SDGW solution overview
The Sponsor Data Gateway or SDGW enables mobile network operators to promote data usage while at the same time third-party sponsors can promote their brand, goods or services. In doing so operators can realise a new revenue stream while subscribers benefit from subsidized or even free data usage.
Free access to self-care and free downloads of Apps can also be handled using sponsored data. |
The API
The solution enables business layers (e.g. Mavenir SDS) to add, activate, and deactivate sponsored data campaigns at the network layer. Additionally, the SDGW enables reporting of sponsored campaign usage (i.e., data usage on sponsored campaigns) from the network layer back to the business layer. The solution consists of a software solution provided by Tango Telecom that is integrated to the Oracle PCC layer with cooperation and assistance from Oracle.
Solution Architecture
The SDGW solution provides an API endpoint for Sponsored Data Management or other external systems to be able to offer data free-of-charge or at a subsidized rate to subscribers.
The Tango platform receives a web service request from the client platform (step 1). Then, the Tango platform performs the operations necessary for the activation and de-activation of the promotion campaigns by sending XML structured requests to a web service served running on the OCSG (step 2). In turn, the OCSG distributes the activation/de-activation requests to the PCRF’s (step 3).
User Data Management
The primary phase solution also includes specialised handling of the data usage reports provided by the Oracle OCSG. The image below outlines the architecture, highlighting the sub-component that handles usage reports, the Usage Coordination Function (UCF).
The UCF provides the basic functionality needed to deliver selected usage reports to the Mavenir SDS system over an online HTTP-based HTML/XML interface. The UCF is designed to deliver the following key business requirements:
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Integration with the external system (Mavenir SDS) over an HTLM/XML interface.
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Integration with the OCSG over the proprietary Oracle usage reporting interface.
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High-availability on the interface to the OCSG.
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Processing (decoding & reformatting) of usage reports received from the OCSG (Oracle format) into an open HTML/XML based format for consumption by Aquto.
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Transmission of HTML/XML-encoded usage reports to Aquto in online real-time mode.
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High-availability with load balancing on the interface to Aquto.
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Logging for all incoming and outgoing transactions.
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Monitoring of the health of the link to the Mavenir SDS system.
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Detection and handling of transmission failures on the Mavenir SDS interface.
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Toolset for re-processing usage reports that fail to transmit.
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Specialised support and handling for reports that fail to transmit during long-duration outages on the link to Mavenir SDS.