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The Information Retrieval System obtains information from the Client’s Supplier(s) (Service Information). This Service Information (eg. usage data such as Call Detail Records or RADIUS accounting records / data usage) is retrieved, verified and stored by Emersion for use by Emersions Systems and the Client’s billing, accounting, or other systems that require the retrieval of the Service Information. This Service information can then be presented in a standard format (where possible) using the Emersion IRS Module web services Application Programming Interface (API). The System Module also interfaces to other Emersion Systems for Customer Management, provisioning, billing and other services.
Retrieved Service Information can be made available to the Emersion Billing Sub-System for re-rating, and charges may be applied according to the Plan and Rate parameters defined. For further information, see the Billing Sub-System Module.
Service Information Records (SIRs) are generated in the same interval as they are retrieved from the Suppliers system (i.e. daily for most Suppliers).
Service Information is retrieved from the Clients Supplier(s) using the Supplier specific interfaces as specified in the associated Service Schedules at regular intervals, dependant on the Supplier’s Systems (usually daily). The Information Retrieval System interacts with the Supplier’s Systems to connect, retrieve and monitor the retrieval of Services Information without manual intervention, as far as possible. Transmission errors are detected and rectified automatically or quarantined for manual intervention. Unrecoverable errors that cannot be rectified are reported for further investigation.
The retrieved Service Information is stored in a generic, service independent, data structure, which can be retrieved using the Emersion IRS Service Module API provided as part of the IRS.
Service Information from Suppliers is processed on a regular basis (usually daily). Verification is performed on the Service Information retrieved to ensure the Service Information is complete and corruption free. Sequence checking is performed to detect any missing files or sequence errors, where possible. If the Client is using IRS as a standalone Emersion Service (for transformation of Service Information to a standard Emersion format) with no Service Information re-rating, through the Emersion Billing Sub-System, then verification of the Service Information can not be performed.
The Information Retrieval System has no Client accessible User Interface at this time only an API. The IRS UI will be developed at a later time to allow the Client to activate new Supplier Specific Interfaces which will form part of the Online Ordering Portal.
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