1. Mediation’s Role in Billing

2. Context of Mediation Mediation gathers data from different switches.
Required downstream applications are produced.
Mediation processes data for different downstream applications.
Local Switches
Long Distance Switches
International Switches
Cellular & PCS Switches
ATM Switches
IP Switches
IN Elements
Voice Messaging Switches
Bill Processing
Fraud
Hot Billing
Network Analysis
Market Research
Data Warehousing
Report Writer
Reseller
Other Carriers
Data
Processing
Unit
Usage: Collections & Activations
Usage: Delivery & Service Requests
I/P from Network Elements
O/P to Down Stream System
MEDIATION

3. Mediation: Traditional vs. Convergent
Mediation software, an Important piece In the whole telecom business, executes usage collection. It bridges the network dements on one side and telecom business support systems (BS5) like Billing systems. Rating systems. Usage analysis on the other side.
The extraction of raw customer usage data from diverse Network elements and transforming it into meaningful Business Information Next generation services has raised the importance of the mediation component as a critical one in the business plans of operators

4. Traditional Mediation System Convergent Mediation System
One Mediation System per network element or downstream application.
Traditional Mediation System
OSS/BSS Applications
OSS/BSS Applications
OSS/BSS Applications A
Mediation System
Convergent Mediation System C
Mediation System
Wireless: 2/2. 5/3G
Broadband IP
Wireline

5. Convergent Mediation System Convergent Mediation System
One Mediation System for all network element or downstream application.
Convergent Mediation System
OSS/BSS Applications
Convergent Mediation System
Wireless: 2/2. 5/3G
Broadband IP
Wireline

6. Types of Mediation 1. Collect the CDRs
Here are some of the important functionalities of mediation.
Collect the CDRs
Validate the CDRs
Filter the CDRs
Aggregate or Split/Clone
Present CDRs
Route and Distribute the CDRs
1. Collect the CDRs
Collection 6 Archiving is a process m which the raw billing data is retrieved (rom the network elements and then archived into a specie format to avoid data loss or for future reference as per business requirements.

7. Types of Mediation 2. Validate the CDRs
Note: It may be possible that Mediation will not perform all the functionalities, which are mentioned
Data Formats: ASCII, CSV, Binary, ASN, AMA, TAP, XML etc.
Collect the CDRs
Validate the CDRs
Filter the CDRs
Aggregate or Split/Clone
Present CDRs
Route and Distribute the CDRs
2. Validate the CDRs
Data is validated during and after the parse process. It is a process in which the validity or input data is verified so as to generate correct billing information for the calls made.

8. Types of Mediation 3. Filter the CDRs
Collect the CDRs
Validate the CDRs
Filter the CDRs
Aggregate or Split/Clone
Present CDRs
Route and Distribute the CDRs
3. Filter the CDRs
Filtering and Conversion is a process in which the unnecessary records are stripped off to improve billing process efficiency; and then convert the effective records in a format understandable by the billing system.

9. Types of Mediation 4. Aggregate or Split/Clone
Collect the CDRs
Validate the CDRs
Filter the CDRs
Aggregate or Split/Clone
Present CDRs
Route and Distribute the CDRs
4. Aggregate or Split/Clone
Aggregation and correlation are processes in which the data is analyzed and then corresponding data for a single call is aggregated, which can be utilized for complete billing of that particular call.

10. Types of Mediation 5. Present CDRs
Collect the CDRs
Validate the CDRs
Filter the CDRs
Aggregate or Split/Clone
Present CDRs
Route and Distribute the CDRs
5. Present CDRs
Cloning is a process in which the CDRs are duplicated when required and routed to different billing systems/subscriber as per the business need.
Split is a process extracting a subset of the record to create a new record which is an independent billing entity.

11. Types of Mediation 6. Route and Distribute the CDRs
Collect the CDRs
Validate the CDRs
Filter the CDRs
Aggregate or Split/Clone
Present CDRs
Route and Distribute the CDRs
6. Route and Distribute the CDRs
The CORs are routed and distributed as per the downstream system's requirements such as protocols etc.

12. Types of Mediation
Let’s take a look at the two types of mediation and the differences between them:
Passive Mediation
Collection of usage data after the Service has been provided.
Does not get involved in authentication of the subscriber or authorization of the service itself. Instead, it concerns itself with accounting for use after-the-fact. Thus its unidirectional.
Data processed in batches.
Protocols: FTP, SFTP, XFERNG etc.
Collection and routing of usage data to rightful downstream is vital for in time billing and RA activities.

13. Types of Mediation Active Mediation
In-service flow handling of requests in real-time.
Active mediation plays a pivotal role in the authentication of subscribers for the service, accounting in the form of prepaid balance or postpaid credit limit threshold checks and authorization or denial of the service. Thus its bi-directional
Prepaid data - real-time Authentication, Accounting and Authorization (AAA) for any service in line with prepaid balances
Pay-at-once - real-time AAA for any service at point of use/purchase
Postpaid - real-time AAA for any service in a post pay environment.
Protocols: Diameter, Radius, GTP, GTP prime etc.
The reliability and throughput of active mediation systems is vital to maintain continuity and avoid data and service loss.