BILLING WITH TAXXI

THE "PUBLIC BILLING" PROJECT DEVELOPED BY “Niklaus Ltd” - AND BASED ON THE CERTIFIED BILLING SYSTEM "NIKLAUS INTERBILL" - OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNICATION OPERATORS TO WORK WITH THEIR BRANCH OFFICES AND DEALER NETWORKS.

Billing systems are one of the basic components of hardware-software complexes that support telecommunication companies’ business processes. There are two important factors that will affect Billing systems development in the near future.

First - the present stage of information technology development ca be defined in one word - INTERNET. During the past 10 years, computer technology has grown from mainframes to personal computers (PC) to wireless devices connected to local and then global networks. The development of the INTERNET/INTRANET technologies has made it possible to create workplaces for remote users. Delivery of reports and accounts via E-mail is now a common function of billing systems; Web sites of communication company operators provide online access to their clients’ bankbooks and to other information. Access to many personal resources formed by the billing system has become an ordinary practice. Currently, the fully functional Billing system accessible via the INTERNET on a user level (for the company-operator’s partners or dealers) is the norm.

Second - business conditions. Large operating companies generally have excess computing capacity, which can process much larger traffic. At the same time, an increase of clients’ numbers results in increased service costs and increased accounts payables. A successful business must have the real-time information regarding services provided to clients, to change a subscriber’s status, to enter new client data, to send phone bills to clients, to monitor payments, etc. All these functions are not always possible with the current technology.

The growth of client base results in increased service expenses, account receivables, etc. For accounting billing to be effective, it is necessary to receive operational information regarding services to their own clients, to change subscriber status, to enter the new client data, to examine the accounts, to supervise the payments, etc. In other words, the account billing company needs a full-scale billing system, expensive to purchase and operate. The cost can be from several hundred thousand to several million dollars. Obviously this is only acceptable for large telecommunication companies and large communication operators. Small firms most often work with cheap systems, which are typically inadequate and do can not pass the proper certification. At best these systems can process the past month data, that’s all.

Developed by “Niklaus Ltd” and implemented by “INCOM-SVIAZ,” the project is named “PUBLIC BILLING”. Its purpose is to develop and move partnership networks to new capabilities and functions in remote-user billing systems.

So, PUBLIC BILLING is a system that provides unique computing capabilities to many operators of different sizes: operators can work with remote applications using the central database. The partner-company simply installs an ultra-thin client – and it’s capable of working with the certified "Niklaus InterBill" system on the remote computer. The amount of data transmitted through the network is so insignificant that the user will not realize that the application is not local and sits on a remote server.

This is how the partner-company acquires a fully functional billing system, without the usual prohibitive purchase and service costs. The operator-company works with the wholesale buyer of telecommunication services, shifting some costs of client base maintenance to the wholesaler.

“PUBLIC BILLING” Project Technology.

The project is based on three-tier architecture: client - application server - database server (Fig. 1). Use of this architecture together with the “BEAST-TAXXI” technology (also known as BEAST and created by Epsylon Technologies, Inc.) solves the problems of administration and software updates on remote workplaces, minimises development expenses, lowers the bandwidth requirements and – makes it an INTERNET project. Let's consider each part of the project in detail.

Database.

The basis of the PUBLIC BILLING project is the database of the certified Billing system "Niklaus Inter-Bill". The additional field identifying client’s firm is entered in all main tables. Users access only their company (provider) data effectively organised by lists of subscribers, tariff plans, connection, etc. The virtual ÀÒX was deployed for firms which do not have their own communication equipment. It is important to note that clients’ switch-on/switch-off commands are accompanied by commands to the communication equipment to switch on and off.

Applications (server-side software).

Client subsystems, developed in accordance with classical client/server technology, were converted into “Taxxi” technology. The largest issue solved here was users’ need to receive various reports. The system is a simple and effective way to prepare new forms of the reports. The description of the report form is prepared as an RTF-file. This RTF-file has special functions built into it. The format chosen is standard; it is supported by most text editors.

The initial pattern of the report is formed with the help of a text editor (for example, Microsoft Word). Report generation is carried out from the initial pattern with the help of our specially developed software "Niklaus RTFView". This technology processes the form of the future report and fills it in with data according to an incorporated algorithm. The final report is saved in a new RTF-file. This file is then sent to the client. The client’s software downloads this file and shows it to the user. A feature of RTF-file structure provides maximum file compression during transmission.

The Client-side Software.

“Taxxi-communicator” software is used as the client. It is the so-called “ultra-thin client.” This client is first installed on all user computers and each user can then start his personal server-side application. All the server-side applications work with a common database and under Baikonur (BEAST) application server. When Taxxi Comminicator starts an application, an inquiry regarding connection to Baikonur (BEAST) server is made and connection is established. The connection processes the inquiry and starts the necessary application of server layer. In addition, Baikonur (BEAST) uses HTTP 1.1 protocol for data transfer, XML. This protocol describes the condition of the applications and sends the screen description of the application for its display on the client computer. The user interface on the client’s computer looks like a standard Windows application.

To reduce the amount of transmitted data, only the information about changes in the application is transferred. Also the data is packaged, which reduces the data value by up to 50 times. Therefore, the size of data transmitted through the network is so small that the user gets an illusion of client-side application while actually working with a remote application sitting on a server. The difference is only noticeable when the user has a super very slow modem connection – but even at speeds of around 2.4kbps the serviceability of the remote application is kept perfectly.

When the application is changed on the server, the Taxxi-client automatically updates the information on availability of the new application to the user. No other unnecessary or redundant information is sent to the user. The greatest appeal of such client workplace organisation is the opportunity to realise upgrades of client software without re-installation of the users’ applets. One can truly call it a “zero client administration”.

SUMMARY

This software provides:

• Use of a uniform hardware-program centre for data processing of several firms;
• Full-fledged fast work with server applications on remote computers;
• High system security and protection (access to data is only possible through client applets; there is an opportunity to use crypt-algorithm while transmitting the information to the client; no information about server application is transmitted to clients - just a screen “drawing” of active applications; no information about the database is sent to the client);
• Zero client administration (On client side the only installation required is the Taxxi-client with "Niklaus RTFView" program; no updates of client programs are required);
• Low client hardware requirements (just a usual computer with a modem and Windows 95/98 OS);
• Low bandwidth demands (only “drawings” of changes are transmitted; and even that data is packed for more compact size and faster delivery).

Realisation of "Public Billing" project opens New Opportunities for the telecommunication companies:

• Radical revision of technologies used for work with the dealer network or regional companies;
• More effective and profitable work of small operators through streamlining the billing;
• Development of operators’ joint billing centres, allowing them to consolidate their expenses;
• Leasing of billing centre "surplus" capacities by the large operators.

We‘d like to clarify the first advantage in detail. Existing technologies put serious limitations on the work with a dealer network because the price tag of communication centres’ billing operations is too high. Our solution lets operators more effectively involve small businesses in mutually beneficial cooperation. Small firms become the wholesale buyer of telecommunication services. The operator can offer these firms special tariffs and give them a technological tool for inexpensive and effective billing. It will allow the operator to reduce his expenses and to decrease account receivables. Operator can now concentrate on improving the quality of communication services. The outsourced billing system gives partner-company an opportunity for full-scale work with Billing system and allow to keep accounts independently, both with the clients and with service suppliers. Thus there is no need in high equipment and workplace expenses for partner-company. The only necessary components on client side are: a modem, computer with Windows 95/98 and installation of the “ultra-thin client" Taxxi-Communicator and program for RTF-files viewing. There is a good analogy with an expensive car here: Not everyone can afford to buy it but many can use it as a taxi. The operator company sells communication services through dealers network, expanding its own user network without the need to increase expenses to expand the client services.

The same applies to regional associations. High cost of billing system ownership, work on standardization, updates, maintenance, etc. result in high costs. Our product includes joint computer centre with a uniform database and users’ access to remote applications realized in Bàikonur-TAXXI technology. The uniform computing and flexible differentiation of data access for regional branches, zero administration, minimal hardware and software facilities necessary for remote workplaces, use of commutation lines (or INTERNET) with low requirements to computer’s performance and bandwidth, full operational control over regional branches’ commercial activity – all these are the significant advantages of this project for the regional associations.

Moreover, depending on the implementation of billing centres, there is an option for registered users to work remotely with high-grade certified Billing systems for other purposes. All that’s necessary for it is a personal computer with the access to the INTERNET. There is an opportunity to connect to the distant communication equipment and to process the data about its work and the traffic. There is a sufficient protection of partner-company commercial secrets and an opportunity to realize this project into an INTERNET or an INTRANET application.

Vadim Dokukin,
Niklaus Ltd

niklaus@niklaus.msk.ru