Along with rapid development of broadband service and digital TV service as well as constantly boosting process of convergence of three-network, it has been trend that cable TV network will be developed into full-digital service network from simulation TV network; over the past several years’ quick development and effective infranet reconstruction, Broadcast & TV Network Co., Ltd is highlights the mode “Operation + Management” from “Construction”. Along with deeply developing two-way reconstruction of cable TV network, HFC network scale is being increasingly rapidly enlarged; development of various value-added services means higher reliability, management and maintenance available for HFC network. As new-rising operator of broadband network, restricted by economic strength, scale effect as well as marketing capacity, Broadcast & TV Network Co., Ltd is facing huge pressure from telecom operator as well as consumer hesitation and criticalness in broadcast and TV network broadband. How to raise customer satisfaction as well as offer a high-quality service network to consumer? How to in time and effectively help customer to resolve network problems? Consequently further develop broadcast & TV network cable broadband user, drive to raise ARPU value and increase gross service income; it has been the key for broadcast & TV network to boost self-development.      

Besides, it is also urgent task for Broadcast & TV Network Co., Ltd to establish a “BOSS” with scientific construction, advance, high efficiency and automation, which is an integrated service operating and support system, supporting multi-service and embodying the customer-centered, market-oriented and benefit as target; simplify and optimize service management processes, implement united acceptance and processing, flexible billing, the integrated marketing and effective control of multi-service; offer “One-stop”, “One-counter” and “ One-bill” service to user; apply network resources furthest, raise network operating quality and efficiency; offer more service contents and much higher service quality to user, and raise self service management level.

Major Functions

Characteristics of broadcast & TV network cable broadband HFC network operation are similar with traditional telecom operation, like telecom operating eTOM model, security and reliability of operating network as well as manageable criterion and requirements; at the same time, consideration is necessarily given to specific conditions and service attribute of HFC network itself in architecture, network components as well as service characteristics; based on it, organize and build service operating and support system. Aiming at application demand in broadcast & TV industries, Wafer company launched integrated Wafer Cable OSS service support system with major functions as follows:

• Based on center of customer, offer united service support platform: Based on the platform, offer overall, multi-service and multi-layer management interface; offer integrated user and service management interface to different department and application unit in operation and maintenance link, like service hall, agent, customer center as well as operation and maintenance department;  
• Offer centralized billing, and set up flexible and various billing policies available: Support marketing policy, like monthly, yearly, by time length and preferential treatment; it can be convenient and quick to offer various statistics reports, and in time and exactly offer marketing information;  
• Offer workflow driving mechanism, and support system flexibility combination: BOSS system involves all departments with various service flow and constantly perfecting process; hence, it is the key for operation and manageable cable network, like how to flexibly organize system service acceptance and processing and open, service analysis and optimization, performance monitoring and alarm, network fault alarm and processing, which all refer to subsystem, implement timely and effective work order flow. In addition, system should show flexibility combination to support workflow driving as well as good interface definition between subsystems.      
• Consider CABLE network characteristics, and apply DOCSIS protocol capacity; without need to add BAS device, implement user access control; through CABLE Modem, user identification can be done, as well as user service association, open, diagnosis and elimination; in addition, require to support multi-supplier CMTS and Cable Modem;   
• Modularization design, support multi-step implementation of project, stably transit operation and maintenance task, and ensure normal development of existing task; 
• Offer potential STB management mode, at the same time, offer management means for new STB access, as well as offer powerful background support for new service application and development;  
• Follow interoperability and expandability, and offer seamless interface with the third party’s OSS.

Typical Application

Refer to eTOM model operated by telecom, solution of Wafer CableOSS to broadcast and TV from above to down involves customer layer, service layer and resource layer respectively; customer layer highlights customer, which shows implementation of service acceptance & processing and customer service, and also support of user self-service; service layer requires workflow engine giving flexibility combination to all service subsystems, including service acceptance & processing and open, service analysis and optimization, performance monitoring and alarm, network fault report and processing, implementation of timely and effective work order flow; require adaptation to service and management change and development; resource layer, as southbound interface of system, accepts all subsystem directive; apply DOCSIS standard protocol as well as SNMP mode to manage and monitor device in network element layer.         

Wafer CableOSS, as integrated and independent comprehensive customer service support system , not only allocates modules, like service acceptance and processing, work order flow, billing accounting, call center inquiry and diagnosis, which can support the following major functions: product management, making billing policy, business acceptance, open implementation, stop, recovery, network cancellation, transfer of network, service alteration, customer data modification, payment, management of invoices and hosting collection; installation company/exterior line construction and management, installation completion receipt as well as billing beginning; billing, arrear payment reminder, anti-write-off, manual reconciliation, arrears stop, packet settlement; electronic work-order management, drawing bill, bill cancellation, receipt as well as open confirmation; customer management, user information inquiry, work order inquiry, region service consultation, inquiry of preferential billing packet, accounting inquiry as well as return-visit to customer.

Wafer CableOSS can be also customized as Cable Modem management system (CMMS) as well as operating and maintenance system, seamlessly linked with existing OSS system of broadcast & TV customer. CMMS, applying bypass access mode, implements user access control and service policy, which can record trace user CPE online and offline processes, implement cable broadband network user service open and access, equipment performance management, network fault monitoring as well as records and trace of user online and offline; offer flexible management rights grouping function; in addition, offer different maintenance interface to data center, customer service center, exterior line personnel and maintenance agency; in addition, system also offers rich report functions, which can in time grasp reports concerning service data and network device parameters.      

Through linking with interface of CMMS system, BOSS system can not only implement user open and stop of CM broadband, at the same time, also support user open and stop of interactive TV and interactive and compound broadband service. In addition, CMMS system can implement authorization of data broadband CM user use right, and support stop of single service exactly in cut-off day. For interactive TV CM user, it only opens or closes; stop of composite service is decided by cut-off time controlled by BOSS system; after checking due order in background, BOSS can send pause interface to CMMS.