How usage charge rules are processed

When applying usage charges Smile undergoes a process of identification and classification.
  1. Smile identifies the subscription's plan—Usage data is generated each time a customer uses a subscription. Usage data contains the information Smile needs to rate each subscription's usage. Smile imports usage data from several sources, for example, from RADIUS or NetFlow servers, and activity statements (CDRs) from upstream providers.
  2. Smile determines the CDRs destination—Smile uses the metadata recorded along with the CDR to determine the destination. Smile comes with a default set of rules that it applies for voice and data destination resolution. You will be using Smile’s default resolution rules unless your business has additional rules in place. For more information, see Charge types and units.
  3. Smile splits the usage records into their components—Smile splits the usage records into their component charge type. Charge types specify separate, identifiable elements of charges that are used in the rating of services provided to customers. For example, charge types include mobile and national flagfall and timed charges; data transmitted and received; and time online. Each charge type specifies the unit or multiple units at which it is charged, for example duration time of a call or internet session; or volume of data uploaded or downloaded.
  4. Smile processes the individual components using the plan's usage charge rules—Smile processes the individual components using the plan's list of usage charge rules, working in descending order. When Smile has exhausted a rule or the usage does not apply it moves onto the next rule, continuing until all records have been processed through a rule. If Smile cannot process a record through a rule it generates an error.

    The output of the plan rules may be a set of invoice line items that are collected together for invoicing.