATURES OR FUNCTIONALITY DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT REMAINS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF ORACLE. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PRODUCT ARCHITECTURE, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO SAFELY INCLUDE ALL FEATURES DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT WITHOUT RISKING SIGNIFICANT DESTABILIZATION OF THE CODE.
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Document Purpose and Intended Audience........................................ 5 The Oracle Communications Suite - overview.................................... 6 Oracle Communications Suite Functionality ..................................... 12 Oracle Application Integration Architecture (AIA).......................... 50 Industry Reference Architectures ........................................................ 58 Summary of Application Usage Guidelines ....................................... 61 Standards Support .................................................................................. 64 Glossary of Terms.................................................................................. 66
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1.
DOCUMENT PURPOSE AND INTENDED AUDIENCE
The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of Oracles applications and technologies that address the needs of Communication Service Providers. This whitepaper includes an overview of the key features and functionality of each application and also describes a set of example reference architectures that are relevant to the wireline, wireless, and converged IP vertical industry segments. Focus is also given to the Oracle Application Integration Architecture, which will play a key role in the future strategic direction of Oracles end-to-end Communications Suite. This document is not intended to be a comprehensive description of the features, functionality and architecture of each application in the portfolio, but rather a starting point for further reading and discussions. It is hoped that this document will aid the reader in understanding the benefits that each Oracle application can bring within the broader context of a Communications Service Providers total operations infrastructure. The intended audience for this document is Oracle customers and internal employees.
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2.
THE ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS SUITE - OVERVIEW
Oracle Communications applications have been developed with the specific needs of communications service providers in mind, and encompass the entire Concept to Cash lifecycle.
The core Oracle Communications Suite comprises: Oracle Communications Order and Service Management Oracle Communications Inventory Management Oracle Communications Service Activation Oracle Communications Network Mediation Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management Oracle Service Delivery Platform
In addition the following Oracle cross-industry applications complement the communications application portfolio to enable streamlined enterprise operations: Oracle Siebel CRM Oracle Siebel eBilling Manager Oracle eBusiness Suite Financials Oracle Business Intelligence Suite
Oracles application portfolio strategy is to invest in the utilization and integration of the core database platform and Fusion Middleware technology stack in all of its applications. This approach enables a productized, pre-integrated and
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supported portfolio that supports industry best practices that can be extended to align with the unique needs of service providers. The Oracle Communications Suite is represented in the diagram below.
Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management
Oracle Billing and Revenue Management provides a single convergent platform for communication service providers to generate, capture, collect and analyse revenue in real-time across any customer type, network, service, geography, and payment method. Billing and Revenue Management features include:
Pricing Management:
Offers pricing flexibility and time-to-market performance Supports convergent prepaid and postpaid services in a single subscriber account
Customer Management: Partner Management: Online Charging:
Connects new service partners securely, enabling profitable revenue share
Real time Charging and Control for Prepaid and Postpaid services
Real-Time Access: Manages revenues and billing, rates events, updates account balances, and posts financial information in real-time
Oracle Communications Network Mediation
Oracle Communications Network Mediation is a carrier-class offline mediation solution designed for multi-service, multi-vendor, wireless, IP, and legacy network environments. The application collects raw network data from multiservice networks and transforms it into rich data assets to enable accurate and flexible billing, reporting and analytics.
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Oracle Communications Order and Service Management Oracle Communications Order and Service Management orchestrates elaborate back office workflows and processes to fulfill complex service and network orders.. Oracle Communications Inventory Management Oracle currently offers two inventory management solutions:
Objectel
Oracle Communications Objectel is a multitechnology, multivendor, network inventory management tool that enables the automatic tracking of network assets physical, logical and functional.
Subscriber and Service Management
Oracle Commuinications Subscriber and Service Management complements Objectel by providing an accurate and consolidated subscriber centric view into products, subscribers and services. Subscriber and Service Management is based on the TeleManagement Forums Shared Information/Data (SID) framework. Oracle Communications Service Activation Oracle Communications Service Activation provides integrated multiservice activation across all technology domains. The application addresses the activation of both high-volume mass-market services and more-complex designer IP based services, using a combination of stateless and stateful activation. Complex activation processes are seamlessly enabled through the integration of two complementary Oracle Communications Service Activation solutions:
ASAP
Oracle Communications ASAP is a multitechnology, multivendor activation platform for high volume, mass market services.
IPSA
Oracle Communications IPSA is an expert activation engine uniquely focused on delivering QoS-enabled IP-based services. Oracle Fusion Middleware Service Delivery Platform Oracles Service Delivery Platform (SDP) is a comprehensive, standards based software environment for creating new, IP-based communications services. The Oracle SDP extends the Oracle Fusion Middleware family of products to include a J2EE-based service development and deployment environment. The Oracle SDP is designed to streamline the rapid development and introduction of new communications services such as VoIP, and provides a number of out of the box applications and revenue-generating services.
Oracle Complentary Cross-Industry Applications
Oracle Siebel CRM Oracle Siebel CRM is the industry leading Customer Relationship Management application.
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Key functional areas include Sales Force Automation, Call Center Capabilities, Order Management, Self-Service, Field Service, Partner Relationship Management, Incentive Compensation and Loyalty Management. Oracle Siebel eBilling Manager Oracles Siebel eBilling Manager enables organizations to deliver online access to electronic bills. Designed to integrate with existing applications and diverse core legacy systems, it extends the convenience of online billing and account management to a companys entire customer base, as well as its call centers. Oracle eBusiness Suite Financials The Oracle Financials family of applications (part of the eBusiness Suite) automates and streamlines all financial business processes within an enterprise, improving visibility, enforcing control, and increasing operational efficiency. Oracle Financials includes General Ledger and Accounts Receivable applications. Business Intelligence Suite Oracle Business Intelligence Suite is a comprehensive suite of enterprise Business Intelligence (BI) products that delivers the full range of BI capabilities, including interactive dashboards, full ad hoc queries, proactive intelligence and alerts, enterprise and financial reporting, real-time predictive intelligence, disconnected analytics, and more. Each of the suites components accesses the same underlying data and serves it to the varied audiences within an organization that need to view and use that information in different ways. The products in the suite are based on a proven Web service-oriented architecture that integrates with an organizations existing information technology infrastructure for the lowest total cost of ownership. Oracle Fusion Middleware SOA Suite Oracle SOA Suite is a comprehensive, hot-pluggable software suite for the building, deployment, and management of a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). This includes the service-oriented development of applications, serviceoriented integration of applications and IT systems, and process orchestration of system services and human workflow. It plugs into heterogeneous IT infrastructures and enables enterprises to incrementally adopt SOA. The components of the suite benefit from common capabilities including a single deployment and management model, tooling, end-to-end security and unified metadata management. Oracle SOA Suite improves an organizations ability to predict change by improving its visibility to happenings in the business environment in real time, and to respond to change by enabling it to develop and optimize business processes rapidly. It simplifies the IT environment by being provisioned, deployed, monitored, and managed as a single cohesive infrastructure. It leverages existing investments by being modular, open, and extensible; it may be adopted it in a heterogeneous environment without needing to remove or replace existing systems as well as in an incremental fashion.
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It consists of (i) a BPEL-based Process Manager to compose services into business processes; (ii) a Business Activity Monitoring (BAM) solution to gain real-time visibility into operation and performance of business processes and services; (iii) a business rules engine to capture and automate business policies; (iv) a multiprotocol Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) to connect applications and route messages; (v) a Web services management and security solution to enforce authentication and authorization policies on services (vi) a services registry for discovering and managing the lifecycle of services; and (viii) an Integrated Service Environment (ISE) to develop, debug, profile, and deploy services. Application Integration Architecture The Oracle Application Integration Architectue has been developed to reduce the complexity of enterprise application infrastructures. Oracle Application Integration Architecture is a comprehensive set of products that delivers sustainable business process based integrations across Oracle, third party and custom applications. Oracle Application Integration Architecture is comprised of three key components: Industry Reference Models optimize business performance through documented industry best practice processes Process Integration Packs quickly integrate Oracle applications to create the business processes needed, without the risk Pre-built SOA leveraging Fusion Middleware SOA Suite accelerate time to value through a pre-built SOA designed for maximum flexibility, maintainability and reuse
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Many future integration points across the Oracle Communications Application Portfolio will be based on the Application Integration Architecture and the Fusion Middleware technology stack; the first planned phase of these integrations will be between Siebel CRM, Billing and Revenue Management, Siebel eBilling Manager and Oracle General Ledger.
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3.
ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS SUITE FUNCTIONALITY
Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management
The Oracle Billing and Revenue Management application is a single convergent platform for service providers to manage revenue in real-time across any customer type, network, service, geography, and payment method. An example of how Oracle can help services providers adapt quickly to a changing market is its ability to offer revenue management solution for triple- or quad-play pre- and/or post-paid services over a single platform. Traditional billing systems, designed as batch systems with rigid architecture are unable to meet the necessary flexibility required by the changing market conditions and stringent network requirements of real-time transactional processing. Oracles Billing and Revenue Management solution addresses not only performance and high availability but also an open and flexible architecture that allows service providers to offer multiple services over heterogeneous network and protocols further maximizing customer value and lowering of the total cost of ownership.
Revenue Generation enables services to be delivered to customers, priced in a manner that is optimized for the user, the service provider, and partners. This solution helps maximize customer and partner value through sophisticated account management and agile service delivery. With real-time access to customer data and the ability to quickly create innovative offerings, service providers can respond quickly to changing market conditions to ensure they retain their most profitable customers. Revenue Capture
maximizes market share using competitive pricing models and flexible credit control to enable any service for any subscriber. As services are consumed, transactions are pre-authorized, captured, and rated, and balances are updated. Real-time interactions help to reduce the risk of revenue leakage and improve customer satisfaction. ensures that all bills and invoices are generated and that the appropriate monies are collected from the correct debtors. Postings are made to accounts receivables and general ledger accounts, while handling all payment terms, settlements, and disputes. A real-time and accurate view of revenue provides insight to respond to market dynamics.
Revenue Collections
Revenue Analysis ensures all transactions are conducted with the fullest possible control, integrity, and completeness. It provides real-time verification, reporting, analysis, and control of all events and actions, which helps maximize revenue and minimize loss associated with fraud and revenue leakage.
In the following sections we provide a description of the comprehensive Revenue Management capabilities of the Oracle BRM application, covering Revenue Generation, Revenue Capture, Revenue Collection and Revenue Analysis.
Revenue Generation Capabilities
Oracle BRM enables service providers to increase customer value and generate revenue potential through enabling competitive pricing strategies, effective management of customer and partner data, and the rapid delivery of new service offerings to customers. With real-time access to customer data and the ability to easily create innovative offerings, service providers can respond quickly to changing market conditions to ensure they retain their most profitable customers. The following revenue generation capabilities are included in the application:
Pricing Management: Build,
test, and roll out new product offerings while creating and optimizing price plans.
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Acquire, maintain, and grow customers. Integrate with CRM applications to help up-sell and cross sell and provide a more personalized customer experience.
Customer Management: Service Enablement: Create and manage services, provide service activation and deactivation, and maintain information related to devices.
Pricing Management
Product and Pricing Catalog
In the product catalog, offerings are organized into Products, Discounts, Deals, Plans and Plan Lists. A Product specifies chargeable events, such as cycle fees or usage events, and associates each event with rate plans that can be based on any number of attributes, including time, zone, and event quantity and account profile. The rate structure includes specification of simple or tiered rates based on event or other resource quantity. Discounts can also be defined for each event using flexible rules based on a variety of conditions and attributes. Products and discounts are grouped into a Deal for a given service. The Plan, a combination of one or more deals, allows the service provider to offer any number of convergent services to subscribers utilizing sophisticated cross-service discounting. Plans are categorized in Plan Lists to enable segmentation based on specific business requirements.This bundling structure allows service providers to best organize products and services for their customers. While the structured product catalog offers manageability of the product offerings, the pricing model offers optimal flexibility in designing the rating and discounting rules to support innovative pricing scenarios. The model supports various pricing scenarios based on an extensive set of parameters, including: Flexible pricing options tailored to the types of services being offered by the provider. For example, rate GPRS usage based on both duration and data quantity, offer promotions such as Friends and Family to voice subscribers, use customer profile data to determine content charges and discounts. Flexible rating and discounting structures for supporting tiered pricing or volume discounting based on consumption level. Pricing based on day and time ranges, including day-of-week, day-of-month, and month-of-year parameters, as well as time-of-day configurations. Special holiday rates may also be configured by defining a calendar. Pricing based on service, event, and/or customer profile attributes. For example, zone analysis can be done for telephony usage events to evaluate the originating/terminating zones (e.g., U.S. to Canada) and use the result in the rate calculation. Flexible validity rules at rate plan, product, discount, and deal levels. For example, specify that a discount has validity from the first time it is used for the duration of three months. Product and discount dependency and exclusion rules. Innovative pricing such as: o Best Plan which chooses an optimal bundle for individual subscriber based on usage during the past billing cycle Compensation for dropped calls Tailoring the pricing of an offer to a specific corporate customer
o o
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In addition, the Oracle Communications BRM solution provides industry-leading flexibility in discounting support via the Advanced Discounting Manager. The manager: Allows the providers to create different real-time, billing-time, or volume-based discounts Supports discounting based on quantity consumed and/or revenue generated Offers cross-account discounting incentives Provides cross-service discounts for cross-sell and up-sell opportunities Allows multiple discounts to be prioritized and applied in parallel Dynamic discounting such as reduction in charge for 10 most frequent numbers called during the current billing cycle
Customer Management
The Oracle Billing and Revenue Generation solution offers an extensive set of capabilities for customer management, enabling service providers to acquire, maintain, and grow their customer base. Customer accounts may be created and managed through the Oracle Communications BRM Customer Management solution, through CRM integration, or through integrations with legacy applications. The Oracle Communications BRM Customer Management solution supports the following key business functions: Customer registration and account creation and maintenance Management of complex account groups, hierarchies, and subscription relationships Service subscription and product/price plan purchase Management of billing options and payment methods Presentation of account balances and credit limits Reviewing invoices and bill and event details; responding to customer inquiries Accounts receivables activities such as adjustments or disputes Customer self-care Subscription management
Service Enablement
Oracle offers a number of pre-configured Service Managers. These Service Managers provide specific service provisioning and activation, authentication, authorization, and other service management capabilities, as well as thirdparty integrations needed based on the industry requirements.
Inventory
The Oracle BRM Inventory Management Framework provides the structure for development of applications to order devices by integrating to third party order management systems, and managing device lifecycles. In the BRM, an order is a request for a physical or virtual object such as set-top converters or voucher cards. The Inventory Management Framework is used to create orders for device inventories, such as an inventory of new set-top devices or pre-paid scratch cards or vouchers. The Inventory Management Framework is used by optional BRM components such as the
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Voucher Manager to facilitate order management features. Some of the specific functions of the Oracle Communications BRM Inventory Management Framework are described as follows.
Revenue Capture
The Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Capture features enable service providers to maximize profit from business transactions and reduce revenue leakage. The following business processes and capabilities are included::
Service Authorization:
Authenticate customers, authorize service, and guide transactions through network integration. Analyze, classify, enhance, split, and assemble transactions.
Event Collection and Enrichment: Rating and Discounting:
Rate and discount transactions and revenue share using monetary and non-monetary
resources.
Balance Management:
Monitor resource availability, manage reservations, maintain thresholds, and charge transactions.
Benefits of the Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Capture solution include: Maximize profit from business transactions and reduce revenue leakage Reduce fraud and revenue leakage through ability to authorize service usage. Lower TCO through more seamless integration with the network Increase flexibility of business models and increase customer loyalty through usage enrichment Improve responsiveness to market and competitive pressures with real-time access to revenue data
Service Authorization
The ability to authenticate users and determine their authorized services and available consumption levels is crucial for service providers. The Oracle Communications BRM addresses this vital requirement with a transactional realtime architecture designed to minimize fraud and bad debt. When a registered user attempts to access a service, Oracle Communications BRM performs authentication and authorization in real time, using real-time data. External applications and databases can also be accessed as part of the process via an application programming interface (API). The authentication and authorization policies are fully customizable by the service provider. This means that as different types of services are added, the Oracle Communications BRM authentication and authorization solution can be extended to perform any required verification.
Event Collection and Enrichment
The event collection, tracking, and enrichment process occurs prior to the event rating process. This process ensures all customer activities, collected from any external source, are tracked accurately in the system and enriched to include additional data required for the rating process. The Oracle Communications BRM collects, tracks, and enriches data in both transactional real-time and near real-time batch. Event collection is achieved through tight integration with external systems, which allows Oracle Communications BRM to collect event records from external sources, such as a mediation device for voice phone calls, validate, guide, and map the records to a standard internal format.
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The enrichment process enables new values to be added to the original event, for example, special account attributes such as customer segments. These additional values can either be used within the subsequent near real-time batch rating functions of the Oracle Communications BRM solution or be transmitted directly to integrating systems, such as billing or remittance.
Rating and Discounting
Rating and discounting is the process of calculating the appropriate charges and credits for an event based on a widerange of parameters associated with subscriber, event, and service attributes as defined in the Product Catalog. Oracle Communications BRM enables service providers to freely define the set of chargeable event types to be rated.Providers can define any number of chargeable events in the system: usage events; one-time, non-recurring events such as registration or cancellation charges; as well as recurring events of varying duration (e.g., weekly, monthly, multi-monthly, and annual events). Each event type may be rated and discounted using different parameters and metrics, with rating and discounting rules as simple or complex as needed for the business requirement. Oracle Communications BRM supports re-rating which re-calculates balance impacts for ratable transactions that require any retroactive rate changes or corrections. Oracle Communications BRM supports complete re-rating capabilities for both real-time and batch events, encompassing all services for prepaid and postpaid accounts. Rerating enhancements introduced in the current release include special rerating triggers when out-of-order events are detected, custom analysis to determine whether rerating is required, rerating with price overrides, and tracking the rerating reason for better control of rerating jobs. Oracle Billing and Revenue Management provides integrated support for both transactional real-time and near realtime batch event processing. Service providers can optimize the systems architecture based on the specific data and performance requirements of each service offering.
Balance Management
Oracle Communications BRM provides a fully extensible model for managing subscriber resources. Resources are defined to be any consumable asset a subscriber may use to pay for or track service consumption. Currency is the most common resource, but Oracle Communications BRM enables service providers to define creative ways to collect for the services rendered. For example, a service provider may grant the subscriber a number of free unit credit resources as part of service registration or on a recurring basis to encourage subscriber usage. The service provider may also define loyalty points as a resource to increase customer loyalty. Credit limit thresholds may be established for each resource to ensure required financial control.
Revenue Collection
Revenue Collection ensures that all bills and invoices are generated and that the appropriate monies are collected from the correct debtors. Postings are made to accounts receivables and general ledgers accounts, while handling all payments terms, settlements, and disputes. A real-time and accurate view of revenue provides insight to respond to market dynamics. The Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Collection features enable service providers to increase business agility with real-time business, financial, and revenue information:
Billing:
Calculate bills and partner statements create invoices, and apply additional discounting and taxation. Manage receivables, general ledger, integrate with ERP systems, and close accounting cycles.
Financial Management:
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Payment and Collections:
Process payments and payment terms, manage aged receivables, provide dunning, and handle
disputes.
Revenue Sharing and Settlements: Calculate accounts payable and net settlements, integrate with clearing houses, and provide settlements for roaming, content, and resellers.
Oracle Communications BRM provides a complete and flexible Revenue Collection system that allows service providers to effectively manage and maximize their revenue stream. The solution performs real-time billing, maintains complete audit trails of all billing activities, supports a wide range of payment methods, and provides flexible ways to manage customer A/R operations. The key benefits of this industry leading solution include:
Billing
Delivery of business agility with real-time business, financial, and revenue information Provision of an accurate account of all revenue Business agility through real time access to business, financial, and revenue information Improvement of customer satisfaction through flexible payment and collection methods Growth of revenue opportunity and reduction of revenue leakage through real-time settlements
Billing in Oracle Communications BRM is the process of calculating bills and partner statements, applying additional discounting and taxes, and finally invoicing the customers. Billing comprises batch applications that collect and aggregate all rated events and perform a number of end-of-cycle activities. During the course of the billing period, similar charges are aggregated in bill items for every customer. Examples of bill items are cycle fees or usage charges. Items may also be custom defined by the operator based on business needs. The cycle-end billing process aggregates all the bill items, and performs activities such as applying billing time discounts based on aggregated volumes, calculating rollovers, granting and resetting of resources, performing resource conversion (folds), applying deferred taxes, and applying cycle charges. Billing cycles can be any number of months (i.e. n-month) long, and can also be quarterly, or annual. If the solution is configured to have a multi-month billing cycle, the bill will be finalized only after the multi-month period; cycle and other charges may still be applied monthly or may be applied for the multi-month period, depending on the configuration of the product catalog.
Invoicing
Oracle Communications BRM Invoicing can generate invoicessoft or hard copyand provide them to customers who use the invoice payment type. Invoices can be generated automatically or manually after a bill run. The format of the invoice can be changed using a custom invoice template. Invoices can be stored in HTML or XML formats. Invoices can also be stored in a separate database. This speeds up invoicing performance; allows providers to store a larger number of invoices; and provides the ability to view, e-mail, and print invoices without affecting the BRM database. Oracle Communications BRM provides multiple ways to publish the generated invoices. Invoices can be made available for Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) application in a self-care environment. In addition, invoices can be mailed or sent to external application for printing.
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Financial Management
Oracle Communications BRM Financial Management features allow the management of Accounts Receivables (A/R) and the General Ledger (G/L) System. The solution also offers published APIs for integration to other Financial ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle. The BRM application is pre-integrated with taxation packages such as Vertex and TaxWare.
Payments and Collections
The Payments and Collections features process payments and payment terms, manages aged receivables, and provides dunning as well as reversals and write offs. Oracle Communications BRM flexibly supports multiple payment methods including invoice, credit card, direct debit, voucher top-up, etc. Each account may have multiple payment methods if multiple balances and bills are generated for the account. The BRM application allows allocation of single payment over multiple open bill items. Payments may be entered into the system via an integration with a payment gateway or may be manually entered using Oracle Communications BRM Payment Tool.
Revenue Sharing and Settlements
Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Sharing and Settlements capabilities provide a convergent platform for settlements between business entities. The settlement and remittance functionality allows providers to share revenue with and pay royalties to third-party partners, which may include other service/network providers or content providers. For example, a wireless operator that offers online games to its subscribers would typically pay a portion of its revenues to the game content provider. Multiple business models such as revenue sharing, wholesale, and resale are supported. Revenue Sharing and Settlements capabilities provide the following core functionalities: Ability to integrate the third-party systems with the Oracle Communications BRM Content Manager for the authentication and authorization of services. Ability to flexibly define and charge the customers for third party products such as content and commerce services. Ability to settle the revenue with partners for various business models such as wholesale, resale, and revenue sharing. In addition, it is also possible to use this manager to generate commission statements to dealers or sales agents to compensate for services sold. Ability to delay revenue sharing with a partner until after the partner service is billed to the customer or after the payment has been made by the customer.
It is also possible to do bi-directional settlements such as a partner paying a service provider a rental fee to connect to their network while, simultaneously, the service provider shares revenues for the partners services that have been provided to the service providers subscribers.
Roaming
Oracle Communications BRM offers a comprehensive solution to process roaming calls and data interchange with other network operators. Roaming allows customers of one network operator to use their mobile phones in foreign networks. They can travel to other regions or countries and use the services of any network operator that has a roaming agreement with their home network operator.
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The BRM application allows network operators to perform the following: Out-collect processing. Rate the usage for customers from another network operator (visiting customers) when they use the home operators network; assuming there is an established roaming agreement between the network operators. In-collect processing. Rate the usage for events created by subscribers while using another operators network. With in-collect processing, operators receive event records and a bill for the aggregated charges of the events. Similar to out-collect processing, all data received from another network operator for roaming usage of subscribers is rated according to the roaming agreement between the two operators. The input data is in either TAP3 or CIBER files, depending on what is specified in the applicable roaming agreement. The Oracle Communications BRM application fully supports the creation of RAP files according to the Returned Accounts Procedures (RAP) version 1.2 as specified in GSM Association TD.32.
Interconnect
For carriers that must keep track of and bill for interconnection charges using interconnect billing systems, BRMs Interconnect capabilities enable them to manage their carrier relations and wholesale operations. The Oracle Communications BRM Interconnect capabilities provide support for the following: Circuit-switched services, voice over IP (VoIP), GSM, Wireless GPRS, UMTS, WAP, IP, GSM, and fixednet circuit-switched, as well as packet-switched, IP-based services Freely configurable CDR/EDR/IDR formats; new fields and structures are easily added via configuration Flexible rules-based evaluation, guiding, and processing that provide product configuration and service-level agreement dependencies without add-on development Multiple network model configurations for optimal planning and simulation of future interconnection agreements Parallel evaluation of alternative network setups, including dynamic routing SLA support for QoS-based charging principles definition and monitoring of dynamic service-level agreement and validation Multiple parallel-rating and promotions for various IC billing scenarios such as ICP carriers, reseller, contentprovider, competitor-analysis, and best-rate Multiple parallel and online aggregation scenarios High-performance compression of vital business information Unlimited calculation of usage statistics such as margin analysis, commission evaluation, sharing calculation, and revenue stats Unmatched real cross-product-volume-discounting; any discount can be directly granted to any other service or product combination Built-in script programming language that supports implementation, enhancement, and manipulation for new guiding, splitting, mapping, rating, and pricing rules
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Parallel tariff simulation for Interconnect carrier agreement verification and analysis
Revenue Analysis
The Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Analysis capabilities provide services providers with business intelligence and operational controls. The following business processes and capabilities are included :
Revenue Assurance: Data consistency, redundant processes, system high-availability, and transactional completeness. Automated monitoring and notification. Business operational process, tools, and error analysis. Revenue Intelligence:
Perform what if revenue simulations and multiple re-ratings to deliver real-time pricing optimizations. Further, to provide data to predict churn, revenue and margin, and customer lifetime values. Reconciliation, interactive and dynamic reporting, and notification.
Reporting:
Benefits of the Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Analysis solution include: Reduce revenue leakage and exploit market upside through effective business intelligence Reduce cost of operations through revenue simulation capability Reduce revenue leakage with usage verification Enhance business visibility and intelligence and operational responsiveness through real-time reports and notifications Reduce revenue leakage and provide data consistency with transactional completeness
Revenue Assurance
Revenue Assurance refers to the process used to verify the end-to-end completeness, accuracy, and integrity of capturing, recording, rating, and billing all revenue generating events as they flow through the system. Revenue Assurance enables operators to answer the following types of questions: Is all usage being rated, recorded, and billed? Are all subscribers being billed appropriately? What is the status of a specific usage event or batch of events?
Revenue Intelligence
The Revenue Intelligence capabilities encompass product capabilities and services consulting to deliver maximum value to the service provider. By analyzing customer behavior based on aggregation data and simulation tools, the solution is able to deliver a value-oriented view of customers to the provider. The Oracle Communications BRM Revenue Intelligence solution enables service providers to: Use customer behavior to analyze market and maximize Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) Gain valuable data regarding revenue and margin potentials Analyze customer behavior through price plans and usage simulations Propose tariff migrations based on analysis, e.g. prepaid to post-paid Predict customer churn
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Calculate current & future CLV Increase campaign efficiency
Reporting
The Reporting solution enables service providers to perform revenue analysis, reconciliation, interactive and dynamic reporting, and what-if simulations, leveraging the data captured by the various applications and processes supported by the system. To provide customers with the capability to analyze and act on data, The BRM application offers BRM Reports, which consists of pre-defined report templates and the Crystal Enterprise reporting application. The pre-defined report templates enable customers to get a head start on report development. Report templates provide specific functionality for targeted groups such as sales, marketing, finance, and accounting. Template examples include general ledger, A/R aging reports, G/L chart of accounts, product cancellations and subscriptions, and remittance, as well as market-specific examples. Combined with BRMs documented data schema, users can build custom reports with the reporting designer tool. The following diagram summarizes the key functional components of Oracle Communications BRM.
Integration Modules Integration Extensions

Diameter Mgr BillingAgility Mgr LDAP Mgr Web Services Mgr
Product extensions which enable both integration with the network and applications such Radius Mgr Bertelsmann Mgr HP OpenCall Mgr SAP RM-CA Mgr as ERP and CRM Taxware Mgr
AAA Gateway Mgr EAI Manager Paymentech Mgr Vertex Mgr TelcoOne Mgr
Service Extensions Service Modules

GSM Mgr Content Mgr Telco Framework Mgr IP Address Mgr
Product extensions which enable support for specific vertical market requirements, such GPRS Mgr Email Mgr Roaming CIBER Mgr SIM Card Mgr as Wireless Roaming TAP Mgr GSM AAA Mgr Interconnect Mgr
Number Mgr
Functional Extensions Functional Modules

Brand Mgr Self-Care Mgr Top-Up Mgr DNA Mgr Payment Suspense Mgr Reservation Mgr
Product extensions which enable optional Billing and Revenue Management functionality Voucher Mgr Rev Assurance Mgr
Advanced Discounting Suspense Mgr Collection Mgr
BRM Server Server
Core platform options for rating, advanced performance, and large subscriber Batch Rating Real-Time Rating Multi-DB Mgr TIMOS Mgr deployments
Functional Components of Oracle Billing and Revenue Management
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Oracle Communications Network Mediation
Oracle Communications Network Mediation is a carrier-class mediation application designed for multiservice, IP, third generation (3G) wireless, and traditional voice and data networks. The solution provides all network-tooperational support system (OSS) data collection, aggregation, and correlation required for billing, reporting, and analytics, and includes pre-developed support for a set of service solutions including wireless GSM, GPRS, UMTS, IMS, IP services and VoIP telephony. Each service solution contains all the collection, processing and distribution support required to implement an end to end mediation solution.
Wireless GSM/GPRS/UMTS/IMS
Oracle Communications Network Mediation supports the collection of records from the packet core (GGSN, SGSN), circuit core (MSC), application servers and IMS core. Oracle Communications Network Mediation delivers the charging gateway functionality (CGF) as specified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for wireless GSM/GPRS/UMTS/IMS networks, plus goes beyond the basic CGF by supporting numerous applications and services. By integrating application server collection and correlation, Oracle Communications Network Mediation enables service providers to go beyond time- and location-based charging to billing for high-value services.
IP Services
Oracle Communications Network Mediation features pre-integrated support for numerous industry-leading routers, switches, and IP service platforms. Raw service and network usage data is collected, aggregated, and enhanced with QoS and customer-specific information. Through a unified approach, service providers can bill, report, and manage SLAs based on a detailed view of network usage and the level of performance received.
VoIP/Telephony
Oracle Communications Network Mediation supports next-generation VoIP telephony platforms. It also supports legacy protocols and record formats, therefore providing a consistent, transparent interface to back-end billing systems for a graceful migration from legacy voice networks to VoIP.
Key Features
Powerful Architecture
Oracle Communications Network Mediation has three layers of functionality:

Unified Data Collection Layer
collects the raw data from the network (including support for flexible
scheduling) - transforms the raw data into useful information through powerful aggregation and enhancement capabilities
Data Processing Layer Data Distribution Layer
supports flexible distribution to multiple down-stream systems
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Oracle Network Mediation Architecture
Configuration, control, status monitoring, logging, and alarm management for the entire system is centrally administered via a GUI. Oracle Communications Network Mediation delivers a single, unified mediation solution that can feed billing, performance management, SLA management, and other operational systems. The Oracle Communications Network Mediation architecture is based on four types of software cartridges, which distinctly separate the architecture into the three logical layers. Within each logical layer, each cartridge concentrates on a single task within its domain; individual cartridges are then chained together to define the overall mediation model. This architectural separation enables the highest levels of performance and flexibility. The four cartridge types are: These cartridges interface with network elements for the collection of raw usage activity information. A broad, out-of-the-box inventory of industry-standard data formats (including ASN.1, XML, IPDR, AMA, and ASCII) and transport mechanisms (including GTP, Diameter, TCP, UDP, FTP, SOAP/XML, RADIUS, Cisco NetFlow and SNMP) are available.
Collection Cartridges (CCs): Enhancement Processors (EPs): These cartridges apply sophisticated algorithms to the collected data to transform raw data into useful information. Algorithms include filtering unwanted fields and records, tagging particular sets of data based on user-configurable criteria and field-level operations (*, +, -, /) to deduce new fields or update existing fields within a record, and sequencing to maintain order. Lookup capabilities enable
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the data collected to be augmented with information available from external sources, including databases, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directories, and flat files.
Aggregation Processors (APs): These cartridges combine sets of data based on a flexible set of user-defined criteria. Aggregation includes grouping or combining multiple data records to present a single record per measurable event to the downstream operational system. Multiple aggregation schemes are available, including aggregation based on a configurable window of time, key value pairs and operations (such as sum, max, min, keep, replace, append, and shift), ingress and egress designations, and start and stop session indicators. Distribution Cartridges (DCs):
These cartridges map data records into well-known formats and distribute them to downstream billing or operational systems. An out-of-the-box inventory of industry-standard formats (including XML, IPDR, ASN.1, 3GPP 32.015, 3GPP 32.005, 3GPP 32.260, RADIUS, AMA, and ASCII delimited) and transport mechanisms (including TCP, UDP, FTP, and JDBC) is available to support any major billing system.
All collection, processing, and distribution software cartridges are based on a common architectural blueprint that delivers consistent functionality, reliability, and flexibility. The elements that form this blueprint include
Rule-Driven:
Each cartridge is driven by a rule file, which determines its personality; changing the rule file customizes its behavior within the system. Stores the persistent cartridge-level information that is set by the user through the GUI.
Configuration File: Log File:
Stores cartridge health information, alarms, and troubleshooting data and is viewable through the
GUI.
Robust Redundancy Features: Including store-and-forward capabilities, persistent storage of records, acknowledgement-based transfers, seamless restarts, backup capabilities, and failover capabilities. Distributable:
Individual cartridges can be distributed across multiple hosts, with inter-host communications seamless to the user. All cartridges have the ability to send simultaneous data feeds to other cartridges or downstream systems, either by replicating the data stream into multiple output streams or by directing individual records to one of many paths.
Routing:
Database Storage and Reporting Framework
Oracle Communications Network Mediations database storage and reporting framework enables service providers to leverage the rich information contained in the call detail records (CDRs) coming from various network elements and data sources. The framework supports any type of record, and consists of A Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) Database Distribution cartridge, which inserts CDRs into any JDBCcompliant database (including Oracle). An Oracle database schema that defines the database tables and stored procedures for managing data partitioning and deletion of aged records. A set of reports that can be defined for querying the CDRs stored in the database; the reports can be edited, allowing customers to develop reports tailored to their requirements.
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Programmability
The specific requirements of any service provider can be met by tailoring the mediation model using functionality and concepts that are built into Oracle Communications Network Mediation, including: A rule-driven architecture that ensures customization can be rapidly implemented An overall mediation model defined by chaining together individual collection, processing, and distribution cartridges Every cartridge can route data streams based on fixed schemes or based on the records contents A powerful graphical user interface for configuring and monitoring the entire mediation solution
Graphical User Interface
With Oracle Communications Network Mediation, every mediation solution is entirely configurable through a centralized, easy-to-use graphical user interface. A single GUI manages all hosts in a distributed environment for
Cartridge Creation and Configuration:
Adding, modifying, or deleting cartridges; selecting rule files; and setting
configuration parameters
Chain Creation:
Chaining cartridges together to create the mediation model Stopping, starting, and restarting data processing Checking alarm information both at the cartridge and host level logs of all events and alarms for the entire system
Process Control:
Status Monitoring:
Event Management: Accessing
Rapid deployment is ensured as the GUI provides step-by-step, context-sensitive guidance for creating and configuring cartridges and for chaining the cartridges together. The GUI also displays a visual representation of the logical data flow in the chains and enables the creation of chains by dragging and dropping the required cartridges.
Record Editor Tool
Oracle Communications Network Mediations record editor tool allows a user to view and edit records. It is possible to configure a validation enhancement processor with operator-specific validation criteria defined in the rule file (such as checking each attribute against a value range). Invalid records can be routed for correction with the record editor and then reintroduced into the mediation chain. Features of the record editor include: Searching records based on specific attributes, values, or attributes containing specific values Displaying complex attributes using expandable attribute names Securing access with username and password-based login Logging files opened and modified by user Modifying displayed attribute names to make them meaningful to the user
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Scalability
Oracle Communications Network Mediation has the ability to scale from a fully functional implementation on a single workstation to a global, distributed network of collection, aggregation, enhancement, and distribution functionality. Specific elements of the solution that enable scalability include: Distributable collection, aggregation, enhancement, and distribution functionality Routing functionality, including multicast and load balancing through directed routing
Reliability
Specific features that enable reliability include: Process control Back collection Redundant collection cartridges Cartridge-level functionality, including store-and-forward capabilities, acknowledgement-based transfer, graceful cartridge restart, backup capabilities, and fail-over capabilities Solaris cluster support for high-availability deployments
Mediation Assurance
Mediation assurance is the term Oracle uses to describe the set of Oracle Communications Network Mediation features that support revenue assurance, including: Statistics reporting to track record throughput through the entire mediation process, including deduplicated and aggregated records Monitoring of the Sun server running Oracle Communications Network Mediation to highlight server issues before they become significant problems; key statistics such as disk, CPU, and memory utilization logged for analysis Input stream monitoring to alarm if network elements appear to have stopped sending records
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Oracle Communications Order and Service Management
Oracle Communications Order and Service Management orchestrates critical back-office order orchestration functions between business and operations support systems to complete service and network orders in a complex, multiservice, next-generation environment. The solution provides a single automated solution for all order orchestration requirements, including high-volume mass-market services and the more-complex designer services and network buildouts. Oracle Communications Order and Service Managements flexible and standards-based architecture supports seamless interoperability with both legacy and commercial applications within the BOSS ecosystem and empowers service providers to customize and localize the environment to meet their specific business needs, rules, policies, and procedures.
As part of Oracle Communications Service Fulfillment suite, Oracle Communications Order and Service Management can be deployed as a standalone solution or as part of an integrated modular solution with other Oracle Communications BOSS components.
Key Features
Multiservice Order Orchestration
Through its flexible next-generation architecture, Oracle Communications Order and Service Management supports one-stop order orchestration for all services and technology domains, including DSL, voice over IP (VoIP), IP virtual private network (VPN), IPTV, and mobile services. This flexibility allows a service provider to gradually rationalize and optimize over time the delivery of multiple services, including both traditional and next-generation services, on a common next-generation platform.
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Oracle Communications Order and Service Managements robust architecture provides integrity across the entire order and service management process. A request consisting of multiple services is coordinated for each service and is provisioned in the correct sequence on the required service delivery components. It provides a full audit trail of each order and service management request and supports a range of advanced processing features, including order control, cancellations, order suspends and resumes, in-flight changes, and intelligent change management. The solutions multiservice order orchestration capability offers several important benefits: Enhances transactional integrity and enables real-time service delivery for complex, multiservice order and service management requests Reduces operational and capital expenditures by enabling system consolidation as a service provider transitions to a more cost-effective single multiservice order and service management platform Simplifies the overall OSS architecture by insulating and abstracting complex order and service management processing details from upstream systems
Efficient and Automated Management of Customer Order Changes
Few orders, if any, are static. Order changessuch as supplemental service orders, modifications, or cancellations are often requested after the service fulfillment process has been initiated. As order complexity continues to increase, it is not uncommon for an order to undergo multiple changes during the service fulfillment process. Manual intervention to manage in-flight order changes is a time-consuming and costly effort that often results in increased order fallouts and slower service delivery. Oracle Communications Order and Service Management, through its innovative intelligent change management technology, tackles the costly problem of order churn by automating customer order changes for all services and technology domains. The solution analyzes the impact of every order change, and then automatically generates a compensation plan. Downstream effects of the order change that are often overlooked by operations personnel when manually processing the changesuch as the need to change a port to meet the new bandwidth requirementare pinpointed and efficiently addressed in the plan. Oracle Communications Order and Service Management then optimizes the plan and executes it with the least amount of rollback and redo activities through to order completion.
Support for the Use of Controlled and Semiautomated Manual Processes
Oracle Communications Order and Service Management generates Web screens that display all the relevant data needed to complete a task in an order or correct order fallout. These Web screens can be further optimized through a powerful set of usability features, including custom layouts that mimic existing forms, online help, tool tips, validation warning messages, and simultaneous multilanguage support. To eliminate cumbersome application switching, lookups can also be set to dynamically pull information from any number of systems or repositories. Finally, by combining the Web screens in a logical order, Oracle Communications Order and Service Managements Web-based wizard further simplifies the order orchestration process into an uncomplicated, multistep flow-through process.
Improved Decision-Making through Actionable Information
In business, access to high-quality, actionable, and timely information is critical for success. As the controller of millions of order facts, Oracle Communications Order and Service Management pulls together as much or as little of the order orchestration picture as needed to enable responsive decision-making. The solutions open distribution of data helps ensure that complete and accurate order data is provided to the right users or systems at precisely the right
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time. A user or upstream system can query Oracle Communications Order and Service Management at any time to obtain a status update on one or more orders. Comprehensive audit data is also tracked for each order. Oracle Communications Order and Service Management also offers powerful macro-level analysis capabilities. In particular, ad hoc queries and predefined reports can be set up to track order and task metrics. These reports can help to quickly identify bottlenecks and processes that are best-suited for greater automation.
Performance Scalability and Resilience
Oracle Communications Order and Service Managements 100% J2EE meta-driven architecture can process millions of orders per day - more than 200,000 orders per hour, 65 orders per second, and 400 automated tasks per second. It is also field proven to support thousands of users.
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Oracle Communications Inventory Management
Oracle has two communications inventory solutions: Objectel and S&SM (Subcriber and Service Management).
Oracle Communications Objectel
Oracle Communications Objectel is a comprehensive, best-of-breed solution for inventory and capacity management. Its capabilities help streamline key processes in many departments within an enterprise. They include:
Network Planning and Engineering: Leveraging Oracle Communications Objectels flexible metadata architecture, it is possible to quickly and accurately add many types of network equipment and services to the inventory. Once added, network facilities are immediately available for use in the customer service provisioning process. Service Provisioning Design and Assign: The solution provides the key functions for automated and custom circuit design in the service delivery process. Equipment and facilities can be selected and assigned in real time to deliver customer services end to end. Capacity Management: Managing the networks logical capacity is crucial to controlling costs and providing excellent customer service. Oracle Communications Objectel provides information on all the available implemented facilities and all the assignments made against those facilities. Threshold alerts inform users when the capacity of a facility is too high and additional capacity must be implemented.
network problems occur, either due to equipment or facility failures, Oracle Communications Objectel helps network operations personnel resolve them quickly. Interfaces to network management platforms facilitate the sharing of inventory information to identify affected customers and support trouble ticket generation.
Key Features
Service Assurance Support: If
Oracle Communications Objectel offers the following features to help service providers effectively manage their network assets and logical network capacity: Oracle Communications Objectel enables an operator to manage information about locations as well as physical and functional equipment. The solutions inventory data includes facilities, circuits, networks, and services.
Comprehensive Inventory Coverage:
With Oracle Communications Objectel, an operator can view available and assigned capacities and access graphical views of locations, equipment, and connectivity. It is also possible to create user-defined views of the entire network, and of portions defined by function, by domain, by facilities, and more.
Effective Capacity Management: Automated Circuit Routing:
Oracle Communications Objectel and related API functionality can be used to automate the creation of end-to-end circuits, based on compatible and available capacity. This can significantly streamline provisioning activities.
Capacity Threshold Notification: The solution can alert when capacity thresholds have been reached. It is also possible to define command hooks to automatically generate other actions when a threshold is reached, allowing the fast resolution of capacity issues.
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Oracle Communications Objectels metadata-driven architecture enables the definition and modification of data models based on customer-specific requirements. The solution supports user-definable objects and attributes, allowing an operator to work with existing processes and data more easily.
Flexible Metadata Modeling: Automated Network Discovery: Oracle Communications Objectel provides an open interface to various network discovery applications, so inventory can be reconciled automatically and consistently. The solution enables an operator to receive, compare, and reconcile physical, functional equipment and network topology information. With this capability, it is possible to reduce migration time at the initial loading of network inventory data, as well as facilitate the ongoing reconciliation of inventory. Open System Functionality: Oracle Communications Objectel provides standardized, open APIs that facilitate interaction with operational support system components from a variety of vendors. It can also be easily integrated with other solutions in Oracles communications suite, including activation, provisioning control, service-level agreement management, and network mediation. Project-Level Tracking:
With Oracle Communications Objectel, inventory changes can be associated to specific projects, enabling an operator to better manage trends, activities, and costs per project. These tracking activities are flexible and user-definable.
The solution facilitates the configuration and deployment of physical and logical network information through a standardized library. The library configuration is built only once, allowing information to be added quickly and easily.
Standardized Library: Carrier-Grade Scalability:
Designed for maximum scalability, Oracle Communications Objectels data repository can hold more than 60 million objects and allows large numbers of concurrent users.
Oracle Communications Objectel stores and manages inventory information for three layers: physical, functional, and logical. Although each layer is used at different stages in the provisioning process and by different groups, they are tightly linked together. This unique and multilayered approach to organizing, storing, and accessing multiple inventory views offers several advantages. Some users may view a circuit solely at the logical level, whereas others may choose to drill down to the elements that implement the circuit. The many ways to view and update the network model within Oracle Communications Objectel allows users to access the level of information that best suits their needs. And because all views refer to common database information, an update in one is reflected in the others.
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Network Engineering
Network Provisioning
Network Operations
Capacity Management
Objectel
Facility/Circuit
Logical
Network
Site
Customer
Services Circuits Locations VPNs
Functional
Connection
Functional Equipment
Physical
Physical Equipment
Metadata
Oracle Communications Objectel Architecture Physical
Oracle Communications Objectels physical equipment inventory layer is the foundation for processes associated with the planning and provisioning of a network. This physical inventory data includes Hierarchical views of network equipment Graphical views of equipment configurations Libraries of standard equipment configurations Site data indicating where equipment is housed, as well as facility and circuit end points Graphical network topology maps, floor plans, and equipment layout displays of the network
Functional
The functional equipment layer models the function that the physical equipment provides to the network. This layer also includes the ports that allow access to the equipment. These ports can be connected to form the facilities that provide usable capacity to the network. An operator can use this layer to model network facilities without having to model physical network equipment first, enabling the rapid implementation of circuit and facility provisioning, even before full physical inventory management. Capacity management functions can also be made available quickly in the functional equipment layer.
Logical
Once the network infrastructure is modeled in the functional equipment layer, it is possible to use Oracle Communications Objectel to design and assign logical circuits to enable service provisioning. The solution provides design and assign functions for a wide variety of network technologies, such as IP, ATM, frame relay, SONET/SDH, TDM, and plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH), which circuit designers can use to engineer the complete circuit. Circuit layout record information is used in the installation and activation of the circuit. Specialized logical circuit management features include:
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Assignments of circuits Automated route finding End-to-end circuit layout Capacity management functions User-defined views of network facilities and circuits
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Oracle Communications Subscriber and Service Management Oracle Communications S&SM (Subscriber & Service Management) is an innovative solution that complements Oracles existing inventory solutions and addresses the changing needs for subscriber and service management. Oracle Communications S&SM: Provides a customer-centric view into products, subscribers, and services Complements existing BOSS investments through flexible modeling and modular deployment Allows for the rapid introduction of new services and the modification of business rules around current services Provides a multidimensional solution that grows with an operators needs, supporting one or many services and scaling from small, lightweight deployments to very large enterprisewide projects Is built on a standards-based architecture for rapid deployment and optimal investment value
Customer Care
Service Assurance
Billing
Sales
Subscriber & Service Management Customer Service Service Service Service
VoIP Service
Voice Service
DSL Service
IP/VPN Service
Mobile Service
Resource
Resource
Resource
Resource
External Inventory Systems

Oracle Communuications Subscriber and Service Management Architecture
Key Features
Oracle Communications S&SMs architecture is based on the TeleManagement Forums Shared Information/Data (SID) framework and on other key industry standards. These industry standards provide a powerful approach for modeling the business and delivering solutions in ways that are more powerful and flexible, and more interoperable than ever before. Oracle is actively involved in the ongoing development of these standards that enable rich out-ofthe-box functionality, ensure interoperability between components sourced from different vendors, and facilitate a cost-effective evolution of the entire BOSS infrastructure.
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Product, Service, and Subscriber Definition
With Oracle Communications S&SM, an operator can easily define the service model, including product, service, and subscriber relationships, allowing an operator to bring together its business in new and traditional ways. It is possible to define the specifications, characteristics, and business rules for each model and organize them hierarchically and relationally to one another. As a result, it is possible to create a powerful catalog that actively drives the provisioning process or passively works to bring a consolidated view of the business together. For example, providing short message service (SMS) to a subscriber may require general packet radio service (GPRS) and a telephone number to be in place, while Web browsing may be a parallel service.
Federated and Shared Data
Oracle Communications S&SM is designed specifically to work in collaboration with other components in the BOSS architecture, including other commercial or in-house inventory and resource management systems. Functions such as managing equipment assets, designing or configuring services, and assigning resources can be implemented in cooperation with various resource or domain management systems that exist in the architecture. This provides the flexibility to deliver on new requirements quickly while preserving embedded investments and reducing risk. The solutions architecture flexibly supports string data sharing and synchronization, data federation, and transaction propagation so that a number of inventories can coexist harmoniously.
Next-Generation Architecture
Oracle Communications S&SM is a true JEE-based application. Leveraging the latest proven technologies, this platform provides a highly flexible and extensible foundation of Web services and browser-based user interfaces that can: Integrate seamlessly across application modules and disparate applications through hyperlinks and Web services Be accessed securely using a standard Web browser across a local area network (LAN), wide area networks (WANs), and the public internet Be accessed via SOAP/XML for enterprise application integration Take advantage of the Java programming language and scripting languages that make available all the features of the JSE and JEE platforms
With Oracle Communications S&SM, Web pages for inventory and management functions can be accessed from external systems via hyperlinks to perform manual execution tasks. The system also provides service-specific Web services, as well as APIs that integrate seamlessly with provisioning tasks to perform service provisioning, resource administration, and maintenance. Finally, Oracle Communications S&SMs next-generation architecture enables system integrators to easily develop custom plug-ins for implementing service-specific and network-specific business policies.
Powerful Specifications
Oracle Communications S&SM provides both static and dynamic ways to define and implement solutions quickly by leveraging the specification-instance pattern that is extensively defined in the TeleManagement Forum SID. Specifications provide the means to define subscribers, products, services, and business attributes, relationships, behaviors, patterns, and policies. These specifications enable the highest degree of automation, completeness, and
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integrity in the business process. Whether serving the business as a common, normalized repository of subscriber and service information, or driving the service provisioning process, specifications enable services to be defined and deployed faster than ever before.
Modular GUI
Oracle Communications S&SM has a modular GUI and is built on an architecture designed with extensibility as a core value. It can effectively address operator requirements through a combination of out-of-the-box functionality, configurable extensions, and customization. Each object model is composed of a number of browser-based screens that are configured based on the data model and business rules. Administrators can determine the layout, labels, and input methods for each screen. All of the functions presented are available as Java functions that can be used and arranged as necessary. To further streamline the user experience, links to commonly used functions can be stored on a per-user basis and recalled from a drop-down menu, reducing mouse usage and time. In addition, required links to external systems can be included, and custom functions can be incorporated.
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Oracle Communications Service Activation
Complex activation processes are seamlessly enabled through the integration of two complementary Oracle Communications Service Activation solutions: Oracle Communications ASAP and Oracle Communications IPSA. Oracle Communications ASAP is a comprehensive multitechnology, multivendor activation platform. Oracle Communications IPSA is an expert activation engine uniquely focused on delivering QoS-enabled IP-based services.
Upstream XML OSM API

Studio Service Creation GUI OSM Control GUI Service/Subscriber Web GUI
Inventory API
Order and Service Management

Process Control Engine View Frame Engine
Service Inventory
Subscriber Inventory
OSS/J Upstream Activation API
Inventory
Design/Assign/Admin GUI
Activation
Activation Controller
Existing Activation System(s) High Volume Mass Market Services
(ASAP)
Discovery API
Physical Inventory
Unique IP-Based Next Generation Services

(IPSA)
Logical Inventory
Cartridge Plug-in Framework Riverstone Juniper Mobile Voice Cisco Cisco Cisco Cisco IPTV VoIP XML XML XML XML
Oracle Communications ASAP
Oracle Communications ASAP is a broadband, triple-play, and mobile activation platform that enables the deployment of multiple services and technologiesall on the same platform. This includes ATM/frame relay, circuitto-packet services, IP television (IPTV), cable TV (CATV), 2.5G and 3G mobile, DSL, and optical services. It allows an operator to rapidly activate services in a flow-through manner across multiple network domains and layers. Oracle Communications ASAP fully automates mass-market service delivery across convergent communications domains. Convergent service offerings can include multiple technologies, such as wireline, wireless, data, voice over IP (VoIP), and optical.
Key Features
Flow-Through Activation
Oracle Communications ASAPs automated flow-through capability can be enabled directly at the source of the service request. This feature eliminates manual handoffs and provisioning fallout.
Superior Configuration Scripting Functionality
Oracle Communications ASAP allows skilled IP operators to develop, test, and modify service configurations.
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Convergent Activation
Oracle Communications ASAP activates convergent service offerings for any combination of wireline, wireless, data, VoIP, optical, and other services. The solution coordinates the provisioning of bundled service packages and permits full control of all transactions.
Heterogeneous Requests for Service
Service requests may originate from a series of internal and external sources such as interactive voice response, Web, kiosks, and customer service agents. Oracle Communications ASAP accommodates new service request sources and reuses existing service definitions to ensure consistency across all sources.
Heterogeneous Network Support
Oracle Communications ASAP concurrently supports multiple types of network elements as well as multiple software generics for each specific network element, ensuring smooth support for rapidly evolving network topologies.
Flexible Cartridges
Oracle Communications ASAP cartridges provide solutions for specific vendors, network element types, technologies, software loads, and services. Prebuilt domain behavior cartridges are available for triple-play, ATM/frame relay, wireless, circuit-to-packet, time division multiplexing, optical, and DSL services. If needed, cartridges can be further customized to meet specific business needs.
Transaction Management
Oracle Communications ASAPs end-to-end transaction control ensures that a request consisting of multiple services is coordinated for each service and is activated in the correct sequence on all needed network elements with a full audit trail.
Intelligent Horizontal Platform
Oracle Communications ASAP can be configured as a distributed application that makes it possible to horizontally expand the number of interfaces to both service-originating systems and network elements. In a distributed environment, the solution allows an operator to handle more services, expanded networks, and increased transaction volume. As a horizontal activation platform, Oracle Communications ASAP eliminates the need for multiple and disparate activation systems for different service and network domains.
Flexible Error Processing
Oracle Communications ASAP state tables enable the definition of various return states for specific network conditions, such as soft-error processing, retry logic, and delayed errors. The combination of the script-driven interfaces and soft-error processing logic allows the system to handle many nonsuccess conditions in an automated manner, thereby reducing any fallout due to inconsistent data.
Auditing and Reporting
Oracle Communications ASAP maintains detailed logs and audit trails of all system- and user-initiated processing. Service providers can report against operational data maintained in the database either by using the supplied reports or by developing new or ad hoc reports.
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Oracle Communications ASAP in Broadband/Triple Play
In the broadband/triple-play domains, Oracle Communications ASAP Reduces costly manual service provisioning (for example, directly inputting Common Language Location Identification codes), allowing network experts to be allocated to higher-value tasks Allows high-scale deployment and sustained throughput of service creation and changes for millions of subscribers Offers proven functionality with leading network equipment vendors, including Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Microsoft, BroadSoft, Siemens, and Huawei Provides an extensive catalog of broadband and triple-play cartridges that offer prebuilt interfaces to network elements and application servers Provides field-proven capabilities across all network technologies, including ATM/frame relay, IP, wireless, circuit-to-packet, optical, DSL, and synchronous optical network/synchronous digital hierarchy (SONET/SDH) Supports all layers of the network in a single solution by coordinating multiple network elements from a single service order Has the scalability to address rapid growth in the number of service instances
Oracle Communications ASAP in Mobile
In the mobile arena, Oracle Communications ASAP Allows operators to be first to market with differentiated services by offering a single activation engine to work across all layers of the network Enables operators to support 2G, 2.5G, and 3G services in a single solution Supports increases in network complexity, from the provisioning of a small number of network elements, such as the Home Location Register (HLR) and the Short Message Service Center, to communication with the core IP network and various application servers Has successful implementations with mobile customers globally, giving Oracle a unique understanding of the challenges and complexity of the mobile market Offers proven functionality with all leading mobile network equipment vendors, including Ericsson, Nokia, and Nortel Networks Offers proven functionality with mobile infrastructure suppliers, such as Converse and Logica Offers the scalability and carrier-grade functionality to address the increase in activation tasks that will occur with increased network complexity Provides the ability to split one service order into a series of network-specific tasks, which is critical in 2.5G and 3G services, because the activation of many new services will depend on the intertwining of data with a series of elements to deliver a single service, rather than a single element being provisioned (for example the HLR)
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Oracle Communications IPSA
Oracle Communications IPSA automates the provisioning of next-generation IP services, including VPNs, voice, video, and security services for multivendor networks. It helps an operator to manage large-scale IP and broadband networks by automating the configuration tasks associated with network management and service activation. Leveraging common network standards, Oracle Communications IPSA delivers real-time, dynamic customer-network services on commonly deployed hardware, providing the flexibility to rapidly respond to customer demands by quickly introducing new services. Using an intelligent policy-based engine, the solution provides end-to-end network control by generating a detailed model of the managed network and of the different features supported by network devices from different vendors. Oracle Communications IPSA translates service and policy definitions into the complex, device-specific configuration commands needed to implement the requested services. Distributed, intelligent device cartridges then update all relevant devices throughout the network in real time, making the implementation and day-to-day management of the network as simple as possible. With Oracle Communications IPSA, it is possible to configure VPNs, manage QoS policies, and apply services to the network from a single point of control.
VPN-Based Services
Oracle Communications IPSA supports the following complex VPN service types: Oracle Communications IPSA supports the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard for creating Layer 3 VPNs using external Border Gateway Protocol (eBGP) and other routing protocols (outlined in request for comments [RFC] 2547bis), allowing the creation of scalable VPNs with secure distribution of end-customer private routes.
Layer 3 MPLS-based VPNs: Layer 2 MPLS-based Martini VPNs: The solution supports Layer 2 MPLS VPNs based on the IETFs Martini internet drafts. A Martini Layer 2 point-to-point connection is a pseudowire or tunnel configured between two endpoints across an IP network, allowing for Layer 2 service interconnectivity across the IP core network. Virtual private local-area network (VLAN) services:
Oracle Communications IPSA automatically establishes device peering, sets up the label switched path (LSP), and configures all relevant network devices in a virtual private LAN service (VPLS), which provides interconnection for Ethernet LAN segments via an MPLS network.
Metro Ethernet VLAN services: The solution allows an operator to apply metro Ethernet VLANs networkwide, by groups of devices, or node by node, as defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1Q standard. VLANs can be associated or dissociated from access ports or trunks, or added to a whole network, enabling the automation of thousands of tasks with a single action. Oracle Communications IPSA supports multiple access mechanisms, such as untagged traffic, tagged traffic, and stacked VLANs (also informally known as Q in Q).
The solution can configure both Layer 2 switching and MPLS-tunneling CCCs. This enables the creation of a point-to-point Layer 2 MPLS VPN (which is proprietary to Juniper Networks).
Circuit cross-connects (CCCs):
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Oracle Communications IPSA enables the activation of LSP tunnels through the MPLS core network, allowing an operator to control traffic flow and avoid congestion points through the IP network.
Traffic engineering MPLS tunnels:
The solution enables an operator to simplify and automate the tasks associated with configuring IPsec VPNs across multiple nodes, which can run over both IP tunneling and generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunneling. GRE tunneling is also available as a standalone service.
IPsec VPNs:
Oracle Communications IPSA allows an operator to set up MPLS IP VPN sites for dynamic digital subscriber line (DSL) user connectivity. Each site linked to the dynamic user VPN represents how DSL users are connected to the VPN.
Dynamic user VPNs:
Many high-demand services, such as distance learning and digital conferencing, require multicast VPN capability over an MPLS network. Oracle Communications IPSA allows the extention of Layer 3 MPLS VPNs with VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) multicast capabilities on selected VPN sites. It also enables the support of IP multicast from customer edge (CE) devices.
Multicast VPNs:
Quality of Service
Oracle Communications IPSA enables traffic prioritization, allowing an operator to offer differentiated classes of service to its customers. It exposes the QoS capabilities available on different devices, making them easier to manage. These QoS capabilities include the following:
Identifying and classifying traffic to determine the QoS to be applied. Oracle Communications IPSA can classify by source or destination address, source or destination port, packet marking, domain name server (DNS) name, application protocol, and Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic. Marking the packets so they can be recognized by nodes throughout the network.
The solution can mark by using differentiated services (DiffServ) code points, IP precedence or type of service (ToS) bits, and MPLS experimental bits, as well as setting frame relay discard eligibility (DE) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell loss priority (CLP) bits. Oracle Communications IPSA supports traffic shaping for IP traffic and frame relay or ATM traffic shaping techniques on Cisco Systems devices. The solution supports customizable class-based queue definitions with fine-grained resource
Providing traffic shaping to constrain specific outbound traffic to a particular bandwidth range.
Enabling queuing techniques to prioritize different traffic separately on outbound queues and manage network congestion.
allocation.
Policing traffic to ensure that traffic classes do not exceed their share of resources. Oracle Communications IPSA can specify the bandwidth and burst requirements for different classes of traffic and determine the action to be taken, including dropping and remarking, for traffic that conforms to or exceeds the requirements.
Access Control
Oracle Communications IPSAs access control capabilities enable an operator to block specific applications, protect sensitive data, or prevent specified users from accessing certain services. As part of a comprehensive security policy,
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this capability can protect sites and users from malicious service attacks, deny access to services by unauthorized users, and prevent data loss. Like QoS facilities, security services are implemented via rule-based policies that can explicitly deny or permit identified traffic. It is possible to set up rules to apply at specific dates or times.
Key Features
Multivendor Support
Oracle Communications IPSA is designed as a multivendor solution, with support for Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks (M/T-series and E-series), Huawei, and Foundry devices.
Out-of-the-Box OSS Integration
Oracle Communications IPSA has been designed for easy integration with other IP-focused OSS applications that are vital to an operators business, such as fault and performance management, billing, customer care, and service-level agreement (SLA) management. The solutions OSS Integration Manager (OIM) consists of an Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based API that allows third-party software to access the platforms powerful features without requiring knowledge of the underlying architecture. This API is also accessible through Java and a command-line interface.
Flexible Policy-Based Management System
Oracle Communications IPSA uses a flexible policy model, allowing the application of policies to any point in the network as supported by the devices. A role-based policy model ensures complete flexibility in the way service policies can be applied across the network. Device and interface roles enable the logical grouping of devices and interfaces - for example, by customer or service package - so policies can be applied specifically to the targeted group. Use of device roles and the inheritance model means that policies created at a central point can be applied to all relevant points in the network with a single action, eliminating the need for repetitive, error-prone manual processes.
Discovery Engine, Capability Mapping, and Device Management
Oracle Communications IPSA incorporates device discovery software that enables the system to discover information about the physical networksuch as routers, interfaces, and network segmentsand create a detailed internal network topology model. Standard Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) management information bases (MIBs) are used to retrieve the information from the network. The discovery process also retrieves the capabilities of each network nodeincluding the VPN, QoS, and access control optionsand the measurement techniques that are enabled by each device. Oracle Communications IPSA displays the managed network in one or more topology maps, providing a logical and hierarchical representation of the network.
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Knowledge Store
Oracle Communications IPSAs knowledge store provides users with a comprehensive understanding of customers, the status of services, and the configuration of the network. The knowledge store holds these three types of interrelated information:
Network topology data:
a representation of the network managed by the system, including details about devices and their connectivity as well as the membership of VPNs information about the policies and services used to configure the network
Policy data:
System data:
information about Oracle Communications IPSAs components and user details, including status, fault, and logging
Intelligent data management automates the complex mapping of service changes to network device configurations and shares this information in real time with other OSS tools, thereby reducing time to deployment.
Optional Modules
In addition to its core functionality, Oracle Communications IPSA also offers the following optional modules:
OSS Integration Manager (OIM):
provides a script-like API that enables third-party OSS applications, such as order entry, service assurance, fault management, and billing, to communicate with Oracle Communications IPSA
Java Development Library (OJDL):
features a Java interface to Oracle Communications IPSAs OIM, supporting integration with third-party software or the creation of a customized Java user interface supports integration with third-party reporting tools to provide SLA monitoring through Oracle Communications IPSAs user interface
Measurement Component:
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Oracle Fusion Middleware Service Delivery Platform (SDP)
The Oracle Service Delivery Platform is based on the foundation of Oracle Fusion Middleware 10G and comprises of the components shown below. Oracle Communication and Mobility Server (OCMS) Oracle Residential VoIP - out of the box SDP application Oracle Virtual PBX - out of the box SDP application Oracle Communicator - a soft phone/client for user interaction in a SIP network, supporting the latest SIP/SIMPLE standards. Oracle Network Connectivity Server (ONCS)
Oracle Communication and Mobility Server
The Oracle Communication and Mobility Server (OCMS) is a carrier-grade SIP application environment for the development, deployment, and management of SIP applications. Built on a standard Java2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) platform, OCMS is a flexible, scalable environment enabling easy integration of SIP applications and services. Specific highlights include:
Development and Testing:
OCMS provides Java APIs enabling fast development of SIP applications. A SIP client and client Web Services APIs are provided for testing the SIP platform from end to end. Diameter APIs are provided to enable charging and profile lookup in the IP Multimedia Subsystem. SIP Servlet applications are easily packaged and deployed on Oracle Application Server acting as a SIP Servlet container.
Deployment:
Configuration and Management:
The Oracle Application Server administrator console enables managing SIP applications as well as the SIP server and its components. The administrator console enables managing the SIP servlet lifecycle, and ensuring that users who access a URL are permitted to do so.
User, role, and policy data can be stored on an Oracle TimesTen database, external RADIUS database, or in Oracle Identity Management, enabling OCMS to authenticate connecting users against this data. OCMS secures SIP traffic through digest-based authentication as specified in RFC 3261. In addition, trusted hosts can be configured using p-asserted identity headers.
Authentication and Security: Logging and Monitoring:
For logging and monitoring SIP applications, OCMS provides Log4J.
The diagram below shows the various components of OCMS.
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Configure: StandardsBased Presence Server Oracle AS 10G or JBoss

Presence Server Proxy Registrar App Router Location
Out-of-the-box VoIP Network Support Unified SIP and HTTP Server for Converged Applications (e.g. Click-tocall)y
Oracle TimesTen
Application Session HTTP Servlet Container SIP Servlet Container
JS116 Compliant SIP Server Carrier grade-J2EE with High performance at predictable latencyy Embedded TimesTen for Data access at in-memory speedy
HTTP Internet
SIP
Diameter
Network and Gateway Layer

SIP-Equipment IP Networks IMS
WWW
Wireless
OCMS Components
OCMS Key Features

SIP Servlet Container
The SIP Servlet Container provides a standard environment for developing and hosting SIP based applications (defined by JSR 116). The SIP Servlet specification abstracts from complexities of SIP whilst maintaining applications control over the underlying message interaction. The SIP Servlet Container in OCMS is integrated with a SIP Stack implementing the key SIP RFCs. Using the SIP Servlet APIs, a developer is freed from having to worry about the scalability and high availability issues for SIP-based applications by utilizing the SIP Sessions and transaction management capabilities within the container. HTTP Servlets and SIP Servlets can coexist and share state making the creation of a converged Web/Communication application straightforward.
Application Router
Oracle provides an Application dispatcher / router function that can be programmed by applications (e.g. policies). It is part of the service level intrinsic SCIM function provided by the platform for Application dispatching, SIP servlet composition (for SIP only), SOA composition or enablers, and application building blocks or applications. OCMS Application Router is a SIP application that routes incoming SIP requests to the correct application. The Application Router routes requests by placing route headers in each SIP request it processes. A number of route headers can be placed in a request, each representing a different destination URI. The SIP request is either sent through the chain of destination URIs, or proxied to a new URI upon arriving at its first destination. The Application Router typically routes SIP requests to the Proxy Registrar or the Presence Server, respectively. Any number of additional applications URIs can be configured in the Application Router.
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The Application Router operates in two modes: standard and incremental. In Standard Mode, the Application Router embeds any number of destination URIs, or routes, in the headers of incoming SIP requests. The SIP request follows this chain of URIs until the request is consumed. The order of URIs is determined by the incremented alias assigned to each route (uri.1, uri.2, and so on). In Incremental Mode, the Application Router incrementally embeds each route within the incoming SIP request, along with a route back to the Application Router. The SIP request is sent to the first destination, and then returns to the Application Router.
Proxy / Registrar
Based on RFC 3261, the out-of-the-box Proxy/Registrar component within OCMS allows for the immediate deployment of a pre-IMS, VoIP network on commodity hardware. Subscribers can be registered using SIP REGISTER messages. Authentication is performed via TimesTen in-memory DB, Radius, LDAP or JDBC. User looking for message routing using ENUM lookup proxies is also supported. A variety of SIP messages and applications are supported, including Voice/video call setup and teardown (e.g., SIP INVITE/BYE) and Instant Messaging via SIP MESSAGE.
TimesTen
TimesTen in-Memory Database provides carrier-grade performance (Updates in 28 micro-seconds, Selects in 9 micro-seconds), enables high availability and unprecedented scalability.
Management
Management: Built on the capabilities provided by Oracle Enterprise Manager (Figure 8), the Oracle SDP provides a number of management capabilities that allows the Oracle SDP to be deployed in an operator network. Some of these features are:
Security
HTTP/SIP/EJB Application deployment and management Container management via MBean Browser/JMX Console Performance monitoring, logging, configuration Web Service management Start/stop/restart of applications and server
OCMS and the Oracle SDP leverage Oracle Application Server (Oracle A/S) JAAS for authentication and security. Oracle A/S provides basic authentication and digest authentication for extended SIP security, including account expiration, account lockup, and account disabling features. The Oracle SDP is capable of authenticating against three types of stores: Oracle TimesTen - via JDBC 3rd party Radius Server - via Radius Protocol Oracle Identity Management - via LDAP
In addition, the Oracle SDP and OCMS support the following IMS headers for SIP and XCAP: P-Asserted-Identity, P-Intended-Identity
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Logging
X_3GPP_ASSERTED_IDENTITY X_3GPP_INTENDED_IDENTITY X_XCAP_ASSERTED_IDENTITY
The Oracle SDP and OCMS provide a highly flexible and configurable set of logging functions, based on the log4j technology. For example, the level of logging can be controlled at various configurable levels (e.g., DEBUG, INFO, WARN, ERROR, FATAL, TRACE, ALL). Multiple configurable, log files can be produced. For example: traffic.log contains all inbound and outbound SIP traffic system.log contains SIP Container events, warning, and errors jmx.log contains all configuration events, warnings, and errors. application.log log file per each application deployment and contains information about the specific application
Provisioning
Sapphire Shell an OCMS provisioning tool Can provision, delete, and modify accounts, credentials, public identities, and roles Accessible via command line, RMI, or Web Interface Script capable for bulk provisioning XDMS usage provisioning Compatible with Oracle TimesTen database Oracle Identity Management Enterprise Grade LDAP based server Uses Oracle Database in the backend OIDDAS web and script based provisioning system
Edge Proxy
The stateless SIP proxy used for HA and scalability scenarios and is responsible for distributing SIP traffic to OCMS engine nodes (Traffic Servers). The Edge Proxy implements SIP Session affinity and can itself be redundant for high availability. Multiple failover mechanisms are supported, with support for either hardware load balancer or DNS acting as distribution/failover mechanisms. The Edge Proxy handles failure detection and failover for OCMS engine nodes. Finally, the Edge Proxy can also be used as an application dispatcher node.
Deployment over IMS
OCMS can be deployed as a SIP Application Server (SIP A/S) in an IMS environment.
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or Application Dispatcher
or Application Dispatcher
OCMS and Oracle SDP in IMS Environment Presence Enabler
A full featured presence server supporting standard SIP/SIMPLE Based on OMA Presence Enabler 1.0 Including Presence XDMS (supporting XCAP and SIP) Support for authentication of XCAP (aggregation proxy) Web services API for Presence publication/subscription (Parlay X) Running on top of the OCMS Platform
Presence Features
Event notification framework client and server via RFC 3857, 3858, 3265, 3903, 3856 Presence event package, RFC 3856 Integration with XDMS server Authorizing subscriptions using XCAP Subscribing to changes to Presence documents (AUID) in XDMS server Presence processing (Composition, Privacy filtering) XDMS Hard state support Subset of XCAP, required by the Presence Application Event notification using the SIP UA Profile Framework Other XDMS servers can be used with the Presence Server Web Service based APIs for:
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Authentication against Aggregation Proxy Publishing Presence Subscribing to Presence Receiving Presence Receiving Watcher Info Based on Parlay X 2.0 Presence specification
Diameter Support
OCMS includes a Diameter protocol stack based on RFC 3588 TCP and SCTP support (RFC 3539) Java API for Base Diameter, Sh, Ro, and Rf; SDK to design others. HSS and SLF simulators for developing IMS applications Highly performant 2000 transactions per second Supports OCMS clustering and dispatching to multiple SIP applications
OCMS Service Creation Environment
JDev and ADF with ADF mobile Mobile application adaptation tools with partners BPEL Studio and SOA tols SIP servlet SCE plug-in for Eclipse The SCE can be used to develop new applications Support for creating new SIP Servlet applications Integrated with Eclipse IDE Develop, deploy and debug all from within the same environment Sample code for a multitude of applications
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4.
ORACLE APPLICATION INTEGRATION ARCHITECTURE (AIA)
AIA SOA Architecture and Principles
Process Integration Packs provide the run-time process flows between applications. They include the business logic, business process execution language (BPEL) process flows, web services, business rules, and so on, that bind the applications together to create a seamless process. Due to Process Integration Pack design and the use of Enterprise Business Objects, they dont break across upgrades or when new applications are inserted into the mix. In addition, Process Integration Packs come with the full resources of Oracle support, with maintenance and upgrades to protect the value of integrations over time. Each PIP will consist of the following components:
Enterprise Business Objects (EBO): an EBO is a standard business data object definition used in the canonical data model. It contains components that satisfy the requirements of business objects from the participating application data models. EBOs are used by AIA in order to be able to integrate many applications rather that trying to support multiple point-to-point integrations, which become inefficient if there are more than two participating applications.
an EBM acts as the actual container for the EBOs. A corresponding EBM will exist for each EBO supported by the PIPs.
Enterprise Business Messages (EBM): Enterprise Business Services (EBS): an EBS provides the actual web service implementation of the EBO. An EBS is application agnostic, and performs the functions required by the generic business service. The primary purpose of the EBS is as follows:
To receive the request from the calling application. To identify the implementation as well as the deployment that is responsible for providing the requested service. To delegate the requested task to the right implementation. To receive the response and return the enterprise business message (EBM) to the calling application.
an ABCS provides a bridge between the common object model, as defined by the EBOs, and the specific object definition of the participating application. The ABCS is responsible for performing the object transformation, and translating the EBS (web service) to the appropriate API call(s) for the participating application. It is also within the ABCS where any application specific logic is to be performed. That way the EBSs can remain application agnostic, and can be leveraged for other application integrations without having to make any changes to the EBS.
Application Business Connector Services (ABCS):
The following diagram provides an example of how these objects work together to implement an account balance query issued by CRM to Billing.
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Siebel Application Business Connector Service

Sends Siebel Account Object
BRM Application Business Connector Service

Sends BRM Account Object
Siebel Account to Account EBO Transformation Get Account Balance Service Enterprise Business Service
EBO Account to BRM Account Transformation
Siebel CRM
Receives Siebel Account Object
GetAccountBalance EBO Service Invocation
BRMs GetAccountBalance Service Invocation
BRM
EBO Account to Siebel Account Transformation
BRM Account to Account EBO Transformation
Returns BRM Account Object
AIA for Communications (AIA 2.0)
An Oracle Application Integration Architecture (AIA) release provides customers with the ability to orchestrate, monitor, and manage cross-functional business processes that span multiple applications. By definition, an Oracle AIA release is a distributed business application that leverages existing application component services (web services), native SOA technologies, enterprise business objects, and enterprise business services to deliver pre-built and seamlessly integrated business processes that can be easily extended and monitored. The AIA for Communications release (AIA 2.0) described within this document introduces three Process Integration Packs (PIPs). The three PIPs provide a pre-built set of integrated orchestration flows, application integration logic, extensible enterprise services and objects required to manage the state and execution of key business processes targeted specifically at the communications industry. The three PIPs introduced with AIA 2.0 address the following key business processes:
Product Management: Order Management:
provides support for product and price synchronization between the CRM and Billing system.
automates the order management process between CRM and Billing system. Includes taking an order within CRM and initiating Billing on the ordered services.
Customer Management: automates the synchronization of customer accounts between the CRM and Billing system. This is accomplished during the order management process. Agent Assited Billing Care:
provides real-time access to the most critical billing information from within the CRM
system.
Revenue Accounting:
supports the GL integration between the Billing and ERP systems.
Support for these business processes is being introduced within the following three PIPs:
Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Order to Bill
(includes support for product, order, and customer management processes)

Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Agent Assisted Billing Care Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Revenue Accounting
In addition to the three new PIPs, AIA for Communications also introduces an integration between Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management (BRM) and Oracle eBilling. This additional integration will be
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offered as part of a services engagement rather than a licensed PIP, and is also described in more detail within this document.
Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Order to Bill
Full name: Short name: Integrated Apps:
Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Order to Bill Communications Order to Bill Siebel CRM 7.8.2 Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management 7.3.1
The Communications Order to Bill PIP automates the order management process between Siebel CRM and Oracle Communications BRM. The PIP includes support for the following key business processes:
Product Management: provides support for product and price synchronization between the Siebel CRM and Oracle Communications BRM. Users initially define the base products (billing products) within BRM. The base products are automatically synchronized to Siebel CRM. Both batch and real-time synchronization flows are supported. Once the base products are synchronized to CRM, users can use the products to define service bundles within Siebel, as well as marketing promotions in order to create the actual commercial offers, contractual terms, and promotional pricing.
automates the order management process between Siebel CRM and Oracle Communications BRM. This includes taking an order from within CRM, initiating Billing on the ordered services within BRM, and creating and updating the actual CRM assets.
Order Management: Customer Management:
automates the synchronization of customer accounts between Siebel CRM and Oracle Communications BRM. The customer synchronization is accomplished as part of the order management process, and provides support to create new or to update existing customers.
AIA Components
In order to support the key business processes described above, the Communications Order to Bill PIP includes the following AIA components:
Enterprise Business Objects:
EBOs provided with the Communications Order to Bill PIP are as follows: Item Pricelist Sales Order Customer Party Installed Product
Enterprise Business Services:
EBSs provided with the Communications Order to Bill PIP are as follows:
Item EBS: performs all item and product related actions like create item/product, update item/product, and synchronize item/product.
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Price List EBS:
performs all price list related actions like create pricelist, update pricelist, synchronize pricelist, and synchronize pricelist line. performs all customer related actions like create, update and query customer party.
Customer Party EBS:
Application Business Connector Services:
ABCSs provided with the Communications Order to Bill PIP are as follows: Synchronize Product ABCS for BRM Synchronize Discount ABCS for BRM Synchronize Product ABCS for Siebel Synchronize Price Line ABCS for Siebel Query Customer Party ABCS for Siebel Update Customer Party ABCS for Siebel Query Customer Party ABCS for BRM Update Customer Party ABCS for BRM
Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Agent Assisted Billing Care
Full name: Short name: Integrated Apps:
Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Agent Assisted Billing Care Communications Agent Assisted Billing Care Siebel CRM 7.8.2 Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management 7.3.1
The Communications Agent Assisted Billing Care PIP integrates the billing management process between Siebel CRM and Oracle Communications BRM. The PIP enables Siebel CRM to be used as the single interface to access all customer related information, including data that is mastered and maintained within the BRM system. The PIP includes support for the following key processes to be performed from the CRM system: Real-time view of balance groups & balance details Real time display of unbilled usage information View invoice details View payment and adjustment history Capture payments for an invoice and send to BRM for processing Capture new adjustment requests and send to BRM for processing
AIA Components
In order to support the key business processes described above, the Communications Agent Assisted Billing Care PIP includes the following AIA components:
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Enterprise Business Objects (EBOs):
EBOs provided with the Communications Order to Bill PIP are as follows: Customer Party Invoice Service Usage Payment Receipt Account Balance Adjustment
Enterprise Business Services (EBSs):
EBSs provided with the Communications Agent Assisted Billing Care PIP are as follows:
Customer Party EBS: Invoice EBS:
performs all customer related actions like create, update and query customer party
performs actions to query for all invoice and invoice details performs actions to query for unbilled usage details performs all actions related to payments like querying for payment history and issuing
Service Usage EBS:
Payment Receipt EBS:
payment receipts
Account Balance Adjustment EBS: performs all actions related to balance adjustments like querying for adjustment requests and issuing new adjustment requests
Application Business Connector Services (ABCSs):
ABCSs provided with the Communications Agent Assisted Billing Care PIP are as follows: Customer Party ABCS for Siebel (requester) Query balance summary Query balance details Account Balance Integration ABCS for BRM (provider) Query customer party list Invoice Integration ABCS for Siebel (requester) Query invoice list Query invoice event details Query invoice balance details Search invoice event details Invoice Integration ABCS for BRM (provider) Query invoice list Service Usage Integration ABCS for Siebel (requester)
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Query unbilled usage Query unbilled event details Search unbilled event details Query unbilled balance details Service Usage Integration ABCS for BRM (provider) Query service usage list Payment Receipt Integration ABCS for Siebel (requester) Query payment Query invoice payment Create payment Search payment Payment Integration ABCS for BRM (provider) Query payment receipt Create payment receipt Account Balance Adjustment Integration ABCS for Siebel (requester) Query account balance adjustment Create adjustment Account Balance Adjustment Integration ABCS for BRM (provider) Query account balance adjustment Create account balance adjustment
Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Revenue Accounting Full name: Short name: Integrated Apps: Oracle Communications Integration Pack for Revenue Accounting Communications Revenue Accounting Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management 7.3.1 E-Business Suite 11.5.10 (Oracle GL) The Communications Revenue Accounting PIP provides a General Ledger (GL) integration between Oracle Communications BRM and Oracle E-Business Suite. This PIP is different from the previous two PIPs described in this document. The Communications Revenue Accounting PIP does not follow the same AIA architecture, which leverages enterprise business objects and services. In order to better optimize the integration for frequent batch loads and high volumes of GL data, the Communications Revenue Accounting PIP utilizes a point-to-point integration between Oracle Communications BRM and Oracle E-Business Suite.
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The Communications Revenue Accounting PIPs takes GL reports produced by Oracle Communications BRM and automatically posts the GL reports into Oracle E-Business Suite.
AIA Components
As mentioned above, the Communications Revenue Accounting PIP utilizes a point-to-point integration rather than the traditional AIA approach utilizing EBOs and EBSs. The primary reason for utilizing a point-to-point approach for this integration is for performance optimization reasons. The Communications Revenue Accounting PIP performs frequent batch loads for what can be very high volumes of GL data. In order to best optimize for this type of integration a point-to-point integration is recommended.
ODI Solution Components
The solution leverages Oracle Data Integrator (ODI), which is a comprehensive data integration platform that is part of the Fusion Middleware stack. ODI is designed to handle data integration requirementsfrom high-volume, highperformance batches, to event-driven, trickle-feed integration processes, to SOA-enabled data services. ODI provides an Extract, Load, Transform (E-LT) architecture, which optimizes performance and scalability and lowers overall solution costs. Leveraging ODI, the Communications Revenue Accounting PIP provides a set of scripts and tools to take the GL reports generated by Oracle Communications BRM, load and transform the data into the required format for Oracle E-Business Suite. Oracle Communications BRM and Oracle eBilling Integration Integrated Apps: Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management 7.3.1 Oracle eBilling 6.0
The AIA for Communications release also includes an integration between Oracle Communications BRM and Oracle eBillling for electronic bill presentment and self-care. The integration enables exchange of billed transactions in terms of an invoice as well as unbilled transactions for viewing purposes between the two applications. The integration uses web services capabilities of the two applications, and does not currently leverage the full AIA architecture.
Availability
The BRM and eBilling integration enhancements are provided as a framework that will be made available through professional services. Further configurations and customizations will be required in order to meet specific communications service providers business requirements. Post AIA 2.0 Integration Points The following are candidate integration points for subsequent releases: Integration for Order and Service Management and Service Activation Order Orchestration Order Capture across CRM, Inventory, and Provisioning Order Fulfillment across CRM, Provisioning, Billing Product Transformation
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Order Decomposition Order Lifecycle Management across multiple systems Order Status Updates CRM Asset Creation and Updates Master Data Management Customer Master Product Master Self Care Integration Order Lifecycle Management Analytics CRM & Billing Integration Enhancements Billing & Financials Accounts Receivable Integration
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5.
INDUSTRY REFERENCE ARCHITECTURES
This section will evolve to describe Oracle Communications Suite example reference architectures that are specific to the following vertical industry segments: Wireline Wireless IMS
This section is not intended to be comprehensive in scope but provide illustrative scenarios that show how Oracle Comms apps can be used from an end to end perspective within each industry.
IMS Reference Architecture
IMS overview including key functions
The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) merges the telecommunications and Internet domains to define an IP based core service delivery network for future communications services, including traditional voice and multimedia, multisession and interactive communication sessions. The IMS specifications are owned by the 3GPP, however a key principle of IMS is that it is an access network agnostic technology framework, and can therefore be used to deliver services in wireless (UMTS and CDMA2000), NGN wireline, broadband IP, WiMAX and Cable technologies. The core IMS session control and delivery protocol is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) with key charging interfaces delivered using Diameter, both of which are IEFT governed protocols. The following key elements comprise the core IMS architecture:
P-CSCF (Proxy Call Session Control Function):
Control and routing function for SIP sessions. The P-CSCF is the initial point of contact between a user terminal and the core IMS network.
CSCF (Interogating Call Session Control Funtion):
Control and routing function for SIP sessions. The I-CSCF is the contact point within an IMS network for all sessions related to a subscriber and is essentially a SIP proxy server located at the edge of the home network. Control and routing function for SIP sessions. The S-CSCF is the central node responsible for IMS session control. The S-CSCF also acts as a SIP registrar, maintaining a binding between the UE IP address and the SIP address of record.
S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function):
The HSS is the central IMS database for user related information. In the wireless context the HSS is an evolution of the HLR/AuC function, including both the traditional HLR functions in addition to the new IMS capabilities.
HSS (Home Subscriber Server):
An IMS Application Server is a generic term for for SIP server that provides value added service logic execution.
AS (Application Server):
The MRFC is responsible for controlling media resources within the home network, for example playing announcements and mixing media streams for multi-party sessions. The MRFC controls the Media Resource Function Processor, which implements the media functions.
MRFC (Media Resource Function Controller): BGCF (Breakout Gateway Control Function):
The BGCF is used to manage IMS sessions that are directed towards a user in a traditional circuit switched network (PSTN or PLMN).
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Role of IMS in NGN TISPAN networks
IMS provides the core technology framework for NGN TISPAN fixed line services. The key differences in the TISPAN use of IMS are: The HSS does not need to include traditional mobile HLR functionality, just IMS support. The TISPAN HSS is called a UPSF (User Profile Server Function). The addition of the Resource and Admission Control Subsystem (RACS) used for resource reservation, admission control and NAT traversal (these are not functions of an ADSL/WLAN access network). The addition of the Network Attachment Subsystem (NASS) used for end user IP address provisioning and network authentication.
Oracle and IMS
The Oracle Communications Suite supports service providers through the entire concept to cash lifecycle for convergent IMS service offerings. Oracle believes that IMS will play a signifcant role in new generation communications networks and will continue to invest to ensure the Communications Suite. The diagram below illustrates the Oracle Communications Suite within an IMS context.
Planned Application Integration Architecture (AIA)

Siebel CRM
Service Fulfilment Portfolio

Access Network Agnostic Order & Service Management Oracle Activation UMTS/ CDMA2000 Access P-CSCF P-CSCF HSS SIP AS Inventory
IMS Core
OCMS
Oracle Network Mediation AAA Gateway
e2
Gq
NASS NASS
e4
RACS RACS
SLF SLF
BGCF BGCF
MRFP
CABLE Access
P-CSCF P-CSCF
IM-SSF
SS7 CAP
SCP
MSC SGSN
Legend
LEGACY PSTN
Diameter Rf (Offline) Diameter Ro (Online)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE Core
(Online Mediation)
NGN / TISPAN Access
P-CSCF P-CSCF
I-CSCF I-CSCF
S-CSCF S-CSCF
MRFC MRFC
Oracle Billing & Revenue Management
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Oracle IMS Reference Architecture
The key Oracle points of reference within the IMS architecture are: Service Activation (HSS and IMS Application Servers) Offline charging over the Diameter Rf interface Online Charging over the Diameter Ro interface
GSM/GPRS Reference Architecture
The diagram below illustrates the Oracle Communications Suite within a GSM/GPRS context.
Note: Offline Charging and future AIA integration points not shown
Order & Service Management Oracle Activation

IP
Inventory
IP
SGSN
GGSN
Data Charging Platform
WAP G/W
MMS-C
CAP Phase 3 MAP
GSM/GPRS Core HLR / AuC

MAP
PACKET NETWORK
Content Server SS7
Radio Access Network

IVR
MSC/SSP
CAP Phases 1/2/3, INAP
GMSC
PSTN
Siebel CRM
SCP
SMSIWMSC
SMS-C
Destination in IT domain
Oracle Network Mediation
AAA Gateway
(Online Mediation)
Diameter Balance Mgr
Oracle Billing & Revenue Management
SCP/SDP
Note that the offline charging and future AIA integration points are not shown for clarity. Also, note that the Diameter Balance Manager is an optional component of Oracle BRM used to interface to a prepaid master balance that might reside on an external SCP or billing platform should an operator not wish to use the master balance capabilities of Oracle BRM.
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6.
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION USAGE GUIDELINES
This section is intended to provide guidelines for the use of those applications and technologies where similar capabilities may exist either within the Communications Suite or across the wider Oracle application and technology stack. It is intended that this section will evolve over time.
1. Oracle Communications Order and Service Management and Oracle Fusion BPEL Manager
Both Oracle Communications Order and Service Management (OSM) and Oracle Fusion BPEL Manager are key applications that will continue to be developed, supported, and invested in by Oracle. The decision of when to use which technology may be aided by the following points that describe differences in the applications. BPEL provides an engine for executing business processes. This generally refers to the high-level state transition interactions of a process - BPEL refers to this concept as an Abstract Process. A BPEL Abstract Process represents a set of publicly observable behaviors in a standardized fashion. An Abstract Process includes information such as when to wait for messages, when to send messages, when to compensate for failed transactions for example. Order Management is a set of functionality around orders and order concepts such as order lifecycles, data templates, order decomposition, operations such as cancel, suspend, resume, jeopardy management, multiple order versions, and Intelligent Change Management.
Use OSM when the following are required for a business process:
There is a need to align with the Oracle pre-integrated AIA strategy Ordering support is required with the following concepts: Order types and Sources Order Templates Order views Order Creation, Order Edit, Order Cancel Order Histories Order Remarks and Attachments Jeopardy Milestones Data to Order alignment and reporting
Manual Service Provisioning and Activity is required with the following concepts: Workstreams Worklists Workgroups/Users Dynamic View/Screen layout
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Validations Timezones Task assignments
Subprocessing and multi instance task/process spawning Intelligent Change Management Ability to change an order on the fly Intelligently determine the rollback steps and re-run steps needed for the change
Use BPEL Manager when the following are required for a business process:
There is no ordering concept To facilitate the integration of enterprise applications If Oracle SOA Suite is already deployed in a non communications scenario There is no requirement for communications order orchestration, routing and fulfilment BPEL can be used to orchestrate processes where there isn't any intelligent state (order or service) management, such as publishing product specifiations/definitions from a master to all the slave applications.
2. Oracle Communications ASAP and IPSA Service Activation
ASAP is designed for the activation of mass market, high volume communications services, whereas IPSA is focused on activating QoS-enabled IP-based services. 3. Oracle Communications Objectel and S&SM Inventory Objectel manages the physical network assets and logical network capacity, whereas Subscriber and Service Management manages subscriber and service related resources.
4. Oracle Network Mediation and BRM
Network Mediation is an offline mediation application. The BRM mediation component (AAA Gateway) is recommended for online mediation (e.g. processing real-time transactions through the Oracle BRM application.) The BRM AAA Gateway - contrary to the Network Mediation application - can only be used in conjunction with Oracle BRM.
5. Oracle Inventory Management and BRM
Devices associated with a subscriber account in the BRM application can be managed through Oracle BRM Device & Order Management components. Currently a customer should continue to use BRM for number and SIM management (and other devices typically associated with a user) within a billing context. The future strategy is to utilize Oracle Inventory Management products across the entire portfolio as a common function.
6. Oracle BRM Customer Center and Siebel CRM
The BRM Customer Center application is a CRM-like application, but it only manages customer accounts within the BRM application. It is a CRM application, but is specifically intended for the BRM application. If BRM is the only
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billing system in an enterprise, then the Customer Center may as well serve as a CRM application. For large Tier 1 operators with a substantial customer base and numerous business integration points, Oracle recommends Siebel CRM. In this scenario Oracle BRM Customer Center would complement Siebel CRM as a developer or operational tool.
7. Oracle BRM Accounts Receivable (A/R) and Oracle Financials A/R
The Oracle E-Business Suite A/R is a general purpose A/R application and as such it is not necessarily focused on the communications market. The BRM A/R component on the other hand is focused on the communications market, but it is specific to the BRM application. Enterprises with multiple billing systems are advised to use the EBusiness Suite A/R for a centralized A/R application. The BRM A/R can be used to feed data to a centralized A/R application.
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7.
STANDARDS SUPPORT
This section will summarize the key standards and industry initiatives (and Oracles involvement in them) that influence the Oracle Communication Suite portfolio, including: TeleManagement Forum 3GPP
It will also attempt to describe the Oracle Communications Suite portfolio within the context of some of the key frameworks defined by these bodies.
TeleManagement Forums New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS)
The NGOSS initiative has been developed by operators and vendors to address the challenges of business process automation. It is implemented as a set of programs, guidelines, specifications and maps.
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The four NGOSS frameworks are: enhanced Telecom Operations Map (eTOM) business process framework providing a standard classification scheme for a communications service provider Shared Information and Data Model (SID) enterprise wide framework providing an information model and data model scheme for a communications service provider Technology Neutral Architecture (TNA) systems integration framework describing the interaction of business processes from the eTOM with information defined by the SID Telecom Applications Map (TAM) framework providing an application oriented view of the previous three frameworks
The Oracle Communications Suite portfolio focuses on the Operations process segment of the eTOM framework. In addition the Enterprise Management segment encompasses Oracle Financials (i.e. A/R, A/P and GL). Note that Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management is also a component of this processs layer.
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8.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
TERM
MEANING
3GPP AIA AMA A/R ASN.1 BAM BPEL BRM BSS CDR CIBER CRM EBPP EDR ESB ERP GGSN GPRS GSM GTP IMS IP IPDR IPTV MSC OSM OSS
Third Generation Partnership Project Application Integration Architecture Automatic Message Accounting Accounts Receivable Abstract Syntax Notation #1 Business Activity Monitoring Business Process Execution Language Billing and Revenue Management Billing Support Systems Call Detail Record Cellular Intercarrier Billing Exchange Record Customer Relationship Management Electronic Billing Presentment and Payment Event Detail Record Enterprise Service Bus Enterprise Resource Planning Gateway GPRS Support Node General Packet Radio Service Global System for Mobile Communications GPTS Tunneling Protocol IP Multimedia Subsystems Internet Protocol Internet Protocol Detail Record Internet Protocol Telephony Mobile Switching Center Order and Service Management Operational Support System
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PIP RADIUS RAP QoS SID SGSN SNMP SOA SOAP S&SM TAP TCP UDP UMTS VoIP WAP XML
Process Integration Pack Remote Access Dial-In User Service Returned Accounts Procedure Quality of Service Shared Information Data Model Service GPRS Support Node Simple Network Management Protocol Service Oriented Architecture Simple Object Access Protocol Subscriber and Service Management Transferred Accounts Procedure Transmission Control Protocol User Datagram Protocol Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Voice over Internet Protocol Wireless Application Protocol eXtensible Markup Language
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Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview December 2007 Author: Richard Hallett
Oracle Corporation World Headquarters 500 Oracle Parkway Redwood Shores, CA 94065 U.S.A. Worldwide Inquiries: Phone: +1.650.506.7000 Fax: +1.650.506.7200 oracle.com Copyright 2007, Oracle. All rights reserved. This document is provided for information purposes only and the contents hereof are subject to change without notice. This document is not warranted to be error-free, nor subject to any other warranties or conditions, whether expressed orally or implied in law, including implied warranties and conditions of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. We specifically disclaim any liability with respect to this document and no contractual obligations are formed either directly or indirectly by this document. This document may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without our prior written permission. Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

December 2007 Version 1.0

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

DOCUMENT PURPOSE AND INTENDED AUDIENCE

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

THE ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS SUITE - OVERVIEW

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management

Customer Management: Partner Management: Online Charging:

Connects new service partners securely, enabling profitable revenue share

Oracle Communications Network Mediation

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

ORACLE COMMUNICATIONS SUITE FUNCTIONALITY

Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Event Collection and Enrichment: Rating and Discounting:

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Payment and Collections:

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Calculate current & future CLV Increase campaign efficiency

Integration Modules Integration Extensions

Service Extensions Service Modules

Functional Extensions Functional Modules

BRM Server Server

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Network Mediation

Oracle Communications Network Mediation has three layers of functionality:

supports flexible distribution to multiple down-stream systems

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Network Mediation Architecture

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Configuration File: Log File:

Database Storage and Reporting Framework

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Graphical User Interface

Adding, modifying, or deleting cartridges; selecting rule files; and setting

Event Management: Accessing

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Order and Service Management

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Efficient and Automated Management of Customer Order Changes

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Inventory Management

Service Assurance Support: If

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview

Oracle Communications Suite Reference Architecture Overview