Balances

This section provides an in-depth explanation of Balance services, which play a crucial role in the system’s functionality. Balance services enable the tracking, management, and application of balances related to specific types of usage or resources.

Balances are used to monitor and control the consumption of various resources or services within the system. They can be categorized into different types based on the nature of the balance, such as Free Units, Money, or Recurrent Balances.

One type of balance is Free Units, which represents a quantity or allowance of a particular resource or service. For example, it can be used to track the number of minutes, messages, or data usage available to a customer. These free units can be configured to have a validity period, specifying how long they remain valid from the first usage. Additionally, the system allows for the configuration of balance application validity, determining the duration for which the balance is applicable after being consumed (e.g., 1 hour, end of the day, 2 days, end of the week, end of the billing cycle, etc.).

To ensure effective management of free units, the system supports the configuration of thresholds and notifications. Up to three independent notifications can be set to trigger when specific thresholds are reached (e.g., 0%, 80%, 100%). These notifications can serve as reminders to customers about their remaining balance and encourage them to manage their usage accordingly.

Furthermore, the system provides the flexibility to configure whether the usage of a certain type is rejected when the balance is exhausted. This feature allows service providers to enforce usage limitations and prevent customers from exceeding their allocated resources.

Another type of balance is Money, which is primarily used to monitor the expenditure or cost associated with a specific type of usage. For example, it can track the monetary value of calls made to off-net destinations. Similar to Free Units, Money balances can be configured with a validity period and balance application validity.

The system also enables the configuration of thresholds and notifications for Money balances. Customers can receive notifications when their spending reaches specific thresholds, helping them monitor their usage and expenses.

Recurrent Balances are another type of balance that is associated with free units or monetary values. They are designed for tracking and managing recurring allowances or charges. For example, a recurrent balance can be used to monitor monthly data allowances or subscription fees.

Configurable options for recurrent balances include defining the validity period, determining whether unconsumed units or amounts can be rolled over to the next period, and specifying the priority of rolled-over units' consumption. This allows service providers to offer flexible usage options and accommodate varying customer needs.