Resource Management Objectives

Resource Management Objectives

• Manage the life cycle of all cellular numbers: > Receiving numbers from communications authority > Allocating numbers to dealers > Activating/canceling numbers
• Manage the life cycle of all SIM cards: > Ordering SIM cards from manufacturers > Activating/deleting SIM cards

Number Management

• Objectives: > Manage number inventory by maintaining number data area > Support cellular telephone number life cycle > Timely and accurate provisioning of numbers > Provide tools and reports for efficient number management
• Challenges: > Number sorting/distribution > Swift number selection and provisioning > Avoid running out of numbers > Recycle disconnected numbers automatically > Maintain a full number history

Number Group

• A set of numbers with a name associated
• Used to partition numbers into geographical areas or distinguish between numbers for different purposes
• Each number group has a set of numbers associated with it

Number Location

• A subset of the number group
• Holds numbers for a specific dealer or group of dealers
• Numbers are allocated from the number group to the number location by the number administrator
• Dealers may share number locations
• Number location may be linked to more than one number group

Number Life Cycle

• Load/Unload: > Numbers are loaded as a range into the number data area > Validity of the numbers is checked against valid number range
• Number Assignment: > Process of assigning numbers to number locations > Can be carried out manually or automatically
• Manual Assignment: > Whether numbers will be assigned randomly or in sequential blocks > User may preview numbers to be assigned
• Automatic Assignment: > Process runs at predefined times or upon request > Method of assignment and quantity of numbers is calculated based on current NL inventory level, minimum & maximum inventory levels for NL
• Semi-Automatic Assignment: > Calculation of numbers carried out in the same way as automatic assignment > Totals presented to number administrator on-line > User may override suggested totals

Reassign Activity

• Enables user to transfer numbers from one dealer to another
• Only valid for numbers in AA status
• Transfer location activity moves numbers in all statuses from one location to another

Aging Process

• When a number is disconnected: > Number enters an Aging period > Status changes to AG (Assigned Aging)
• The Aging period is defined by in Market Policy Table > CTN aged days = 90
• During Aging period, the former subscriber may be resumed with the same number
• While Aging, numbers remain assigned to the same NL

Releasing numbers from Aging

• A daily process checks if the Aging period has expired for numbers in AG status
• Depending on system definitions, number may follow one of two paths: > Status changes to NA > Number returns to market pool > NL cleared of number > Status changes to AA > Number remains in same NL

Override Aging

• Used where numbers need to be released before aging period has terminated
• Only valid for numbers in AG status

CSM Activities

• Get Numbers: > Enables the CSM user to retrieve a list of available numbers allocated to a sales entity (Dealer - NL link) > Number status must be AA
• Reserve Subscriber: > Used to save a MSISDN without activation > Reserve period has a predefined limit (in days) > Daily process reports any numbers that have exceeded the reserve limit period > No transaction is sent to the network subsystem when reserving a subscriber
• Activate Subscriber: > Associates a MSISDN with a subscriber (subscriber table) > Status is changed to AI (Assigned - In Use)
• Change MSISDN:
• Suspend number: > May still have partial network access (hotline)
• Cancel Subscriber: > Subscriber remains attached to BAN until aging period is over

Number History

• Number management maintains a full history of all numbers: > All previous versions of number record are kept > Date stamping
• Number history only deleted when numbers are unloaded from the system