The IN-service platform provides a multi-service pre-payment system. It allows a single system to handle telephone, dispatch, SMS, data and calling card services.

The telephone system is managed in real time; the rest are managed by means of CDRs in a near-to-real-time modality, allowing management of subscribers, card and/or virtual PINs. 

The Calling Card system is supported by the telephone system, allowing provisioning of services managed by means of CDRs. A threshold can be established for each account managed by means of CDRs in such a way that whenever the balance of an account is less than the threshold, the service for the account is automatically disabled.

Increases of account balances are made by means of charging transactions using cards and/or PINs.  Calling cards, virtual PINs, and PINs on demand are used in the process. Cards and PINs have a fixed price. PINs on demand may vary in price, depending on the amount the user wants to charge.

IN-Service Engine

In-Service Engine is the call processing core that uses telephone signals based on SS7. It includes its own SS7 protocol stack, such as MTP (level 1, 2, and 3) and ISUP. It can support protocol variations in accordance with ANSI and ETSI standards.

This core handles all signal processing coming from the network or from related links, allowing the rest of the IN-service platform to act on the messages received on a one-by-one basis. 

The core is also responsible for sending messages to the network or to related links to perform operations in other network elements related to the SS7 protocol when it comes to functions of the pre-payment platform.

IN-Service Rating
Pre-paid card module 

The pre-paid card management module allows making calls very easily (t < 3 seconds).

The user help menus can be managed from the platform by means of an *number. Help is an option in every menu the user may access when calling the IVR.

The pre-paid card management module allows checking the balance of the calling card at any moment. Additionally, it allows performing transfer transactions from one card to another.

The module also allows managing local, national, international, and cell phone calls. The module manages a “restricted number” function. Each card is assigned a numbering plan that indicates valid and invalid number ranges for making calls.

The module allows warning calls and reminders of balance decrease.

Pre-paid transfer telephone module

The functionality of the pre-paid telephone module allows connecting a call quickly (t < 3 seconds). The platform is capable of managing local, national, international, and cell phone calls.

The Safe Account service is used by companies who will only accept charges for calls made during the business day, within a pre-payment program.

This platform also supports the Friends & Family plans, with products that offer special tariffs when calling frequent numbers.

This platform also supports management of bonus time from use or recharge. It may be done based on the date of the recharge. Calls to emergency numbers may also be managed free of charge.

The platform allows association of tariffs by type of traffic. This is done by means of tariff plans for each type of service. Each account has a plan corresponding to each type of service and each card has a plan for each type of service. Each account has a predetermined tariff plan, be it an account or a card plan.

In the case of low balance blocking it allows configuring the minimum balance that will provide the service. If the subscriber reaches this minimum balance, the platform will trigger a signal to the external interface to disable the service. This is defined within the subscriber’s account profile.

The platform allows managing call barriers, warning the subscriber to keep from calling certain numbers and series. There is a single module that manages, eliminates, and prepares lists.

Collection transactions from voice mail messages heard are supported by the platform, and whether they are free of charge or not may be configured. Previous warning calls  (audio warnings, text warnings and/or tones) are supported by the platform together with balance decrease warnings.

The platform provides a communication interface with the pre-payment database server and the STC database for the enabling and disabling of units. Automatic enabling and disabling are also possible.

Pre-payment Dispatch Module

The Pre-payment Dispatch Module allows managing multiple tariffs. It also supports private calls among users of the same fleet, calls to a given group, alert calls among users of the same fleet, and private calls among users of a different fleet.

Different tariff plans for dispatch are possible, defining tariffs by type of traffic: private, alert, talkgroup, private crossfleet and alert crossfleet.

An interface between the pre-payment database server and the TDAP equipment allows online billing of the service, as well as enabling and disabling. Limitations at the central do not allow traffic information to be available immediately.

Pre-payment SMS Module

Tariff plans are managed by the SMS pre-payment module. It also manages multiple tariffs.

Operator messaging services are supported by this module. The platform is capable of identifying and applying different tariffs to messages generated by the operator.

The platform is also capable of identifying and applying different tariffs to messages sent via Internet, but not of generating messages from the Internet.

The platform may also identify and apply different tariffs to messages generated at the pre-payment unit for MO type messages. The interface comes with the database server and the SMS equipment for online billing of the service, as well as for enabling and disabling.

WAP Module

The WAP Module allows managing multiple tariff plans as well as managing tariffs that depend on user time and/or volume of information.

To calculate online billing by user time and/or amount of data transferred, the volume of the information is considered. This information is obtained from the traffic files the IN-service platform collects.

The functionality of an interface between the pre-payment database server and the BA (billing accumulator) equipment and the AAA equipment for online billing of the service is included.

Data Module

The Data Module supports management of tariff plans. It also supports management of tariffs that depend on user time and/or volume of information.

The module facilitates online billing calculation by user time and/or data transferred. The information is obtained from the traffic files the IN-service platform collects.

The module includes the interface between the pre-payment database server and the BA (billing accumulator) and the AAA equipment for online billing of the service.

GUI: Graphic Interface for User Support

Management of the graphic interface of the platform is based the WEB model. The platform includes a tool to create and manage PINs. PINs may be generated by lot or denomination. The tools included may be customized and defined for service management. A tool is provided to manage and generate detailed reports of calls.

The platform supports blocking of PINs (enabling, disabling, or suspension), in a safe transaction. Provisioning and management of pre-payment units, as well as blocking of units (enabling, disabling, or suspension) is supported. The platform is capable of managing life span and status of units.

The platform includes a tool to manage plans and tariffs. It permits creating flexible plans that allow accurate charging for different types of calls. A flexible definition of tariffs, schedules, and special periods is possible, as well as of leisure periods and rounding of minutes.

Configuration of tariffs for different countries, areas, as well as national and international regions is also possible. The platform provides support for traffic detailed by service (telephone, dispatch, short messages, data).

The platform allows configuring white and black list services. Transactions to adjust balances are possible. These count on the audit logs and safety levels required.

The IN-Service platform provides the following reports:

Detail of consumption level, by unit and service
List of active units
List of calling cards in use
List of card recharges
List of issued cards
Summary of daily and monthly consumption
List of accounts with overdue balance
System utilization statistics
List of users in the system
List of tariffs and plans
IVR

A flexible and configurable IVR component is included as part of the platform. It allows flexibility for changes and message configuration, for changes based on price plans, for changes based on service plans, and for changes in the national numbering system.

Additional features

The IN-Service platform follows ANSI (American) and ETSI (European) standards to fully comply with local regulation.

The platform contains a specialized component responsible for safety management (users, tariffs, user assistance, reports, and fraud). A test environment for the development of new services is included in this platform.

IN-Service allows the generation of CDRs and rating. Management & monitoring tools, as well as alarms, are additional tools included in the platform.

Documentation includes:

Migration plan
Training plan
Diagram of the pre-payment blocking system
Software and hardware guarantee

Hardware components included in the IN-Service platform

OEM type hardware components that come with the platform include:

2 stacks of software, each of which supports an SS7 link
2 PCI cards, each having support for 4 E1 ports
2 PCI cards, with digital signaling processors (DSP) of a capacity of 60 simultaneous voice channels and 2 E1 ports for each card.