PATENT ABSTRACT
An implementation foundation for a telecommunication service provider provides an efficient, robust, and reliable cornerstone for any new telecommunication service provider architecture. The implementation foundation includes a universally applicable data model that encodes the fundamental entities of interest to telecommunications service providers. The data model is free of constraints on any particular technology, and provides a reusable foundation for implementing new telecommunication service providers. The data model is composed of business entities that technically support business processes for a telecommunication service provider. As a result, new telecommunication service providers may be implemented in a rapid manner on a proven foundation, without complex and unwieldy customized technologies that rely on immensely complicated point-to-point message connections.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to EP Patent Application No. 07425617.3, filed Oct. 3, 2007. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This application relates to a foundational data model and a telecommunication service provider architecture built on the foundational data model. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    The telecommunications industry continues to face demands for more services, and rapid deployment of new services, while the complexity of the underlying technologies providing the services continues to increase. Multiple support systems communicate through a complex web of connections to define, implement, and support the services for both residential and commercial customers. The crucial role of the architecture underlying the service provider is evident in that in the multi-billion dollar telecommunications industry, consumers assess service providers based on the number of available services, the reliability of the services, and the ability of the service provider to respond to customer requests for additional services and for troubleshooting existing services. 
         [0006]    Building an architecture for a new telecommunication service provider involves many complex and technical details, and often results in custom, complex, and hard to maintain architectures. In the past, the architectures often used customized point-to-point connections between multiple support systems. The point-to-point connections created a tangled web of unique communication channels that created immense challenges to implement, maintain, and upgrade. Unfortunately, the complexity of the products and services lead to further technical challenges in implementing a new telecommunications architecture that was efficient, flexible, and reliable. 
         [0007]    One of the significant complexities lies in finding a way to allow the multiple support systems to communicate with one another. Thus, the technical challenges include providing robust and dynamic communication that provides efficient and elegant service request orchestration and message passing. The already immense number of products, services, and support systems greatly increase the burden of finding a universally applicable solution to these challenges. 
         [0008]    A need has long existed for a technology agnostic universally applicable data model foundation to implement a telecommunication service provider architecture. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A proven foundation for a telecommunication service provider architecture allows rapid implementation, without complex and unwieldy customized technologies that rely, for example, on immensely complicated point-to-point message connections. The proven foundation includes a data model that provides an efficient, robust, and reliable cornerstone for any new telecommunication service provider architecture. The data model is universally applicable and encodes the fundamental entities of interest to telecommunications service providers. The data model is free of constraints on any particular technology, and provides a reusable foundation for implementing new telecommunication service providers. The data model is composed of business entities that are crucial in order to support business processes for a Telecommunication Service Provider. 
         [0010]    The data model includes a customer and billing account layer, an order and asset layer, and a product/service catalog layer. The customer and billing account layer includes an organization entity encoding a partition of a customer base into multiple organizations that customers may belong to, a customer entity encoding business customers that purchase offered products and services, and an address entity encoding addresses for the customers. The customer and billing account layer further includes a billing account entity encoding specific billing account entities to which the offered products and services belong, a service account entity encoding provisioning location information for the offered products and services, a contact entity encoding contact information for the customers, a user contact entity encoding contact information for a user of the products and services purchased by the customer, a billing profile entity encoding invoice generation information for the customers, a payment data entity encoding payment parameters selected by the customers, a refill entity encoding a refill request that a customer makes on a prepaid product or service; and, an adjustment entity encoding a pre-paid adjustment or a post-paid adjustment. 
         [0011]    The order and asset layer may be divided into a separate order layer and a separate asset layer. The order layer may include an order aggregation entity encoding aggregations of order line items. Each order line item represents instances of bundles, offers, products and services along with promotions ordered by a customer. Line item instantiating products and services may include technical service parameters for provisioning the products and services. The order layer may also include attribute asset entities encoding instantiations of product attributes for the ordered products and services, and an event source entity encoding service usage identification for pay-by-use customers. The order layer also includes a service order response entity encoding an acknowledgment that an order has been fulfilled. 
         [0012]    The asset layer includes an asset aggregation entity encoding aggregations of an asset line item. Each asset line item represents the instances of bundles, offers, products and services including promotions ordered by a customer that have been activated successfully by a provisioning system. In some instances, an order line item may not be an asset line item. For example, some telecommunication services providers do not consider an initiation charge for service as an asset. Converting an order line item to an asset line item may be performed by a configured CRM system. Line item instantiation of products and services may further include technical service parameters used in provisioning them as well as an attribute instance entity encoding instantiations of product attributes for the ordered products and services, and an event source entity encoding service usage identification for pay-by-use customers. 
         [0013]    The product/service catalog layer includes a promotion entity encoding the promotion of bundles, offers, or products and services, a bundle entity encoding the bundle of offers or products and services offered to the customer, an offer entity encoding the offered products and services offered to the customers, and, a product/service attribute entity encoding supplemental parameters for implementing the offered products and services. In addition, one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships are established between the entities as described below. For example, a bundle, offering, and a product may be implemented by a recursive relationship of the product and service entity. 
         [0014]    The promotion entity represents an encoding of an option to modify the price of bundles, offers, products/services when particular condition are reached by a customer or billing account. The bundle entity allows aggregating several offers and or products/services with a price that is less than the sum of a single price of each bundle component. The offer entity aggregates products/services with a price that is less than the sum of the charge of each offer component. The promotion entity, the bundle entity, and the offer entity may each be characterized by a duration of validity from the starting of a due date. 
         [0015]    Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The innovation may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a telecommunication service provider architecture that includes the technology agnostic universally applicable data model. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an entity relationship diagram for the data model. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a residential and a business customer hierarchy derived from the data model. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a subscription traced in the entity relationship diagram shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a hierarchical representation of the subscription (hierarchical structure of product and service instance or installed asset) shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  shows a customer care hierarchy mapped from an implementation specific customer care system to a customer relationship hierarchy build on the data model. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows a billing hierarchy built on the data model mapped to a multi-purpose billing hierarchy that need not adhere to the data model. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows a billing hierarchy built on the data model mapped to an implementation specific billing hierarchy for a first specific billing support system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  shows a billing hierarchy built on the data model mapped to an implementation specific billing hierarchy for a second specific billing support system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  shows a billing hierarchy built on the data model mapped to an implementation specific billing hierarchy for a third specific billing support system. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  shows a flow diagram for configuring a telecommunication service provider architecture in which multiple support systems interoperate to provide telecommunication products and services to customers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The elements illustrated in the Figures interoperate as explained in more detail below. Before setting forth the detailed explanation, however, it is noted that all of the discussion below, regardless of the particular implementation being described, is exemplary in nature, rather than limiting. For example, although selected aspects, features, or components of the implementations are depicted as being stored in memories, all or part of systems and methods consistent with the innovations may be stored on, distributed across, or read from other machine-readable media, for example, secondary storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, and CD-ROMs; a signal received from a network; or other forms of ROM or RAM either currently known or later developed. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, although specific components of innovations will be described, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the innovation may include additional or different components. For example, a processor may be implemented as a microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or a combination of other type of circuits or logic. Similarly, memories may be DRAM, SRAM, Flash or any other type of memory. Flags, data, databases, tables, entities, and other data structures may be separately stored and managed, may be incorporated into a single memory or database, may be distributed, or may be logically and physically organized in many different ways. Programs may be parts of a single program, separate programs, or distributed across several memories and processors. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a telecommunication service provider architecture  100  that includes a technology agnostic universally applicable data model  102  (“data model  102 ”). The telecommunication service provider architecture  100  may be organized as a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). However, the data model  102  is technology agnostic such that the data model  102  is universally applicable to any set of hardware or software implementations. For example, the data model  102  is not limited to implementation in a service oriented architecture, but may be implemented in any architecture. A service may be a unit of work done by a service provider to achieve desired end results for a service consumer. Both provider and consumer are roles played by software agents, such as enterprise applications, on behalf of their owners. The services are self-contained and do not depend on the context or state of the other service. The enterprise applications may communicate with each other in a distributed system architecture where the enterprise applications are deployed at different locations in a network within or outside an enterprise. The enterprise applications may communicate through well-established protocols such as Web Services, Messaging, or Remote Method Invocation (“RMI”). 
         [0031]    The telecommunication service provider architecture  100  includes one or more enterprise applications  106 - 110  to provide services according to the SOA paradigm. An enterprise service bus  104  may connect the enterprise applications  106 - 110 . For example, the enterprise service bus  104  may connect a customer relation management system  106 , a billing system  108 , a provisioning system  110 , or other systems, that provide service. In one implementation, the customer relation management system  106  is Oracle® Siebel® CRM, available from the Oracle® Corporation, located in Redwood Shores, Calif. The billing system  108  may be Oracle® Billing, also available from the Oracle® Corporation. The provision system  110  may be Tertio available from Evolving Systems®, Inc., located in Englewood, Colo. More than one type of system, such as multiple billing systems, may also be connected to the enterprise service bus  104 . For example, another billing system, such as Kenan® FX, available from Comverse® Technology, Inc., located in Wakefield, Mass., may also be connected to the enterprise service bus  104 . Other systems, such as Singl.eView® from Independent Technology Systems Ltd. of Surrey, United Kingdom or Infinys® from Convergys CMG Utah Inc. of South Jordan, Utah may also be connected. 
         [0032]    The enterprise service bus  104  facilitates communication and interaction among the enterprise applications  106 - 110 . The enterprise service bus  104  uses one or more connectors  130 - 134  to communicate with each of the various enterprise applications  106 - 110 . A connector may be a multi-layered software communication channel tailored to a specific enterprise application. 
         [0033]    The enterprise service bus  104  is implemented as a distributed collection of software components that interact helping the enterprise applications to seamlessly and easily share information in the form of “business entities.” In general, a business entity may represent one or more objects usable by one or more of the enterprise applications  106 - 110  in communication with the enterprise service bus  104 . The enterprise service bus  104  facilitates exchange of business entity instances among enterprise applications  106 - 110 , for example, by translating, or transforming, business entities from one proprietary format into another, via the data model  102 . In one implementation, the enterprise service bus  104  is the BEA Aqualogic® Service Bus, available from BEA® Systems, Inc., located in San Jose, Calif. 
         [0034]    The enterprise applications  106 - 110  are connected to the enterprise service bus  104  using connectors  112 - 116 . The connectors  112 - 116  represent the channels for communicating between the enterprise service bus  104  and the enterprise applications  106 - 110 . Each of the connectors  112 - 116  have two different types of connectors to communicate with each separate application: a publisher connector  118 - 122 , which publishes a business entity from a publishing application to the enterprise service bus  104 , and a subscribing connector  124 - 128  which receives a business entity from the enterprise service bus  104  (pushed by a publisher connector  118 - 122 ) into the subscribing application connector. 
         [0035]    Each of the connectors  112 - 116  may be implemented as Java classes or by extending with custom language code pre-built connectors from software vendors. The publisher connectors  118 - 122  and subscriber connectors  124 - 128  may be implemented in Web Services Description Language (“WSDL”), an XML-based service description on how to communicate using web services. In general, WSDL defines services as collections of network endpoints, or ports. The WSDL specification provides an XML format for documents for this purpose. The publisher connectors  118 - 122  and subscriber connectors  124 - 128  may be implemented in other computer programming languages as well, such as the C computer programming language. 
         [0036]    Each of the connectors  112 - 116  are connected with a translator  130 - 134 . When a business entity is published by an enterprise application  106 - 110 , the translators  130 - 134  are configured to translate the business entity into the common data model format according to transformation rules  136 . Similarly, when an enterprise application  106 - 110  subscribes to a business entity, the translators  130 - 134  are configured to translate the business entity from the common data model format into the enterprise application specific format according to transformation rules  136 . In general, a transformer rule is an algorithm that converts between the message formats to disparate applications. A transformation rule may list the fields of the messages of the enterprise applications  106 - 110  and describes how each of the fields are related to the data model  102 . The translators  130 - 134  may translate business entities published by the publisher connectors  118 - 122  using XSLT, an XML-based language used for the transformation of XML documents into other XML or “human-readable” documents. In one implementation, the translators  130 - 134  are implemented as Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (“XSLT”) files and XML Path Language (“XPath”) queries containers. 
         [0037]    The data model  102  is a logical data model that defines the data information in a typical telecommunication service provider. The data model  102  provides a common dictionary to exchange information among the enterprise applications  106 - 110  within the telecommunication service provider architecture  100  enabling a streamlined integration of the enterprise applications  106 - 110 . The data model  102  acts as a common language that mediates data entity representation among the various enterprise applications  106 - 110 . The data model  102  provides with the business entities required to perform and orchestrate business processes across the telecommunication service provider architecture. 
         [0038]    In general, the enterprise applications  106 - 110  may have different ways to model basic operational entities that are common in the communications industry. Examples of operational entities include customer, product, service, order, and other operational entities. Thus, each enterprise application  106 - 110  may have difficulty communicating the same object entity to one another. Accordingly, the data model  102  facilitates easy and streamlined integration of different enterprise applications into an overall architecture. 
         [0039]    The data model  102  acts as an intermediate data format for all translations related to a data type and without needing the traditional point-to-point, single translation interface. Translations from a source enterprise application to a target enterprise application via the data model  102  are performed by the translators  130 - 134 . 
         [0040]    The data model  102  contains a data representation each of the entity objects required by the enterprise applications  106 - 110 . For each of these objects there are a number of operations that may be performed depending on the nature of the data. An example of an operation performable on an object entity is changing the address of a customer. 
         [0041]    In general, each object entity metadata structure is defined as a data structure in the language/format specific for an enterprise application  106 - 110 . This structure encapsulates a representative super set of all systems within the integration solution that use that data. In other words, the common data model object metadata is an aggregation of the data that each enterprise application  106 - 110  presents to external systems via the connectors  112 - 116 . In accordance with the SOA paradigm, the data model  102  may also be service oriented. As a service is defined once for the entire telecommunication service provider architecture  100 , the entities are also defined by the data model  102  in a univocal way for all the enterprise applications  106 - 110 . 
         [0042]    As a course-grained service may orchestrate internally one or more fine-grained services, in a similar SOA approach, an entity of the data model  102  may include minor entities. For example, a customer object entity may contain a contact and a service account entity. In implementing the data model  102 , the entities of the data model  102  definitions may be defined using an XML Schema Definition. 
         [0043]    Accordingly, the data model  102  and the enterprise service bus  104  provide a framework that facilitates a first enterprise application, upon having a business entity created or otherwise occur locally (such as the creation of a new customer account), to publish the entity to a communication channel, and have the entity converted to a common format (i.e., the common data model format). At that point, any other enterprise application connected to the enterprise service bus  104  may subscribe to the business entity. As part of the retrieval process, a translator  130 - 134  converts the entity from the common data model format into the format used by the subscribing application according to the transformation rules  136 . The subscribing application may then undertake its own local action responsive to, or otherwise appropriate for, the business entity generated by the first application. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  shows an entity relationship diagram  200  for the data model  102 . The entity relationship diagram  200  shows that the data model  102  is implemented according to three layers: a customer and billing account layer  252 , a product/service catalog layer  254 , and an order and asset layer  256 . 
         [0045]    In one implementation, the layers  252 - 256  include entities  202 - 250 . For example, the customer and billing account layer  252  may include a customer entity  202  encoding business customers that purchase offered products and services; a billing account entity  204  encoding specific billing account entities to which the offered products and services belong; a contact entity  206  encoding contact information for the customers; a user contact entity  208  encoding contact information for a customer that purchased a product to provision; a service account entity  210  encoding provisioning location information for the offered products and services; a contract entity  212  encoding service agreements between the telecommunication service provider and the customers; an organization entity  214  encoding a partition of a customer base into multiple organizations that customers may belong to; an address entity  216  encoding addresses for the customers; a billing profile entity  218  encoding invoice generation information for the customers; a payment data entity  220  encoding payment parameters selected by the customers; a refill entity  222  encoding a refill request that a customer makes on a prepaid product or service; and, an adjustment entity  224  encoding a pre-paid adjustment or a post-paid adjustment. 
         [0046]    The product/service catalog layer  254  may have multiple entities. For example, the product/service catalog layer  254  may have a price list entity  226  encoding bundle offer product and service prices for the offered products and services; a bundle entity  236  encoding the bundle of products and services offered to the customer; a product/service offering entity  228  encoding the offered products and services offered to the customers; an offer price entity  230  encoding market prices for the offered products and services; and a product/service attribute entity  232  encoding supplemental parameters for implementing the offered products and services. 
         [0047]    In addition, the order and asset layer  256  may also have multiple entities. For example, the order and asset layer  256  may have an order aggregation entity  238  encoding aggregations of ordered products and services; an asset entity  240  encoding instantiations of the ordered products and services; an order item entity  242  encoding technical service parameters for provisioning the ordered products and services; an attribute instance entity  244  encoding instantiations of product attributes for the ordered products and services; an event source entity  246  encoding service usage identification for pay-by-use customers; a service order response entity  248  encoding an acknowledgment that an order has been fulfilled; and, an order item response entity  250  encoding a notice that an order item has been provisioned or activated. 
         [0048]    The data model  102  may also define one or more relationships between the business entities  202 - 250 . These relationships may include one-to-many relationships, one-to-one relationships, and many-to-many relationships. For example, the data model  102  may define a one-to-many relationship  260  between the organization entity  214  and the customer entity  202 . As another example, the data model  102  may define an individual relationship  262  from the billing account entity  204  to the billing profile entity  218 . In a further example, the data model  102  may define a many-to-many relationship  264 , such as from the product/service offering entity  244  to the price list entity  226 . Other relationships between other entities are also possible. 
         [0049]    In one implementation, the data model  102  defines the customer entity  202  as the parent for one or more billing accounts and a billing account entity  204  as the parent for one or more products. A customer care application (not shown) may implement this customer/account/product hierarchy, and this hierarchy may be replicated in a billing system to streamline the integration of processes and information flows across the enterprise and to provide a common and convergent view of the customer across different networks, operational procedures and applications. A customer entity  202  may be a top entity; for example, a customer entity  202  may represent individuals or a corporation, acting as the grouping entity for the underlying billing account and product hierarchy. Billing account entities  204  are the entities invoiced by a billing system. A billing account entity  204  represents the accounting entity to which products and services belong, for which charges are accrued and to which payments and adjustments are accounted. As part of this hierarchy, products are the purchasable entities. Each product is associated with a set of parameters used to distinguish the product from the enterprise-to-enterprise perspective. 
         [0050]    Each of the business entities  202 - 250  may have a header. In general, a header contains AI internal information. The header may keep trace of a business event status and to determine messaging event routing. A header may have multiple attributes, defined below in Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Identification number for 
                 String 
                 A customer code is used by the AI to handle the flow of 
               
               
                   
                 the Customer. It may be 
                   
                 events related to the same Customer with the correct 
               
               
                   
                 the Customer code in a 
                   
                 sequence. 
               
               
                   
                 CRM system. 
               
               
                 OrganizationCode 
                 Organization code. 
                 String 
                 The OrganizationCode identifies the Organization the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Customer belongs to. Together with the Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Code it gives a unique key to identify the customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 account, and together with the Account Code it gives a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 unique key to identify the billing account. 
               
               
                 BEName 
                 Business event name. 
                 String 
                 It is used to identify the Business Events and may 
               
               
                   
                 Each schema has its 
                   
                 have one of the following values: 
               
               
                   
                 own default name. 
                   
                 CUSTOMERCREATE 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CUSTOMERMODIFYGENERALDATA 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CUSTOMERMODIFYFISCALADDRESS 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ACCOUNTCREATE 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ACCOUNTMODIFYGENERALDATA 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ACCOUNTMODIFYBILLINGPROFILE 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ACCOUNTMODIFYBILLTOPERSON 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ACCOUNTMODIFYBILLTOADDRESS 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ACCOUNTMODIFYPAYMENTDATA 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 SERVICEORDERPROVISIONING 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 SERVICEORDERPROVISIONINGRESPONSE 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ASSETCOMPONENT 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 PREPADJUSTMENT 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 POSTPAIDADJSUTMENT 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 REFILL 
               
               
                 ExecState 
                 ExecState is updated 
                 String 
                 ExecState gives the current status of execution for a 
               
               
                   
                 before the execution of 
                   
                 Business Event. In the event of an error, if the 
               
               
                   
                 an action. For example, 
                   
                 ExecState is for example “Billing”, this means that the 
               
               
                   
                 the status “Billing” 
                   
                 error occurred inside the billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 means Event before 
                   
                 Possible values include: 
               
               
                   
                 entering Billing process 
                   
                 INITIAL 
               
               
                   
                 Possible values for this 
                   
                 BILLING 
               
               
                   
                 field include: 
                   
                 ERP 
               
               
                   
                 Initial 
                   
                 PROVISIONING 
               
               
                   
                 “before system to 
                   
                 COMPLETED 
               
               
                   
                 process” 
                   
                 CCARE 
               
               
                   
                 Completed 
               
               
                 BEInstanceId 
                 Unique ID for the 
                 String 
                 BEInstanceID is an identifier of a message that is used 
               
               
                   
                 message. BEInstanceID 
                   
                 during the processing of a message to recognize and 
               
               
                   
                 is assigned by a 
                   
                 distinguish it from all other messages. 
               
               
                   
                 Dispatcher and it does 
               
               
                   
                 not change during the 
               
               
                   
                 whole processing of the 
               
               
                   
                 Business Event. 
               
               
                 ReceivedDate 
                 ReceivedDate is set 
                 Date 
                 Each time a message is received by the application 
               
               
                   
                 when the Business 
                   
                 integration layer, the message is assigned a ‘Receive 
               
               
                   
                 Event enters the AI. 
                   
                 Date’ that may be used while processing the message 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to understand the exact date and time when the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 message was received. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0051]    The customer entity  202  is a business entity of the data model  102  and the customer entity  202  may represent an individual or a company that purchases products and services from the telecommunications service provider. The customer entity  202  may represent residential customers, such as individuals, or business customers, such as a corporation. The customer entity  202  may also act as a grouping entity for an underlying billing account hierarchy. A customer may own a single account or may spread his or her purchases into several accounts. In one implementation, the customer entity  202  has relationships with six other entities: the billing account entity  204 , the contact entity  206 , the user contact entity  208 , the service account entity  210 , the organization entity  214 , and the address entity  216 . 
         [0052]    A customer entity  202  may have multiple attributes, defined below in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 FirstName 
                 The first name of a 
                 String 
                 FirstName may be populated when the customer is a physical 
               
               
                   
                 person. 
                   
                 person (i.e., PhyFlag = Y). 
               
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer code. 
                 String 
                 The customer code may be unique for all systems. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer code may be 10 digits: the first digit from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Organization Code, and the last two digits are 00 and the other 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 are generated in sequence, e.g., 1XXXXXXX00. 
               
               
                 AcquisitionDate 
                 Customer since date. 
                 String 
                 Registration Data of a customer for a customer care system. 
               
               
                 PhyFlag 
                 Flag Physica/Juridical. 
                 String 
                 Possible values for PhyFlag include: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Y - Physical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 N - Juridical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This flag is used to identify an individual customer from a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Company customer. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 For an individual, the “Name” field may be present and the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 field “PersonalID” contains the personal fiscal number. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 For a company, the “Name” field may be null and the field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “PersonalID” contains the VAT account. 
               
               
                 Language 
                 Language code. 
                 String 
                 Language is the language of the customer used by the CRM to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 contact the customer. 
               
               
                 PersonalID 
                 Fiscal number. 
                 String 
                 If physical is set, PersonalID represents the SSN in the US, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Fiscal Code in Italy, and so forth. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 If juridical, PersonalID represents the VAT Code of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Company, such as the SSN in the US, the Fiscal Code in Italy, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and so forth. 
               
               
                 Email 
                 Principal e-mail 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 address. 
               
               
                 FaxNum 
                 Principal facsimile 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 PhoneNum 
                 Principal phone 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 MSegment 
                 Market segment. 
                 String 
                 Possible values for MSegment include: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 100 - Residential 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 101 - Business 
               
               
                 Name 
                 Last name if customer 
                 String 
                 Name may be truncated at the 40th character. 
               
               
                   
                 is individual/company. 
               
               
                   
                 Name if the customer 
               
               
                   
                 is juridical. 
               
               
                 LastUpdateDate 
                 Date of the last 
                 String 
                 This attribute retains the date of the last update of the record. 
               
               
                   
                 update. 
               
               
                 StatusCode 
                 N/A. 
                 String 
                 This attribute retains status codes for the customer. 
               
               
                 StatusDescr 
                 N/A. 
                 String 
                 This attribute retains a description of the status for the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0053]    The billing account entity  204  represents the business entities invoiced by a billing system. A billing account entity  204  represents the accounting entity to which products and services belongs, for which charges are accrued and to which payments and adjustments are accounted. The billing account entity  204  may contain the following supersets of information relevant to business and billing perspectives: 
         [0054]    Bill to Person: A contact entity  206  containing information about the person that is going to receive the invoice; 
         [0055]    Bill to Address: An address entity  216  representing the address of where the invoice will be sent; 
         [0056]    Payer: an entity representing the person paying the invoice; 
         [0057]    Billing Profile: an entity containing information such as payment method, bill frequency and bill type; and, 
         [0058]    Payment Data: an entity containing information detail about a payment method chosen by the payer, such as credit card data or payment by bank account details. 
         [0059]    The billing account entity  204  may have the attributes defined below in Table 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer code. 
                 String 
                 The customer code may be unique for all systems. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer code may be 10 digits: the first digit from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Organization Code, and the last two digits are 00 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the other are generated in sequence, e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 1XXXXXXX00. 
               
               
                 BillAccountCode 
                 Billing account 
                 String 
                 The account code may be unique for all systems and is 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 linked to Customer Code. The account code may be 10 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 digits the first 8 digit are equal to customer code digits, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 while the last two digits vary from 01 to 99, e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 1XXXXXXXnn. 
               
               
                 BillStartDate 
                 Account start date. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 BillStatusChangeReas 
                 Termination reason. 
                 String 
                 Empty on Create operations. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Used during termination operations. 
               
               
                 BillStatusCode 
                 Account status code. 
                 String 
                 Possible values include: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “70” for Pending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “90” for Active 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 “100” for Acquired 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 For orders creation, the Active status may be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 permitted. 
               
               
                 CurrencyCode 
                 Currency code. 
                 String 
                 CurrencyCode represents the invoice currency. 
               
               
                 Language 
                 Language code. 
                 String 
                 The billing account language may control which 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 template and item labels are to be used in the bill. 
               
               
                 LastUpdateDate 
                 Date of the last update. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 TaxType 
                 V.A.T. Type. 
                 String 
                 The CRM system exports two different tax types: a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Standard tax (e.g. 20%) and a Tax Exempt (0%). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 It is possible to map these different taxations on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 billing system and apply different rules regarding 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 taxation methods (e.g. taxation behavior on tax 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 change, rounding method, etc.). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 May support different flat tax rates. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Tax rate may be applied to the total invoiced amount. 
               
               
                 AccountType 
                 Account type. 
                 String 
                 Informs whether a Billing Account is Prepaid or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Postpaid 
               
               
                 CreditClass 
                 Values: gold, silver, 
                 String 
                 CreditClass is used for handling the dunning (the 
               
               
                   
                 bronze. 
                   
                 process of communicating with customers to insure the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 collection of accounts receivable) on the Enterprise 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Resource Planning system. 
               
               
                 CreditLimit 
                 Credit limit. 
                 String 
                 CreditLimit is used in between two bill cycles to check 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 that customers do not reach their credit limit. 
               
               
                 AccountDunning 
                 Dunning is the process 
                 String 
                 AccountDunning may be a flag representing Yes or No. 
               
               
                   
                 of methodically 
               
               
                   
                 communicating with 
               
               
                   
                 customers to insure the 
               
               
                   
                 collection of accounts 
               
               
                   
                 receivable. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0060]    The data model  102  may use the contact entity  206  to represent an individual. The contact entity  206  may have different meanings different meaning depending on the associated entity: 
         [0061]    Customer Contact: personal information about the customer (e.g., Name, Last Name, e-mail, phone, or other contact information); 
         [0062]    Service Account Contact: personal information about the person to contact at a specific site where services are installed; 
         [0063]    Bill to Person: personal information about the person that receives the invoice; or, 
         [0064]    Payer: information about the person paying the invoice. 
         [0065]    The contact entity  206  has multiple attributes shown in Table 4 below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 ID 
                 ID. 
                 String 
                 Used in service order 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning. 
               
               
                 PrimaryContactId 
                 Primary contact ID. 
                 String 
                 Used in Service Order 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Provisioning. 
               
               
                 ContactEmail 
                 E-mail of the addressee of the billing invoice. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 ContFirstName 
                 First name of the addressee of the billing invoice. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 ContLastName 
                 Last name of the addressee of the billing invoice. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 ContactTitle 
                 Title of the addressee of the billing invoice. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 ContactWorkPhone 
                 Phone number of the addressee of the billing 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 invoice. 
               
               
                 ContactPhone 
                 Phone number of the addressee of the billing 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 invoice. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0066]    A user contact entity  208  includes contact information about a customer that purchased a product to provision. The attributes for a user contact entity  208  are shown in Table 5 below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 ContactId 
                 Identifier of the user 
                 String 
                 Represents a user contact identification for a product. 
               
               
                   
                 contact. 
               
               
                 ContactEmailAddress 
                 User contact e-mail. 
                 String 
                 User contact e-mail for the product. 
               
               
                 ContactFirstName 
                 User contact first name. 
                 String 
                 User contact first name for the product. 
               
               
                 ContactLastName 
                 User contact last name. 
                 String 
                 User contact last name for the product. 
               
               
                 ContactGender 
                 User contact gender. 
                 String 
                 User contact gender for the product. 
               
               
                 ContactWorkPhone 
                 User contact work phone. 
                 String 
                 User contact work phone for the product. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0067]    The service account entity  210  may be a business entity representing information related to a site where a service enabling the product and the offering purchased by the customer should be provisioned. The service account entity  210  may also represent the address and the contact of a customer and may be used to assign a contact and an address to a specific product or service. The service account entity  210  may include technical information, site address, site contact, or other information. The service account entity  210  may also contain the following superset of information: 
         [0068]    Installation site: An address entity  216  containing information about the location where to install the service purchased by a customer; and, 
         [0069]    Installation contact: A contact entity  206  representing the person to contact at the installation site. 
         [0070]    The attributes included in a service account entity  210  are shown in Table 6 below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 ListOfAddress 
                 List of 
                 String 
                 This attribute stores 
               
               
                   
                 addressentities. 
                   
                 one or more 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 address entities. 
               
               
                 ListOfContact 
                 List of contact 
                 String 
                 This attribute stores one 
               
               
                   
                 entities. 
                   
                 or more contact entities. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0071]    In one implementation of the data model  102 , the contract entity  212  is a business entity representing the agreement between the telecommunication service provider and a customer. The contract entity  212  links the services and products purchased by the customer to billing accounts. The contract entity  212  also defines the terms and condition between the two parties in case the agreement is not respected, such as including penalties incurred by the customer in case of early termination of the subscription to the service provided by the telecommunication service provider. The attributes of a contract entity  212  are listed below in Table 7. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Account Name 
                 The name of the account. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Account ID 
                 The account identification number. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Account Location 
                 The location of the account. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Active 
                 Indicates whether the account is active. 
                 Boolean 
               
               
                 Agreement 
                 The end date of the agreement. 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                 End Date 
               
               
                 Agreement ID 
                 The identification number of the 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 agreement. 
               
               
                 Agreement 
                 The number of the agreement. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Number 
               
               
                 Agreement 
                 The starting calendar date of the 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                 Start Date 
                 agreement. 
               
               
                 Agreement Status 
                 The status of the agreement. Possible 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 values include: Under negotiation, Draft, 
               
               
                   
                 Signed, Active, Rejected. 
               
               
                 Agreement Type 
                 The type of agreement. Possible values 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 include: letter of understanding, Contract, 
               
               
                   
                 Service Level Agreement. 
               
               
                 Amendment 
                 Indicates whether there is an amendment 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 to the agreement. 
               
               
                 Approved By 
                 Indicates the person or organization 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 approving the agreement by identification 
               
               
                   
                 number. 
               
               
                 Approved Date 
                 The date on which the agreement was 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                   
                 approved. 
               
               
                 Approver 
                 Approver is the name of the approver 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 associated with the Approved By 
               
               
                   
                 identification number. 
               
               
                 Bill Address 
                 The billing address for the contract entity. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Bill Contact 
                 The billing contact for the contract entity. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Customer Code 
                 The customer code for the contract entity. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Contact 
                 The customer contact for the contract 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 entity. 
               
               
                 Current Quota 
                 The current quota for the contract entity. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Effective Date 
                 The effective date for the contract entity. 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                 Joined Account 
                 Joined Account ID is a technical 
                 String 
               
               
                 ID 
                 parameter used to identify what other (if 
               
               
                   
                 any) Account ID are referenced to this 
               
               
                   
                 contract. 
               
               
                 Legal Address 
                 The legal address for the contract entity. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Legal Contact 
                 The legal contact for the contract entity. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Parent 
                 The parent agreement identification 
                 String 
               
               
                 Agreement ID 
                 number. 
               
               
                 Parent Agreement 
                 The parent agreement name. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Name 
               
               
                 Project 
                 Indicates project information for the 
                 String 
               
               
                 Information 
                 contract entity. 
               
               
                 Renewable 
                 Indicates whether the agreement is 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 renewable. 
               
               
                 Revision Date 
                 The date when the contract was last 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                   
                 revised (same as Approved Date if the 
               
               
                   
                 contract was never revised). 
               
               
                 Revision Number 
                 The number of the revision. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Service Flag 
                 Service Flag indicates whether a contract 
                 Boolean 
               
               
                   
                 may be billed/invoiced yet or not. 
               
               
                   
                 Possible values are: Y or N. 
               
               
                 Service Type 
                 Service Type indicates how the contract 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 should be billed/invoiced depending on 
               
               
                   
                 the country where the products are made. 
               
               
                 Ship Address 
                 The shipping address for the contract 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 entity. 
               
               
                 Ship Contact 
                 The shipping contact for the contract 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 entity. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0072]    The organization entity  214  is a business entity representing a partition of the customer base of the telecommunication service provider. The organization entity  214  may be used to manage business segmentation enabling the end to end management of a multi-organization environment having a logical partition of catalogues and subscriptions. Table 8 shows the attributes defining an organization entity  214 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 8 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 AddressID 
                 Address ID. 
                 String 
                 The street address of the organization. 
               
               
                 City 
                 City name. 
                 String 
                 The city of the organization. 
               
               
                 Country 
                 Country code. 
                 String 
                 The country of the organization. 
               
               
                 FaxNumber 
                 FAX number. 
                 String 
                 The facsimile number of the organization. 
               
               
                 PhoneNumber 
                 Phone number. 
                 String 
                 The contact phone number for the organization. 
               
               
                 Name 
                 Organization name. 
                 String 
                 The name of the organization. 
               
               
                 OrganizationCode 
                 Organization code. 
                 String 
                 It identifies the Organization the Customer belongs to. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Together with the Customer Code it gives a unique key to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 identify the customer account, and together with the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Account Code it gives a unique key to identify the billing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 account. 
               
               
                 OrganizationID 
                 ID used to identify the 
                 String 
                 N/A 
               
               
                   
                 organization. 
               
               
                 PostalCode 
                 ZIP code. 
                 String 
                 The ZIP code of the organization. 
               
               
                 State 
                 Province. 
                 String 
                 The state or province of the organization. 
               
               
                 StreetAddress 
                 Street name. 
                 String 
                 The street address for the organization. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0073]    The address entity  216  is a business entity that represents the main address of a customer. The address entity  216  may have different meanings depending on one or more associated entities: 
         [0074]    Customer address: is the legal address of the business customer or the fiscal address for a Residential customer; 
         [0075]    Bill to address: is the address where the customer wants the telecommunication service provider to send the invoice for its postpaid product and services; and, 
         [0076]    Service address: for services that require this information, the service address is the location where the customer wants to use the service; 
         [0077]    Table 9 shows the attributes of an address entity  216 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 ID 
                 ID. 
                 String 
                 Used for a service 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 order provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 event. 
               
               
                 PrimaryAddressId 
                 Primary address ID. 
                 String 
                 Used for a service 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 order provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 event. 
               
               
                 AddressNum 
                 Street number. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 StreetType 
                 Street type. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 City 
                 City name. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Country 
                 Country code. 
                 String 
                 List of values with the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 name of selectable 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 countries 
               
               
                 ZIP 
                 ZIP code 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 State 
                 Province 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Address 
                 Street name. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0078]    With the data model  102 , a billing profile entity  218  is a business entity that represents information used to generate an invoice. The billing profile entity  218  may contain information such as the payment method chosen by the customer, the media type selected for the invoice and all the possible parameters that facilitate the telecommunication service provider to provide the desired information in the invoice into the media channel selected by the customer. The billing profile entity  218  may further contain information such as the frequency of the bill, which may be configurable by the business organization or the customer. The attributes of a billing profile entity  218  are shown below in Table 10. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 10 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Additional 
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 BillFrequency 
                 Bill Period (Quarterly, 
                 String 
                 If monthly, 
               
               
                   
                 Monthly, or other 
                   
                 assign to next 
               
               
                   
                 periods). 
                   
                 monthly bill 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 cycle. 
               
               
                 BillType 
                 Bill Format (summarized, 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 detailed). 
               
               
                 MediaType 
                 Type of media for 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 invoices (paper, email, or 
               
               
                   
                 other media). 
               
               
                 PaymentMethod 
                 Payment method (credit 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 card, bank account, or 
               
               
                   
                 other method). 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0079]    A payment data entity  220  is a business entity that contain details about the payment method chosen by the payer. The payment data entity  220  may contain information relating to credit card data or bank account details. For example, the information may include the bank account number, the type of the bank account, the branch of the bank, the name of the bank, the first name of the main bank account/credit card owner, the fiscal number of the main bank account/credit card owner, or other information. Table 11 below shows the attributes for a payment data entity  220 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 11 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 BankAccountNumber 
                 Number of the bank 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is Direct Debit, e.g.. 
               
               
                   
                 account. 
                   
                 Billing to validate to prevent a failure during billing. 
               
               
                 BankAccountType 
                 Type of the bank 
                 String 
                 This is the international CAB code. 
               
               
                   
                 account. 
                   
                 Mandatory if payment method is Direct Debit, e.g. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 bank. Billing to validate to prevent fail over during 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 billing. 
               
               
                 BankBranch 
                 Branch of the bank. 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is Direct Debit, e.g. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 bank. Billing to validate to prevent a failure during 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 billing. 
               
               
                 BankName 
                 Name of the bank. 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is Direct Debit, e.g. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 bank. Billing to validate to prevent a failure during 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 billing. 
               
               
                 PayerFirstName 
                 First name of the 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is not cash or check. 
               
               
                   
                 main bank 
               
               
                   
                 account/credit card 
               
               
                   
                 owner. 
               
               
                 PayerLastName 
                 Last name of the main 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is not cash or check. 
               
               
                   
                 bank account/credit 
               
               
                   
                 card owner. 
               
               
                 PayerPersonalID 
                 Fiscal number of the 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is not cash. 
               
               
                   
                 main bank 
               
               
                   
                 account/credit card 
               
               
                   
                 owner. 
               
               
                 CreditCardExpirationDate 
                 Expiration date of the 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is credit card. Billing 
               
               
                   
                 credit card. 
                   
                 to validate to prevent a failure during billing. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 No validation required. 
               
               
                 CreditCardNumber 
                 Number of the credit 
                 String 
                 Mandatory if payment method is credit card. Billing 
               
               
                   
                 card. 
                   
                 to validate to prevent a failure during billing. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 No validation required. 
               
               
                 CreditCardType 
                 Type of the credit 
                 String 
                 This is a text field. For example: “VISA”, “AMEX.” 
               
               
                   
                 card. 
                   
                 Mandatory if payment method is credit card. Billing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to validate to prevent a failure during billing. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0080]    A refill entity  222  represents a refill request that a customer makes on a prepaid product or service. Table 12 shows the attributes for a refill entity  222 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Channel 
                 The channel used to make the refill (IVR, 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 CRM, ATM). 
               
               
                 ScratchCardNumber 
                 Number of the scratch card used for the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 refill. 
               
               
                 TransactionCode 
                 Code of the refill transaction. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Amount 
                 Amount to refill on the account. 
                 String 
                 If refill is done by scratch card 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 it&#39;s empty on receive. 
               
               
                 RequestDate 
                 Date of the refill. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Currency 
                 Currency used for the refill 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 RefilledObjectId 
                 For a prepaid product, this field contains the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 AssetIntegrationId. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0081]    The data model  102  also includes an adjustment entity  224 . The adjustment entity  224  may be for a pre-paid adjustment or a post-paid adjustment. A pre-paid represents an adjustment performed on the balance of a pre-paid account. A post-paid represents an adjustment performed on the balance of a post paid account. The attributes for the adjustment entity  224  are shown below in Table 13. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 13 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Additional 
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 AdjustmentId 
                 Code of the adjustment. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 CreatedByLogin 
                 Operator&#39;s login that created the adjustment request. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Description 
                 Adjustment description. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 RequestReason 
                 Reason of the adjustment request. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Amount 
                 Amount to be adjusted. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 RequestDate 
                 Activation date of the adjustment. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Adjustment status. 
                 String 
                 Approved, pre- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approved. 
               
               
                 Type 
                 Type of the adjustment (debit, credit). 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 Currency 
                 Currency used for the adjustment. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                 AdjustedObjectId 
                 For a prepaid product, this field contains the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 AssetIntegrationId. For a postpaid product, this field contains 
               
               
                   
                 the InvoiceNumber. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0082]    Following will be described in detail the order and asset line item which are the instantiation of the catalogue layer entities. 
         [0083]    The promotion entity  234  represents an encoding of an option to modify the offered price of bundles, offers, and products/services when a set of conditions are satisfied by a customer or billing account. Table 14 below describes an instance of a promotion entity  234 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 14 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Promotion ID 
                 Promotion unique identifier. 
                 String 
                 The Promition ID is the ID of the promotion 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 PromotionName 
                 Promotion Name 
                 String 
                 Promotion Name is the name of the promotion 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 OrganizationCode 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 organization to which the 
               
               
                   
                 customer belongs. 
               
               
                 Commercial Start Date 
                 Date from where the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 promotion may be 
               
               
                   
                 commercialized. 
               
               
                 Commercial End Date 
                 Date from where the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 promotion may be 
               
               
                   
                 commercialized. 
               
               
                 Promotion Duration 
                 Duration of the promotion 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 starting at Due Date. 
               
               
                 StartDate 
                 The date when the 
                 String 
                 Recurring charge pro-rating is calculated based 
               
               
                   
                 product/service is started. 
                   
                 on this date. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 EndDate 
                 Termination date for 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 product/service. 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 DueDate 
                 Date to have the product 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 povisioned. 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 CSR ID 
                 Customer sales 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 representative unique ID. 
               
               
                 SalesForceID 
                 Sales force unique Identifier 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer ID linked to the 
                 String 
                 The customer identification related to the 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
                   
                 product/service. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Same as SO level billing account ID. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 BillingAccountCode 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This ID may be different from the billing account 
               
               
                   
                 billing account. 
                   
                 ID at the SO level. This is the attribute that may 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 be used to sell the product to the billing account 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 since it is the payer. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActionCode 
                 Action for the Service 
                 String 
                 Action code relating to the product. 
               
               
                   
                 Element in the order. 
                   
                 Billing to validate that Action code is not 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Disconnect, Add, 
                   
                 conflicting with SO action type. 
               
               
                   
                 Update. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Promotion InstanceId 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier to identify a promotion instance. 
               
               
                   
                 promotion instance. This 
                   
                 This may be used by a billing system to do any 
               
               
                   
                 attribute may be used 
                   
                 modification to an existing product instance. 
               
               
                   
                 during the response to the 
                   
                 This field may be used by billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 CRM system at line item 
               
               
                   
                 level in order to identify the 
               
               
                   
                 right order item (an order is 
               
               
                   
                 an instance of a product). 
               
               
                 LineNumber 
                 It is a sequential number 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 assigned to the each line 
                   
                 system or a billing system to avoid for a service 
               
               
                   
                 item (a line item is an 
                   
                 order with all the children to process children 
               
               
                   
                 instance of a product). 
                   
                 product before their parent. 
               
               
                 CRMOrderId 
                 CRM Identifier of service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 order. 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Bundle ID 
                 Top order of the service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 element hierarchy. 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                 SOrderType 
                 Type of the Service Order 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Add New Product, 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 Modify, Disconnect. 
               
               
                 ServiceType 
                 Type of the service. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActivationFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate if 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 the product instance should 
                   
                 system and may be set to ‘Y’ 
               
               
                   
                 be sent to the provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                 BillingFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate if 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 the product instance should 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 be sent to the billing 
               
               
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                 IntegrationId 
                 For an asset, the integration 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 ID is a key used by a billing 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 system to identify an 
               
               
                   
                 instance of a service that is 
               
               
                   
                 already active. 
               
               
                   
                 For and order item, the 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key to 
               
               
                   
                 identify an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 service for an account. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Asset/order status. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for asset are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 active 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inactive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for order are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 open 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 installed/failed/partially completed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 complete 
               
               
                 Price List ID 
                 Contains the CRM Price 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 List ID. 
               
               
                   
                 It is used by both 
               
               
                   
                 ServiceOrderProvisioning 
               
               
                   
                 and AssetComponent BE. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0084]    The bundle entity  236  facilitates aggregating several offer entities and/or product/service entities with a price that is less of the sum of the charge of each bundle component. 
         [0085]    Table 15 below describes an instance of the bundle entity  236 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 15 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Bundle ID 
                 Bundle unique identifier. 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the promotion assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Bundle Name 
                 Bundle name. 
                 string 
                 It is the name of the promotion assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Organization Code 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 organization to which the 
               
               
                   
                 customer belongs. 
               
               
                 Commercial Start Date 
                 Date from where the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 Promotion may be 
               
               
                   
                 commercialized. 
               
               
                 Commercial EndDate 
                 Date from where the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 Bundle may be 
               
               
                   
                 commercialized. 
               
               
                 Bundle Duration 
                 Duration of the Bundle 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 starting by Due Date. 
               
               
                 StartDate 
                 The date when the 
                 String 
                 Recurring charge pro-rating is calculated based on 
               
               
                   
                 product/service is 
                   
                 this date. 
               
               
                   
                 started. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 EndDate 
                 Termination date for 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 product/service. 
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 DueDate 
                 Date to have the product 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 provisioned. 
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 CSR ID 
                 Customer Sales 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 Representative unique ID 
               
               
                 SalesForceID 
                 Sales Force unique 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer ID linked to the 
                 String 
                 The customer identification related to the 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
                   
                 product/service. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Same as SO level billing account ID. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 BillingAccountCode 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This ID may be different from the billing account ID at 
               
               
                   
                 billing account. 
                   
                 the SO level. This is the attribute that may be used to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sell the product to the billing account since it is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 payer. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActionCode 
                 Action for the Service 
                 String 
                 Action code relating to the product. 
               
               
                   
                 Element in the order. 
                   
                 Billing to validate that Action code is not conflicting 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Disconnect, 
                   
                 with SO action type. 
               
               
                   
                 Add, Update. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Bundle 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier to identify a bundle instance. This 
               
               
                 InstanceId 
                 bundle instance. This 
                   
                 may be used by a billing system to do any 
               
               
                   
                 attribute may be used 
                   
                 modification to an existing product instance. 
               
               
                   
                 during the response to 
                   
                 This field may be used by billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 the CRM system at line 
               
               
                   
                 item level in order to 
               
               
                   
                 identify the right order 
               
               
                   
                 item (an order is an 
               
               
                   
                 instance of a product). 
               
               
                 LineNumber 
                 It is a sequential number 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 assigned to the each line 
                   
                 or a billing system to avoid for a service order with all 
               
               
                   
                 item (a line item is an 
                   
                 the children to process children product before their 
               
               
                   
                 instance of a product). 
                   
                 parent. 
               
               
                 CRMOrderId 
                 CRM Identifier of a 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Bundle Parent ID 
                 Top order of the service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system. 
               
               
                   
                 element hierarchy. 
               
               
                 Promotion ID 
                 Promotion unique 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the promotion assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ServiceId 
                 In a CRM system, a 
                 String 
                 Event Source. An event source may be: 
               
               
                   
                 generic service may be 
                   
                 the apparent CLI (Calling Line Identifier) for a 
               
               
                   
                 configured that is a line 
                   
                 telephone call. 
               
               
                   
                 service to which a line 
                   
                 the MSISDN for all the services being part of a 
               
               
                   
                 number is associated as 
                   
                 GSM subscription. 
               
               
                   
                 its “service ID” attribute 
                   
                 the login of the subscriber for all the services being 
               
               
                   
                 value (event source). 
                   
                 part of triple-play subscription. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 SOrderType 
                 Type of the Service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 Order. 
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Add New 
               
               
                   
                 Product, Modify, 
               
               
                   
                 Disconnect. 
               
               
                 ServiceType 
                 Type of the service. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActivationFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 if the product instance 
                   
                 and may be set to ‘Y’ 
               
               
                   
                 should be sent to the 
               
               
                   
                 provisioning system. 
               
               
                 BillingFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system. 
               
               
                   
                 if the product instance 
               
               
                   
                 should be sent to the 
               
               
                   
                 billing system. 
               
               
                 IntegrationId 
                 For an asset, the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning system 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key 
                   
                 or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 used by a billing system 
               
               
                   
                 to identify an instance of 
               
               
                   
                 a service that is already 
               
               
                   
                 active. 
               
               
                   
                 For and order item, the 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key to 
               
               
                   
                 identify an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 service for an account. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Asset/order status. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for asset are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 active 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inactive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for order are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 open 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 installed/failed/partially completed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 complete 
               
               
                 Price List ID 
                 Contains the CRM price 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 list ID. 
               
               
                   
                 It is used by both 
               
               
                   
                 ServiceOrderProvisioning 
               
               
                   
                 and AssetComponent 
               
               
                   
                 BE. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0086]    The offer entity  230  aggregates products/services with a price that is less of the sum of the charge of each offer component. The offer entity  230  includes information about the offer, the actions that the provisioning and billing systems may perform and their status tracking. In general, the products and services managed by a telecommunication service provider represent items that are sold to customers. The products and services result in fees or discounts accrued by a billing account. A product may be associated with a set of required parameters used to uniquely distinguish the product from the End-to-End perspective, such as a product identifier and a price list identifier). Product data may contain additional parameters used to implement special business logics; for example the “Organization ID” used for the end-to-end management of a multi-organization environment that means having catalogues and subscriptions partitioned. 
         [0087]    Table 16 below describes an instance of the offer entity  230 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 16 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Offer ID 
                 Offer unique identifier. 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the offer assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Offer Name 
                 Offer name. 
                 String 
                 It is the name of the offer assigned by 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Organization Code 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing 
               
               
                   
                 organization to which the 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 customer belongs. 
               
               
                 Commercial Start Date 
                 Date from where the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 promotion can be 
               
               
                   
                 commercialized. 
               
               
                 Commercial End Date 
                 Date from where the 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 promotion can be 
               
               
                   
                 commercialized. 
               
               
                 Offer Duration 
                 Duration of the offer 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 starting by Due Date 
               
               
                 StartDateb 
                 The date when the 
                 String 
                 Recurring charge pro-rating is calculated 
               
               
                   
                 product/service is started. 
                   
                 based on this date. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 EndDate 
                 Termination date for 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 product/service. 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 DueDate 
                 Date when the product is 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 to be provisioned. 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 CSR ID 
                 Customer sales 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 representative unique ID. 
               
               
                 SalesForceID 
                 Sales force unique 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer ID linked to the 
                 String 
                 The customer identification related to 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
                   
                 the product/service. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Same as SO level billing account ID. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 BillingAccountCode 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 This ID may be different from the billing 
               
               
                   
                 billing account 
                   
                 account ID at the SO level. This is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 attribute that may be used to sell the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 product to the billing account since it is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the payer. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActionCode 
                 Action for the Service 
                 String 
                 Action code relating to the product. 
               
               
                   
                 Element in the order. 
                   
                 Billing to validate that Action code is not 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Disconnect, Add, 
                   
                 conflicting with SO action type. 
               
               
                   
                 Update. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Offer 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier to identify an offer 
               
               
                 InstanceId 
                 offer instance. This 
                   
                 instance. This may be used by a billing 
               
               
                   
                 attribute may be used 
                   
                 system to do any modification to an 
               
               
                   
                 during the response to the 
                   
                 existing product instance. 
               
               
                   
                 CRM system at line item 
                   
                 This field may be used by billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 level in order to identify 
               
               
                   
                 the right order item (an 
               
               
                   
                 order is an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 product). 
               
               
                 LineNumber 
                 It is a sequential number 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 assigned to the each line 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system 
               
               
                   
                 item (a line item is an 
                   
                 to avoid for a service order with all the 
               
               
                   
                 instance of a product). 
                   
                 children to process children product 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 before their parent. 
               
               
                 CRMOrderId 
                 CRM Identifier of service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 order. 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Bundle ID 
                 Bundle unique identifier. 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the promotion assigned by 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Promotion ID 
                 Promotion unique 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the promotion assigned by 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ServiceId 
                 In a CRM system, a 
                 String 
                 Event Source. An event source may be: 
               
               
                   
                 generic service may be 
                   
                 the apparent CLI (Calling Line 
               
               
                   
                 configured that is a line 
                   
                 Identifier) for a telephone call. 
               
               
                   
                 service to which a line 
                   
                 the MSISDN for all the services being 
               
               
                   
                 number is associated as 
                   
                 part of a GSM subscription. 
               
               
                   
                 its “service ID” attribute 
                   
                 the login of the subscriber for all the 
               
               
                   
                 value (event source). 
                   
                 services being part of triple-play 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 subscription. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 SOrderType 
                 Type of the Service Order. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Add New 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 Product, Modify, 
               
               
                   
                 Disconnect. 
               
               
                 ServiceType 
                 Type of the service. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActivationFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 if the product instance 
                   
                 provisioning system and may be set to 
               
               
                   
                 should be sent to the 
                   
                 ‘Y’. 
               
               
                   
                 provisioning system. 
               
               
                 BillingFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 if the product instance 
                   
                 provisioning system. 
               
               
                   
                 should be sent to the 
               
               
                   
                 billing system. 
               
               
                 IntegrationId 
                 For an asset, the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key 
                   
                 provisioning system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 used by a billing system to 
               
               
                   
                 identify an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 service that is already 
               
               
                   
                 active. 
               
               
                   
                 For and order item, the 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key to 
               
               
                   
                 identify an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 service for an account. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Asset/order status. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for asset are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 active 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inactive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for order are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 open 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 installed/failed/partially 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 completed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 complete 
               
               
                 Price List ID 
                 Contains the CRM Price 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing 
               
               
                   
                 List ID. 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 It is used by both 
               
               
                   
                 ServiceOrderProvisioning 
               
               
                   
                 and AssetComponent BE. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0088]    Table 17 below describes an instance of the product/service offering entity  228 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 17 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Product ID 
                 Product/Service unique 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the product/service assigned by 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ProductName 
                 Name of the 
                 String 
                 It is the name of the product/service. 
               
               
                   
                 product/servce. 
                   
                 Product Name may be assigned by a CRM 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Organization 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                 Code 
                 organization to which the 
               
               
                   
                 customer belongs. 
               
               
                 ProductInstanceId 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier to identify a product instance. 
               
               
                   
                 Product instance. This 
                   
                 This may be used by a billing system to do 
               
               
                   
                 attribute may be used 
                   
                 any modification to an existing product 
               
               
                   
                 during the response to the 
                   
                 instance. 
               
               
                   
                 CRM system at line item 
                   
                 This field may be used by billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 level in order to identify 
               
               
                   
                 the right order item (an 
               
               
                   
                 order is an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 product). 
               
               
                 ActionCode 
                 Action for the Service 
                 String 
                 Action code relating to the product. 
               
               
                   
                 Element in the order. 
                   
                 Billing to validate that Action code is not 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Disconnect, 
                   
                 conflicting with SO action type. 
               
               
                   
                 Add, Update. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 StartDate 
                 The date when the 
                 String 
                 Recurring charge pro-rating is calculated 
               
               
                   
                 product/service is started. 
                   
                 based on this date. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 EndDate 
                 Termination date for 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 product/service. 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 DueDate 
                 Date to have the product 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 provisioned 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Product/Service Duration 
                 Duration of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 subscription starting by 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 Due Date 
               
               
                 ModifyDate 
                 Date when a modification 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 to a line item has 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 occurred. 
               
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer ID linked to the 
                 String 
                 The customer identification related to the 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
                   
                 product/service. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Same as SO level billing account ID. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 BillingAccountCode 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 This ID may be different from the billing 
               
               
                   
                 billing account. 
                   
                 account ID at the SO level. This is the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 attribute that may be used to sell the product 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to the billing account since it is the payer. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 LineNumber 
                 It is a sequential number 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 assigned to the each line 
                   
                 system or a billing system to avoid for a 
               
               
                   
                 item (a line item is an 
                   
                 service order with all the children to process 
               
               
                   
                 instance of a product). 
                   
                 children product before their parent. 
               
               
                 CRMOrderId 
                 CRM Identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 Service Order. 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ParentOrderItemId 
                 Unique identifier for 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 parent order of the 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 hierarchy. 
               
               
                 RootOrderItemId 
                 Top order of the service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 element hierarchy. 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                 ServiceAccountDesc 
                 Name of the service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 account associated to the 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 product/service. 
               
               
                 ServiceAccountId 
                 Unique identifier of the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 service account 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 associated to the 
               
               
                   
                 product/service. 
               
               
                 ServiceId 
                 In a CRM system, a 
                 String 
                 Event Source. An event source may be: 
               
               
                   
                 generic service may be 
                   
                 the apparent CLI (Calling Line Identifier) for 
               
               
                   
                 configured that is a line 
                   
                 a telephone call. 
               
               
                   
                 service to which a line 
                   
                 the MSISDN for all the services being part of 
               
               
                   
                 number is associated as 
                   
                 a GSM subscription. 
               
               
                   
                 its “service ID” attribute 
                   
                 the login of the subscriber for all the services 
               
               
                   
                 value (event source). 
                   
                 being part of triple-play subscription. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 SOrderType 
                 Type of the service order. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Add New 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 Product, Modify, 
               
               
                   
                 Disconnect, etc. 
               
               
                 ParentProductId 
                 Unique identifier for 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 parent product of the 
               
               
                   
                 hierarchy (unique key). 
               
               
                 Bundle ID 
                 Bundle unique identifier. 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the promotion assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Offer ID 
                 Offer unique identifier. 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the offer assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 Promotion ID 
                 Promotion unique 
                 String 
                 It is the ID of the promotion assigned by CRM. 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 TopProductId 
                 Top product of the service 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 element hierarchy (unique 
               
               
                   
                 key). 
               
               
                 SalesForceID 
                 Sales force unique 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 identifier. 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ServiceType 
                 Type of the service. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                 ActivationFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 if the product instance 
                   
                 system and may be set to ‘Y’. 
               
               
                   
                 should be sent to the 
               
               
                   
                 provisioning system. 
               
               
                 BillingFlg 
                 Flag used to discriminate 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 if the product instance 
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                   
                 should be sent to the 
               
               
                   
                 billing system. 
               
               
                 IntegrationId 
                 For an asset, the 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key 
                   
                 system or a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 used by a billing system to 
               
               
                   
                 identify an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 service that is already 
               
               
                   
                 active. 
               
               
                   
                 For and order item, the 
               
               
                   
                 integration ID is a key to 
               
               
                   
                 identify an instance of a 
               
               
                   
                 service for an account. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Asset/order status. 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for asset are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 active 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inactive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Possible values for order are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pending 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 open 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 installed/failed/partially completed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 complete 
               
               
                 Price List ID 
                 Contains the CRM Price 
                 String 
                 This attribute may be used by a billing system. 
               
               
                   
                 List ID. 
               
               
                   
                 It is used by both 
               
               
                   
                 ServiceOrderProvisioning 
               
               
                   
                 and AssetComponent BE. 
               
               
                 Charge 
                 Consequence of the price 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 list ID as default; may be 
               
               
                   
                 overridden. 
               
               
                 PrimaryUserContact 
                 UserContact entities. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0089]    The product/service attribute entity  232  is a business entity related to the product/service offering entity  228 . The product/service attribute entity  232  contains additional parameters defining the product/service offering entity  228 , which may be used to implement special business logics. The product/service attribute entity  232  may also have other information about the way a product is priced or configured. Table 18 below defines the attributes for a product/service attribute entity  232 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 18 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 ActionCode 
                 Action for the attribute in 
                 String 
                 May be “Add”, “Delete” or “Modify”. This attribute tells 
               
               
                   
                 the order. 
                   
                 the back-end system what action to perform on the 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Disconnect, 
                   
                 attribute. 
               
               
                   
                 Add, Update. 
               
               
                 ParentId 
                 ID of the parent entity. 
                 String 
                 For asset component, the ParentID may be the Asset 
               
               
                   
                 Unique identifier of the 
                   
                 ID. For SO provisioning, the ParentID may be the 
               
               
                   
                 product instance in a CRM 
                   
                 Object ID. 
               
               
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                 Name 
                 ID of the attribute 
                 String 
                 ListofValue. 
               
               
                   
                 Includes: Tariff and 
                   
                 ListofValue depends on the product catalogue that may 
               
               
                   
                 Product. 
                   
                 be defined according to the product catalogue. 
               
               
                 Value 
                 Value of the attribute. 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 (depends on the attribute). 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0090]    A price list entity  226  together with a product identifier defines the price of the sellable one or many products and services eventually bundled. The attributes for a price list entity  226  are shown below in Table 19. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 19 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Price List ID 
                 Unique Identifier (ID) of the 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 product pricing model 
               
               
                 Currency Code 
                 Id of the currency used for the 
                 Integer 
               
               
                   
                 Price List 
               
               
                 Name 
                 Name of the price list 
                 String 
               
               
                 Start Date 
                 Price list start date validity 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                 End Date 
                 Expiration date for the price list. 
                 DateTime 
               
               
                 Organization ID 
                 Organization that can use the 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 price list 
               
               
                 Payment Method 
                 Details of payment method 
                 String 
               
               
                 Charge Type 
                 Recurring, Initiation, Termination, 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 Suspension, 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0091]    An order aggregation entity  238  groups the information related to products, services, offers and promotions a customer may purchase. The order aggregation entity  238  may also collect general information about the order. General information may include customer information, billing account information, the order type, or other information. An order aggregation entity  238  may include the aggregation of order item entities  242  to represent all the products purchased by a customer and their configured attributes. Table 20 below illustrates the attributes of an order aggregation entity  238 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 20 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer foreign key to 
                 String 
                 The customer code may be unique for all systems. The 
               
               
                   
                 the service order. 
                   
                 customer code may be 10 digits: the first digit from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Organization Code, and the last two digits are 00 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the other are generated in sequence, e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 1XXXXXXX00. 
               
               
                 BillingAccountCode 
                 Billing account foreign 
                 String 
                 An account code may be unique for all systems and is 
               
               
                   
                 key to the service order. 
                   
                 linked to Customer Code. In one implementation, it is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 10 digits: the first 8 digit are equal to customer code 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 digits, while the last two digits vary from 01 to 99 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 1XXXXXXXnn. 
               
               
                 OrderDate 
                 Date of the order. 
                 String 
                 Date when the order is submitted. 
               
               
                 OrderId 
                 Unique identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier for the order. 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
               
               
                 OrderPriority 
                 Priority of the service 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 order. 
               
               
                 OldOrderId 
                 Old order ID. 
                 String 
                 Old Order ID for SI transfer 
               
               
                 OrganizationCode 
                   
                 String 
                 OrganizationCode identifies the Organization to which 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the Customer belongs. Together with the Customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Code it gives a unique key to identify the customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 account, and together with the Account Code it gives a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 unique key to identify the billing account. 
               
               
                 SOStatus 
                 Status of the service 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 order. 
               
               
                 ActionType 
                 Order type code. 
                 String 
                 SO type (New, Modify, Disconnect). 
               
               
                 SalesForceID 
                 Sales force unique 
                 String 
                 N/A. 
               
               
                   
                 Identifier. 
               
               
                 OrderSubType 
                 “Transfer” order type. 
                 String 
                 An order type to identity the order is for SI transfer. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0092]    With the data model  102 , an asset entity  240  represents an instantiation of the product subscribed by a customer. Similarly, an attribute instance entity  244  represents an instantiation of the product/service attribute entity  232  associated with the asset entity  240  subscribed by the customer. The attribute instance entity  244  has attributes similar to the attributes of a product/service attribute entity  232 , and the asset entity  240  has attributes similar to the attributes of a product/service offering entity  228 . The asset entity  240  may further be an asset entity that represents the available products, the installed services, and active discounts and offers purchased with an order by the customer. 
         [0093]    An order item entity  242  models the bundles, offers, products, services, discounts and the promotions selected by a customer in an order. An order item entity  242  may also contain technical service parameters needed to fulfill the order from a provisioning point of view. These parameters may provide the customer with the availability of the desired configured services. In one implementation, an order item entity  242  has similar attributes as a product/service offering entity  228   
         [0094]    An event source entity  246  represents the guiding parameter for the service usage identification in the network. The event source entity  246  provides information as to the services for which the customers pay based on the usage. In one implementation, an event source entity  246  uses a subset of the attributes of the order item entity  242 , which may also be similar to the attributes of an asset entity  240 . From a physical data model point of view, the data model  102  may reuse the structure of the order item entity  242  for the event source entity  246 . 
         [0095]    A service order response entity  248  is an acknowledgment sent from a provisioning enterprise application to a customer relation management enterprise application to notify that an order has been fulfilled. Table 21 shows the attributes for a service order response entity  248 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 21 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 OrderId 
                 Unique Identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier for the order. 
               
               
                   
                 service order. 
               
               
                 ActivationDate 
                 Activation date. 
                 String 
                 Timestamp for the service activation. This may be 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 populated by a provisioning system. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Service order status. 
                 String 
                 Provides information about the result of a service order 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 activation request. 
               
               
                 BackOfficeErrorText 
                 Error text. 
                 String 
                 Additional text for custom messages for a customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 relation management application.. 
               
               
                 CustomerCode 
                 Customer identification. 
                 String 
                 The customer code may be unique for all systems. The 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 customer code may be 10 digits: the first digit from the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Organization Code, and the last two digits are 00 and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the other are generated in sequence, e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 1XXXXXXX00. 
               
               
                 SerialNumber 
                 Identifier of the item. 
                 String 
                 May be used where there is a service order provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 response at the item level and it contains the identifier of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the provisioned item. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Where there is a service order at the order level, this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 attribute is not used. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0096]    An order item response entity  250  encodes a notification for a customer relation management system  106  that an order item has been provisioned or activated. For example, the order item response entity  250  may notify the customer relation management system  106  that an ASDL service has been activated for a customer and that the customer may use the ASDL service. Table 22 shows the attributes for the order item response entity  250 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 22 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Attribute Name 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
                 Additional Information 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 OrderItemID 
                 Unique Identifier for the 
                 String 
                 Unique identifier for the order. 
               
               
                   
                 ordered item. 
               
               
                 ActivationDate 
                 Activation date. 
                 String 
                 Timestamp for the date of provisioning or activating the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 order item. This may be populated by a provisioning 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 system. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 Service order status. 
                 String 
                 Provides information about the result of provisioning or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 activating an order item. 
               
               
                 ErrorText 
                 Error text. 
                 String 
                 Additional text for custom messages for a customer 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 relation management application.. 
               
               
                 SerialNumber 
                 Identifier of the item. 
                 String 
                 Provides the serial number of the provisioned order 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 item. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0097]    There may also be exceptions in the data model  102 . Table 23 lists possible exceptions that may occur when using the data model  102 . Other exceptions are also possible. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 23 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Field 
                 Short Description 
                 Type 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 ErroreventId 
                 Unique ID identifying the event. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 CustomerId 
                 Customer ID of the subscriber. 
                 String 
               
               
                 NumberOfErrors 
                 This is the number of errors which are correlated with 
                 Number 
               
               
                   
                 the same BusinessEventInstanceID. 
               
               
                 FlagError 
                 If true, the record represents an error otherwise there 
                 Number 
               
               
                   
                 is not an error. 
               
               
                 FlagSolved 
                 Indicates if the error has been solved. (Currently this 
                 Number 
               
               
                   
                 flag is always set to 0). 
               
               
                 TargetSystemId 
                 Target System which generates the error. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 BusinessEventSd 
                 Business Event which generates the error. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 BusinessEventInstanceId 
                 Unique identifier identifying the message. 
                 String 
               
               
                 OrchestrationId 
                 Instance ID of the orchestration that generated the 
                 String 
               
               
                   
                 exception. 
               
               
                 MessageId 
                 Message ID. 
                 String 
               
               
                 DataXml 
                 XML message failed. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorTargetSystemCode 
                 Original Error Code thrown by the target system. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorTargetSystemDesc 
                 Original Error Description. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorSysCode 
                 System Error Code. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorSysDesc 
                 System Error Description. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorArchCode 
                 Architectural Error Code. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorArchDesc 
                 Architectural Error Description. 
                 String 
               
               
                 ErrorStack 
                 Stack Frame of the error occurred. 
                 String 
               
               
                 Severity 
                 Error severity. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 ErrorTime 
                 Date time of the error. 
                 Date 
               
               
                 NumberOfEntries 
                 Number of times that the message has been resent. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 IsResent 
                 Indicates if the message is being resent or not. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 IsResendable 
                 Indicates if it is resendable or not. 
                 Number 
               
               
                 InsertTime 
                 Date time of the insert. 
                 Date 
               
               
                 LastUpdateTime 
                 Date time of the last update. 
                 Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0098]      FIG. 3  shows a residential hierarchy  300  and a business customer hierarchy  302  derived from the data model  102 . The residential hierarchy  300  includes a customer account  304  with a corresponding billing account  306 . In contrast, the business hierarchy  302  illustrates that a business customer account  308  may have a corresponding a billing account  310 , and multiple customer accounts  312 - 314 , each having their own billing account  316 - 318 . In one implementation of the data model  102 , a customer may be an individual or a company who purchases products and services while billing accounts are entities invoiced by the billing system. A customer may correspond to a single billing account or the customer may spread purchases into several billing accounts, such that each billing account differs from each other according to their specific information such as payment data, credit classes, the account contact and address, or other information. The customer and billing account hierarchy defined by the data model  102  allows a telecommunication service provider to manage complex customer structures and invoicing requirements. 
         [0099]      FIG. 4  shows a subscription hierarchy  400  traced in the entity relationship diagram  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . The subscription hierarchy  400  begins with a customer  402 , which corresponds to a customer entity  202 . The customer  402  may include one or more billing accounts  404 . The billing accounts  404  of the subscription hierarchy  400  correspond to the billing account entity  204  of the data model  102 . The billing accounts  404  may include one or more main products and/or services  406 , and one or more component services  412  and component products  418 . The billing accounts  404  may also have included discounts  422 . The main products and/or services  406 , the component services  412 , and component products  418 , may be further defined by one or more attributes  408 / 414 / 420 / 424 . The main product and/or service  406  may include an event source identifier  410 , which corresponds to an event source entity  246  of the data model  102 . Similarly, the component services  412  may also include an event source identifier  416 . Other hierarchies are also possible using the data model  102 . 
         [0100]      FIG. 5  shows a hierarchical representation of the subscription  500  shown in  FIG. 4 . Using the data model  102 , a complex market offering may be easily modeled through a hierarchy of components  502 - 510 , where each of the components  502 - 510  are identified by a specific set of attributes  512 - 520  and tariff  522 - 530  details. The products and services hierarchy helps a telecommunication service provider to manage complex product structures, bundles, price lists and discounts within a unique standard framework. 
         [0101]      FIG. 6  shows a customer care hierarchy  600  mapped from an implementation specific customer care system to a customer relationship hierarchy consistent with the data model  102 . Each of the entities  602 - 624  of a customer care relation system may be mapped to one or more entities  626 - 648  of the data model  102 . For example, a customer account  602  of the customer care relation system may be mapped to a customer entity  626  of the data model  102 . Sub-entities, such as asset components  612 / 618 / 622  may be similarly mapped to entities  636 / 642 / 646  of the data model  102 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the mapping may be on a one-to-one basis. However, alternative mappings are also possible. 
         [0102]    The data model  102  also allows the flexibility for integrating multiple different types of enterprise applications. For example, the data model  102  allows for the integration of multiple different types of billing systems.  FIG. 7  shows a billing hierarchy  700  built on the data model  102  mapped to a multi-purpose billing hierarchy  702  that need not adhere to the data model  102 .  FIG. 8  shows a billing hierarchy  800  built on the data model  102  mapped to an implementation specific billing hierarchy for a first specific billing support system  802 .  FIG. 9  shows a billing hierarchy  700  mapped to an implementation specific billing hierarchy for a second specific billing support system  900 .  FIG. 10  shows the billing hierarchy  700  mapped to an implementation specific billing hierarchy for a third specific billing support system  1000 . As may be seen from  FIGS. 7-10 , the data model  102  is flexible to integrate additional billing systems that may or may not share the same billing structure. Accordingly, the data model  102  is universally applicable to a wide range of enterprise applications. 
         [0103]      FIG. 11  shows a flow diagram  1100  for configuring a telecommunication service provider architecture in which multiple support systems interoperate to provide telecommunication products and services to customers. Initially, the telecommunication service provider establishes an enterprise service bus  104  for routing telecommunication product and service messages ( 1102 ). The telecommunication service provider may then establish connectors  112 - 116  through which the multiple support systems  106 - 110  connect to the enterprise service bus  104  ( 1104 ). The telecommunication service provider then implements the data model  102  previously described ( 1108 ), including the entities  202 - 224  of the customer and billing account layer  252 , the entities  226 - 236  of the product/service catalog layer  254 , and the entities  238 - 250  of the order and asset layer  256 . Enterprise applications may then be connected to the enterprise service bus  104 , where one or more entities from the enterprise applications are translated from a proprietary format to the data model format ( 1108 ). The entities encoded in to the data model format are then passed between the enterprise applications ( 1110 ). Finally, entities encoded in the data model format are then translated into the proprietary format of the receiving/subscribing enterprise application. ( 1112 ). 
         [0104]    As previously discussed, the data model  102  is derived from intensive research and is consistent with industry standards. The data model  102  helps to “future-proof” telecommunication service provider architecture and is not anchored to the specific technology or a specific software package. The adoption of the data model  102  by different enterprise applications facilitates an easy and streamlined integration of different software components into an overall architecture allowing application package independence. 
         [0105]    The data model  102  helps a telecommunication service provider achieve the following technical benefits: 
         [0106]    Reduced Investment Risk: Although a telecommunication service provider may have its own requirements there are basic capabilities that are common across telecommunication service providers. The reusability of experiences in a form of already defined business entities and data modeling decision reduce the probability of downfall projects and decrease the overall risk negative returns on investments. 
         [0107]    Speed Up Time to Market: The data model  102  leads to quicker project completion and a faster time-to-benefit as already taken and proven design decisions drastically reduce the implementation time effort. 
         [0108]    Know How and Quality: The data model  102  represents the culmination of almost 300 man-years of experience in service oriented architecture packaged into a pre-defined shared and reusable data model relationship representation that may be applied to support core processes of any telecommunications service provider. The data model  102  has a unique technological realization as a universally applicable data model for telecommunications service providers. Furthermore, the data model  102  is agnostic of any underlying technology that a telecommunication service provider may select. 
         [0109]    While various embodiments of the innovation have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the innovation. Accordingly, the innovation is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.