"LLMs for Python Engineers: Advanced Data Analysis and Semantic Kernel",Oleks...
Gb929 telecom applications_framework_r4-0_v4-1
1. TM Forum 2010
Application Framework
(TAM) Map
The BSS/OSS Systems Landscape
Release 4.0
GB929
Version 4.1
June, 2010
2. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 2 of 283
Notice
No recipient of this document shall in any way interpret this document as representing a position
or agreement of TM Forum or its members. This document is a draft working document of TM
Forum and is provided solely for comments and evaluation. It is not a Forum Approved
Document and is solely circulated for the purposes of assisting TM Forum in the preparation of
a final document in furtherance of the aims and mission of TM Forum.
Although it is a copyrighted document of TM Forum:
• Members of TM Forum are only granted the limited copyright waiver to distribute this
document within their companies and may not make paper or electronic copies for
distribution outside of their companies.
• Non-members of the TM Forum are not permitted to make copies (paper or electronic) of
this draft document other than for their internal use for the sole purpose of making
comments thereon directly to TM Forum.
• If this document forms part of a supply of information in support of an Industry Group
Liaison relationship, the document may only be used as part of the work identified in the
Liaison and may not be used or further distributed for any other purposes
Any use of this document by the recipient, other than as set forth specifically herein, is at its own
risk, and under no circumstances will TM Forum be liable for direct or indirect damages or any
costs or losses resulting from the use of this document by the recipient.
This document is governed, and all recipients shall be bound, by all of the terms and conditions
of the Intellectual Property Rights Policy of the TM Forum
(http://www.tmforum.org/Bylaws/1094/home.html) and may involve a claim of patent rights by
one or more TM Forum members or by non-members of TM Forum.
Direct inquiries to the TM Forum office:
240 Headquarters Plaza,
East Tower – 10th
Floor,
Morristown, NJ 07960 USA
Tel No. +1 973 944 5100
Fax No. +1 973 944 5110
TM Forum Web Page: www.tmforum.org
3. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 3 of 283
Table of Contents
NOTICE .......................................................................................................................................................................2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................2
LIST OF FIGURES...................................................................................................................................................12
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................15
1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................16
2. THE TELECOM APPLICATIONS MAP ......................................................................................................19
3. MARKET/SALES MANAGEMENT ..............................................................................................................24
3.1 M/S CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................................................25
Campaign Management.......................................................................................................................................25
Campaign Analytics.............................................................................................................................................26
Campaign Design ................................................................................................................................................27
Lead Generation..................................................................................................................................................27
Campaign Execution & Refinement.....................................................................................................................28
Campaign Performance Tracking .......................................................................................................................28
3.2 M/S SALES AIDS.................................................................................................................................................29
Sales Aids.............................................................................................................................................................29
Job Aids ...............................................................................................................................................................30
Product Support...................................................................................................................................................30
3.3 M/S COMPENSATION & RESULTS .......................................................................................................................31
Compensation & Results......................................................................................................................................31
Compensation......................................................................................................................................................31
Results Reporting.................................................................................................................................................32
3.4 M/S CHANNEL SALES MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................33
Channel Sales Management ................................................................................................................................33
Direct Sales Force...............................................................................................................................................34
Telesales ..............................................................................................................................................................35
Retail Outlets.......................................................................................................................................................36
Dealers ................................................................................................................................................................37
Virtual Network Operators..................................................................................................................................38
Affiliates...............................................................................................................................................................39
3.5 M/S CORPORATE SALES MANAGEMENT.............................................................................................................40
Corporate Sales Management .............................................................................................................................40
Corporate Sales Workflow Management.............................................................................................................41
Contract Workflow ..............................................................................................................................................41
Design/Price/Propose Workflow .........................................................................................................................42
Sales Workflow ....................................................................................................................................................42
Solution Management..........................................................................................................................................43
Design..................................................................................................................................................................43
Price ....................................................................................................................................................................44
Price/Cost Optimization ......................................................................................................................................44
Propose................................................................................................................................................................45
Contract Management .........................................................................................................................................45
4. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 4 of 283
Contract Generation............................................................................................................................................45
Contract Implementation.....................................................................................................................................46
Contract Storage..................................................................................................................................................46
Funnel & Lead Management...............................................................................................................................47
Funnel Management............................................................................................................................................47
Sales Account Management.................................................................................................................................48
Lead Management ...............................................................................................................................................48
3.6 M/S MASS MARKET SALES MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................49
Mass Market Sales Management.........................................................................................................................49
Customer/Prospect Data Acquisition ..................................................................................................................50
Mass Market Sales Workflow Management.........................................................................................................50
Offer Management...............................................................................................................................................51
Sales Negotiation.................................................................................................................................................51
Mass Market Sales Reporting & Tracking...........................................................................................................52
3.7 M/S SALES PORTALS ..........................................................................................................................................53
Sales Portals........................................................................................................................................................53
Customer Sales Portals........................................................................................................................................53
Internal Sales Portals ..........................................................................................................................................54
Indirect Sales Portals ..........................................................................................................................................54
4. PRODUCT MANAGEMENT DOMAIN ............................................................................................................55
4.1 PRODUCT STRATEGY / PROPOSITION MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................55
Product Strategy / Proposition Management ......................................................................................................55
4.2 PRODUCT / SERVICE CATALOG MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................56
Product / Service Catalog Management..............................................................................................................56
4.3 PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................61
Product Lifecycle Management ...........................................................................................................................61
4.4 PRODUCT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT...........................................................................................................63
Product Performance Management.....................................................................................................................63
5. CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT DOMAIN.........................................................................................................64
5.1 CUSTOMER INFORMATION MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................................64
Customer Information Management....................................................................................................................65
5.2 TRANSACTIONAL DOCUMENT PRODUCTION .......................................................................................................66
Transactional Document Production...................................................................................................................66
Transactional Document Formatter ....................................................................................................................67
Transactional Document Generator....................................................................................................................68
Document Delivery..............................................................................................................................................69
Document Archiving............................................................................................................................................69
5.3 CUSTOMER ORDER MANAGEMENT.....................................................................................................................69
Customer Order Management .............................................................................................................................70
Customer Order Establishment ...........................................................................................................................71
Channel Guidance and Data Capture .................................................................................................................72
Customer and Product Data Collection ..............................................................................................................73
Customer Qualification .......................................................................................................................................73
Customer Credit Eligibility..................................................................................................................................74
Offering Availability............................................................................................................................................74
Customer Order Validation .................................................................................................................................75
Customer Order Publication ...............................................................................................................................75
Customer Order Orchestration............................................................................................................................75
Customer Order Distribution ..............................................................................................................................76
Customer Order Tracking & Management..........................................................................................................76
Customer Order Lifecycle Management..............................................................................................................77
5.4 CUSTOMER SELF MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................78
5. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 5 of 283
Customer Self Management.................................................................................................................................78
Customer Self Empowered Fulfillment................................................................................................................80
Customer Self Empowered Assurance .................................................................................................................81
Customer Self Empowered Billing.......................................................................................................................82
5.5 CUSTOMER CONTACT MANAGEMENT, RETENTION & LOYALTY ........................................................................84
Customer Contact Management, Retention & Loyalty ........................................................................................84
Verify Customer Relationship..............................................................................................................................86
Analyze and Manage Customer Risk ...................................................................................................................86
Interaction Management......................................................................................................................................86
Personalize Customer Profile..............................................................................................................................86
Build Customer Insight........................................................................................................................................87
Validate Customer Satisfaction ...........................................................................................................................87
5.6 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOOLBOX..............................................................................................88
Customer Service Representative Toolbox ..........................................................................................................88
CSR fulfillment.....................................................................................................................................................90
CSR assurance.....................................................................................................................................................90
CSR billing...........................................................................................................................................................91
Collection ............................................................................................................................................................91
Payment...............................................................................................................................................................92
5.7 CUSTOMER QUALITY OF SERVICE & SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT MANAGEMENT............................................93
Customer Quality of Service & Service Level Agreement Management..............................................................93
5.8 CUSTOMER PROBLEM MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................94
Customer Problem Management .........................................................................................................................94
Customer Problem Qualification & Reception....................................................................................................95
Customer Problem Lifecycle Management..........................................................................................................96
Customer Problem Diagnostics...........................................................................................................................97
Customer Problem Resolution.............................................................................................................................97
Customer Problem Verification & Closure .........................................................................................................98
Customer Problem Reporting..............................................................................................................................98
5.9 RECEIVABLES MANAGEMENT...........................................................................................................................100
Receivables Management ..................................................................................................................................100
A/R Management ...............................................................................................................................................101
Journalization....................................................................................................................................................102
Financial Reporting...........................................................................................................................................102
5.10 BILLING INQUIRY, DISPUTE & ADJUSTMENT MANAGEMENT..........................................................................103
Billing Inquiry, Dispute & Adjustment Management.........................................................................................103
Bill Inquiry.........................................................................................................................................................104
Dispute Management.........................................................................................................................................104
Adjustments........................................................................................................................................................105
5.11 BILL FORMAT / RENDER .................................................................................................................................106
Bill Format / Render..........................................................................................................................................106
5.12 PRODUCT/SERVICE RATING............................................................................................................................107
Product/Service Rating......................................................................................................................................107
5.13 BILLING ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................109
Billing Account Management ............................................................................................................................109
Billing Account Configuration Management.....................................................................................................109
Billing Account Associations Management .......................................................................................................110
5.14 COLLECTION MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................................................................111
Collection Management.....................................................................................................................................111
Collection Policy Definition and Configuration................................................................................................112
Collection Policy Execution and Monitoring ....................................................................................................112
Collection Settlement.........................................................................................................................................113
5.15 BILL CALCULATION........................................................................................................................................114
Bill Calculation..................................................................................................................................................114
6. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 6 of 283
Customer Bill Charge Calculation ....................................................................................................................115
Discounts Calculation .......................................................................................................................................115
Tax Applying......................................................................................................................................................116
Commitment Tracking .......................................................................................................................................116
Manage Bill Cycle Run......................................................................................................................................117
Quotation Engine...............................................................................................................................................117
5.16 ONLINE CHARGING.........................................................................................................................................118
Online Charging................................................................................................................................................118
5.17 CASE MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................................121
Case Management .............................................................................................................................................121
Case Definition and Configuration....................................................................................................................122
Case Workflow...................................................................................................................................................122
Case Correlation & Analysis.............................................................................................................................123
Case Tracking & Management..........................................................................................................................123
Case Reporting ..................................................................................................................................................124
Case Archival ....................................................................................................................................................124
6. SERVICE MANAGEMENT DOMAIN ............................................................................................................126
6.1 SERVICE SPECIFICATION MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................................................127
Service Specification Management....................................................................................................................127
6.2 SERVICE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT................................................................................................................128
Service Inventory Management .........................................................................................................................128
Service-Resource Inventory...............................................................................................................................131
Service Inventory Reconciliation / Synchronization..........................................................................................132
6.3 SERVICE ORDER MANAGEMENT.......................................................................................................................134
Service Order Management...............................................................................................................................134
Service Data Collection.....................................................................................................................................135
Service Order Orchestration .............................................................................................................................135
Product/Service Order Decomposition..............................................................................................................136
Service Order Tracking & Management............................................................................................................136
Service Order Validation...................................................................................................................................137
Service Design/Assign .......................................................................................................................................137
Design Solution..................................................................................................................................................138
Assign/Procure Network Resources...................................................................................................................138
Procure Access ..................................................................................................................................................139
Procure CPE......................................................................................................................................................139
Service Availability............................................................................................................................................140
Service Address Validation................................................................................................................................140
Service Availability Validation..........................................................................................................................141
Service Termination Points Determination .......................................................................................................141
Determine Access Provider ...............................................................................................................................141
Determine Delivery Interval..............................................................................................................................142
Service Configuration Management ..................................................................................................................142
Service Activation Management ........................................................................................................................143
Service Order Publication .................................................................................................................................143
6.4 SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................144
Service Level Agreement Management..............................................................................................................144
6.5 SERVICE PROBLEM MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................................146
Service Problem Management...........................................................................................................................146
Service Problem Reception................................................................................................................................147
Service Problem Monitoring..............................................................................................................................147
Service Problem Analysis ..................................................................................................................................147
Service Problem Correction & Resolution ........................................................................................................148
Service Problem Tracking & Management........................................................................................................149
7. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 7 of 283
Service Problem Reporting................................................................................................................................149
6.6 SERVICE QUALITY MONITORING & IMPACT ANALYSIS ....................................................................................150
Service Quality Monitoring & Impact Analysis.................................................................................................150
6.7 SERVICE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................................................151
Service Performance Management....................................................................................................................151
Service Performance Monitoring.......................................................................................................................152
Service Performance Analysis ...........................................................................................................................153
Service Performance Reporting.........................................................................................................................153
6.8 SERVICE TEST MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................................................................155
Service Test Management..................................................................................................................................155
Service Test Strategy and Policy Management..................................................................................................156
Service Test Lifecycle Management...................................................................................................................156
Service Test Command and Control..................................................................................................................157
Service Test Services..........................................................................................................................................157
7. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DOMAIN........................................................................................................159
7.1 RESOURCE LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................160
Resource Lifecycle Management .......................................................................................................................160
Resource Commissioning & Configuration Management .................................................................................161
Implementation Planning...................................................................................................................................162
Tactical Planning ..............................................................................................................................................163
Capability Specification Management...............................................................................................................164
Planning Design Automation.............................................................................................................................165
Spares & Warehouse Inventory Management ...................................................................................................166
Resource Specification Management.................................................................................................................166
Strategic Planning .............................................................................................................................................167
7.2 RESOURCE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................169
Resource Inventory Management ......................................................................................................................169
7.3 RESOURCE ORDER MANAGEMENT....................................................................................................................172
Resource Order Management............................................................................................................................172
Resource Order Orchestration ..........................................................................................................................173
Resource Order Tracking & Management ........................................................................................................173
Resource Service Order Validation ...................................................................................................................174
Resource Order Data Collection.......................................................................................................................174
Resource Design / Assign ..................................................................................................................................175
Resource Availability.........................................................................................................................................175
Resource Order Configuration Management ....................................................................................................176
Resource Order Publication..............................................................................................................................177
7.4 RESOURCE DOMAIN MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................178
Resource Domain Management.........................................................................................................................178
Resource Discovery ...........................................................................................................................................180
Resource Activation...........................................................................................................................................181
Resource Fault & Performance Data Mediation...............................................................................................181
OSS Inventory/Data Synchronization Management ..........................................................................................182
7.5 RESOURCE PROCESS MANAGEMENT (WORKFLOW/INTEGRATION)...................................................................183
Resource Process Management (Workflow/Integration)...................................................................................183
Resource Change Management .........................................................................................................................184
Workforce Management.....................................................................................................................................184
Jeopardy Management.......................................................................................................................................185
Resource Logistics.............................................................................................................................................185
7.6 VOUCHER MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................................187
Voucher Management........................................................................................................................................187
7.7 BILLING DATA MEDIATION ..............................................................................................................................188
Billing Data Mediation......................................................................................................................................188
9. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 9 of 283
Corporate Tax....................................................................................................................................................216
Corporate Treasury ...........................................................................................................................................216
Cash Reconciliation & Escheatment .................................................................................................................216
General Ledger Account Reconciliation............................................................................................................217
Auditing .............................................................................................................................................................217
Regulatory Accounting ......................................................................................................................................217
9.3.1 FINANCIAL CORE OPERATIONS......................................................................................................................218
Financial Core Operations................................................................................................................................218
General Ledger..................................................................................................................................................219
Financial Controls, Editing, & Reference Data ................................................................................................219
Accounts Payable ..............................................................................................................................................219
Fixed Assets.......................................................................................................................................................219
Project Accounting ............................................................................................................................................220
9.4 ASSET MANAGEMENT.......................................................................................................................................220
Asset Management.............................................................................................................................................220
Corporate Real Estate .......................................................................................................................................221
Damage Claims Management............................................................................................................................221
Fleet Management.............................................................................................................................................221
9.4.1 CORPORATE REAL ESTATE ............................................................................................................................223
Corporate Real Estate .......................................................................................................................................223
Real Estate Property & Building Portfolio and Lease Management.................................................................223
Real Estate Facility Operations Management...................................................................................................224
Space Planning..................................................................................................................................................224
Real Estate Asset Capital Planning...................................................................................................................224
Environmental Health & Safety Monitoring and Compliance Management.....................................................225
Real Estate Capital Construction Management.................................................................................................225
9.5 SECURITY MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................................226
Security Management ........................................................................................................................................226
Corporate Security ............................................................................................................................................227
Employee Identification Management ...............................................................................................................227
Building Access Management............................................................................................................................227
Application Security ..........................................................................................................................................227
Vulnerability Management ................................................................................................................................228
Anomaly Management .......................................................................................................................................228
Lawful Interception............................................................................................................................................228
PKI and Digital Certificates..............................................................................................................................229
9.6 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................................230
Knowledge Management ...................................................................................................................................231
Patent, Invention & Trademark Management ...................................................................................................231
Enterprise Web Sites & Portals.........................................................................................................................232
Business Intelligence (BI)..................................................................................................................................232
BI Delivery Mechanism .....................................................................................................................................233
BI Reporting ......................................................................................................................................................233
BI Performance Management............................................................................................................................234
BI Supporting Applications................................................................................................................................234
BI Analytics .......................................................................................................................................................235
BI Data Management.........................................................................................................................................236
Data Management .............................................................................................................................................236
DM Data Storage & Archival............................................................................................................................237
DM Access & Transformation...........................................................................................................................237
DM Data Integration & Context........................................................................................................................237
DM Data Presentation & Distribution ..............................................................................................................238
Content Management.........................................................................................................................................239
CM Repository & Archival ................................................................................................................................239
10. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 10 of 283
CM Authoring and Compilation ........................................................................................................................240
CM Distribution & Acquisition .........................................................................................................................240
Sales Aids...........................................................................................................................................................241
Job Aids .............................................................................................................................................................241
Product Support.................................................................................................................................................242
CM Portal & Discovery.....................................................................................................................................242
9.7 FRAUD MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................................................243
Fraud Management ...........................................................................................................................................243
9.8 REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................243
Regulatory & Compliance Management ...........................................................................................................244
9.9 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES .............................................................................................................................245
Administrative Services .....................................................................................................................................245
Legal..................................................................................................................................................................245
Records Retention Management........................................................................................................................246
Advertising.........................................................................................................................................................246
Project Management..........................................................................................................................................246
Transportation & Travel Service.......................................................................................................................246
10. APPLICATION INTEGRATION INFRASTRUCTURE..............................................................................248
10.1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................249
10.2 COMMON COMMUNICATIONS - ENTERPRISE APPLICATION INTEGRATION ......................................................251
10.3 BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT & WORKFLOW ........................................................................................252
10.4 CONTRACT DEFINED INTERFACES ...................................................................................................................255
11. CROSS DOMAIN APPLICATIONS...............................................................................................................256
11.1 CATALOG MANAGEMENT ...............................................................................................................................257
Catalog Management ........................................................................................................................................257
11.2 FALLOUT MANAGEMENT................................................................................................................................260
Fallout Management..........................................................................................................................................260
Fallout Auto Correction ....................................................................................................................................261
Fallout Correction Assistance ...........................................................................................................................261
Fallout Manual Correction Queue Handling ....................................................................................................262
Fallout Technician Dashboard..........................................................................................................................262
Fallout Reporting ..............................................................................................................................................263
Fallout Notification ...........................................................................................................................................263
Fallout Rules Engine .........................................................................................................................................263
Fallout Orchestration........................................................................................................................................264
Fallout Management Interface Bus ...................................................................................................................264
INDEX ......................................................................................................................................................................266
12. APPENDIX - FRAMEWORX BASIS ............................................................................................................272
WHAT IS FRAMEWORX? .........................................................................................................................................272
WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS BENEFITS OF USING FRAMEWORX?...............................................................................276
CORE FRAMEWORX PRINCIPLES..............................................................................................................................277
13. ADMINISTRATIVE APPENDIX....................................................................................................................279
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT.........................................................................................................................................279
DOCUMENT LIFE CYCLE.........................................................................................................................................279
DOCUMENT HISTORY .............................................................................................................................................279
Version History..................................................................................................................................................279
Release History..................................................................................................................................................280
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................................................................281
TIME STAMP...........................................................................................................................................................283
11. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 11 of 283
HOW CAN WE OBTAIN A COPY?...............................................................................................................................283
HOW CAN WE COMMENT ON THE DOCUMENTS?......................................................................................................283
12. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 12 of 283
List of Figures
Figure 1. Telecom Value Chain ........................................................................................................19
Figure 2. The Telecom Applications Map........................................................................................20
Figure 3. 3. Market/Sales Management............................................................................................24
Figure 4. 3.1 M/S Campaign Management.......................................................................................25
Figure 5. 3.2 M/S Sales Aids.............................................................................................................29
Figure 6. 3.3 M/S Compensation & Results.....................................................................................31
Figure 7. 3.4 M/S Channel Sales Management................................................................................33
Figure 8. 3.5 M/S Corporate Sales Management.............................................................................40
Figure 9. 3.6 M/S Mass Market Sales Management ........................................................................49
Figure 10. 3.7 M/S Sales Portals.......................................................................................................53
Figure 11. 4. Product Management Domain....................................................................................55
Figure 12. 4.1 Product Strategy / Proposition Management..........................................................55
Figure 13. 4.2 Product / Service Catalog Management ..................................................................56
Figure 14. Product Management - Key Data ...................................................................................58
Figure 15. 4.3 Product Lifecycle Management................................................................................61
Figure 16. 4.4 Product Performance Management .........................................................................63
Figure 17. 5. Customer Management Domain.................................................................................64
Figure 18. 5.1 Customer Information Management ........................................................................64
Figure 19. 5.2 Transactional Document Production.......................................................................66
Figure 20. 5.3 Customer Order Management ..................................................................................70
Figure 21. 5.4 Customer Self Management .....................................................................................78
Figure 22. 5.5 Customer Contact Management, Retention & Loyalty...........................................84
Figure 23. 5.6 Customer Service Representative Toolbox ............................................................88
Figure 24. 5.7 Customer Quality of Service & Service Level Agreement Management...............93
Figure 25. 5.8 Customer Problem Management..............................................................................94
Figure 26. 5.9 Receivables Management.......................................................................................100
Figure 27. 5.10 Billing Inquiry, Dispute & Adjustment Management ..........................................103
Figure 28. 5.11 Bill Format / Render ..............................................................................................106
Figure 29. 5.12 Product/Service Rating Applications...................................................................107
15. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 15 of 283
Executive Summary
This document provides the global telecom software industry with a frame of reference to
understand the relationship of the multitude of operational systems typically found within a
service provider or network operator. It is intended to be a practical, everyday working guide for
those organizations who buy or sell operational systems to help position and navigate a
complex landscape. It is not intended to be prescriptive so that operators are required to
implement this approach. However it does provide a ‘lens’ to use to compare their current
implementations with an idealized approach. The document can also be used by suppliers to
help position their products in relation to a common reference framework.
TM Forum’s vision is “To lead the emergence of lean and agile operators, able to compete in
21st century markets”. The Lean Operator Program is thus TM Forum’s flagship program and
the New Generation Operations Systems and Software (Frameworx) technical roadmap is a key
technical and process enabler of that program. The Telecom Applications Map forms the 4th
major framework that comprises Frameworx.
Granularity is an important factor in the design of this Telecom Applications Map. The authors
have taken an approach at the systems level based on commercially available products. Clearly
these products have options and feature sets that could be used to develop a more granular
level of abstraction, but the criteria used has been to examine the market and find at least 2
suppliers of commercial technology in any area of the Map.
Care has also been taken to align this map, wherever possible with other TM Forum
publications, particularly the Business Process Framework® and the Information Framework
Model. Thus terminology used in this Map mirrors, as far as possible, Business Process
Framework parlance. For completeness, the Applications Map includes infrastructural software
components as well as applications components.
16. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 16 of 283
1. Introduction
Welcome to the Telecom Applications Map. This document is intended as a working guide to
help operators and their suppliers use a common reference map and language to navigate a
complex systems landscape that is typically found in fixed, mobile and cable operators. Where the
Business Process Framework ® provides a frame of reference for telecom processes and the
Frameworx Information Framework provides a frame of reference for standardized information
language, the Telecom Applications Map provides a frame of reference for telecom applications.
Release 1.0 of this document concentrated on the Operations (Fulfillment, Assurance, and Billing)
segments of the Business Framework primarily in the Resource Management, Service Management,
and Customer Management layers. Release 2.x provided further detail in these layers as well as the
Market / Sales, Product, Supplier / Partner, and Enterprise Management layers. Grouping some of
the level 1 categories into an Operational Support & Readiness (OSR) Business Process Framework
segment was also introduced, along with the addition of supporting contracts for some of the level 1
categories.
Release 3.0 further unpacked the various applications and provides Level 2 and Level 3 application
for the Market/Sales, Customer Management, Service Management and Resource Management
domain. In addition to this the concept of SIP applications was also introduced, especially at the
resource management layer. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) concepts were taken in mind while
restructuring the application domains.
Release 4.0 continues the unpacking of different applications at the Service and Resource layer. In
addition a concept of Vertical Cross Domain Application is introduced for the first time. These
applications will span multiple horizontal layers and catalog Management is the first such application.
Mapping between the Telecom Applications Map and Business Process Framework / Information
Framework will be addressed in a future release.
The Telecom Applications Map provides the bridge between the Frameworx framework building
blocks (Business Process Framework and Information Framework) and real, deployable, potentially
procurable applications by grouping together process functions and information data into recognized
OSS and BSS applications or services.
No document like this can ever be ‘right’ in the sense that it represents a perfect systems
infrastructure for an operator. What this document intends to give the industry is a common frame of
reference that allows the various players who specify, procure, design and sell operation and
business support systems to understand each other’s viewpoints. It has been built up from
observation of typical systems available in the industry today and will naturally evolve as these
systems evolve.
Wherever possible, the Telecom Applications Map keeps to language already common in the
industry or used in other TM Forum publications particularly the Business Process Framework. It has
been designed to be as generic as possible without losing touch with market reality and to be familiar
as possible to industry users, thus it uses the familiar layering concepts of the TMN model, enhanced
to cover the management of resources rather than simply the network. Thus in this context,
resources could be a variety of items such as network elements, sub-networks or servers.
17. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 17 of 283
The document is laid out against this layering approach and describes the principal functions of each
layer and each system. For completeness, the Application Map includes infrastructural systems, such
as bus technology and business process management technology that are not strictly applications.
There are a number of benefits to the industry in using a common Telecom Applications Map:
Common Application Language
The common language for information exchange within the industry will result in reduced
investment risks and costs through industry alignment. The procurement process will be
made easier by using a common map and application definition, and component license costs
will be reduced through higher reusability and lower custom development. As the Application
Map is adopted by the industry, the market for suppliers based on operators procuring from
the standard applications model will grow.
Standard Application Requirements
A key deliverable of the Application Map is an industry set of standard application requirements that
will enable the development of reusable components leading to a more modular approach to
application development. This reuse will result in lower costs through economies of scale. Similarly
the component approach will encourage the adoptions and development of standard interfaces
between components which will again reduce development costs.
Enable Automation
The standard, deployable components that result from the adoption of the Application Map will
enable a higher degree of automation within the service providers’ businesses which will in turn
reduce human errors and improve operational efficiency. With solutions based on a standard
application map it will be easier for organizations to change the way in which they work by adding or
changing components within their support systems. Similarly, mergers and acquisitions will be easier
to manage through the common understanding of applications delivered by the Application Map’s
common language and the business integration points easier to identify.
The Application Map has been developed using a product deployment and product implementation
point of view to identify typical systems available in fixed, mobile, and cable operators today and
assist the various players who specify, procure, design and sell operation and business support
systems to understand each other’s viewpoints.
Assumptions used in the development of the Telecom Applications Map were:
An application is a set of one or more software artifacts consisting of well-defined functions, data,
business flows, rules and interfaces. These artifacts include:
o Data Model for data used to interface to and within application
o Policies for governing external and internal application resources
o Flow Model for functionality with application
o Contract Specifications for (externally visible) interfaces to functionality with
application
Applications are implementable as a deployable package and procurable in the system market
place.
It should be noted that this definition is from a Telecom Applications Map viewpoint.
The definition for an application from the technology neutral architecture viewpoint is "An
Frameworx Application is a container artifact which provides an encapsulation of the
18. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 18 of 283
requirements, specification and implementations of designed functionality, from the
perspective of Service Providers, needed to support a specific business goal within
their operating environment."
Additional information regarding Frameworx terminology can be found in the Frameworx
Technology Neutral Architecture suite of TMF053 documents, and in GB927
Frameworx Lifecycle Methodology.
In order to be an application, there must be at least two commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS)
products in the market. This was verified by at least two service providers
OSS/BSS terminology was used in the general text, but was not used to differentiate
functionalities nor separate areas on the Application Map.
If a feature had its own context (could stand alone), and its own features and contracts, it
became a level 2 application
Higher level applications contain core functionality that is shared with its next level applications
or a compound application of its descendants with an additional functionality.
Leaf applications only contain specific functionality.
Supported contracts are typical and important, but are not a complete list. They will serve as
requirements input to the TMF Interface Program.
The Business Process Framework level 1 vertical segments, FAB, OSR and SIP, were used for
the Customer, Service, Resource, and Supplier / Partner layers only.
The SID domain horizontals excluding the Common Business Entities (CBE) were used and the
team “management” was added.
Used Business Process Framework terminology when discussing business functions and
Information Framework terminology when discussing system data.
The following are open issues which will be addressed in the next release:
Terminology used is not always in alignment with Business Process Framework, Information
Framework, or Lifecycle/TNA
Mapping Application Map to Business Process Framework and Information Framework
Framework Application Short descriptions which will be released along with the Application Map
4.0 poster
Figure 14 in the Product Management section needs to be aligned with the Frameworx
terminology.
19. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 19 of 283
2. The Telecom Applications Map
The Telecom Applications Map has been designed to be of use by the entire spectrum of players in
the telecom software value chain. It may be used for a variety of functions and allows both the
operator and supplier communities worldwide to have a common frame of reference in describing
both their current and future needs and intentions. For example, an operator could use the Map to
model their current (as-is) OSS applications in a structured format; as well as developing a (to-be)
future model and deriving a clear gap analysis. By using this common layout and nomenclature, the
current and future landscape would be much easier for consultants, suppliers or system integrators to
understand the situation and requirement.
Alternatively, a supplier may wish to use the Map to highlight the systems that they supply and the
systems that they partner with other companies to deliver. It may be used to show both current and
future portfolios. Investors or financial analysts may find the Map useful to describe the OSS market
in terms of its growth, value etc. Others may find the Map a useful starting point in assembling
directories of suppliers active in each segment of the Map.
Thus the Telecom Applications Map can be used across the entire telecom value chain as shown in
figure 1 below:
Solutions
suppliers:
•Systems
integrators
•Computer
companies
•Equipment
suppliers
Middleware
suppliers:
•Platform
suppliers
Mediation
suppliers
•Database
suppliers
•Software
components
suppliers
Application
/ system
suppliers:
•Point systems
•Small solution
suites
Service and
network
operators:
• Fixed
•Mobile
•ISP
•ASP
•MVNO
•Etc.
Figure 1. Telecom Value Chain
Wherever possible, the Application Map uses language already common in the industry and builds
on the process and common information models key to the TM Forum’s Frameworx program
especially the Business Process Framework and the Information Framework. It has been designed
to be generic without losing touch with market reality and to be familiar to industry users, thus it uses
20. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 20 of 283
the familiar layering concepts as those specified in the Business Process Framework and Information
Framework.
The document is laid out against this layering approach and describes the principal functions of each
layer. The Telecom Applications Map, shown in figure 2, is segmented by the primary Business
Process Framework end-to-end level 1 vertical process areas: Fulfillment, Assurance, & Billing
(FAB), and Operational Support Readiness (OSR) functions along with the layering Information
Framework domains of Market/Sales, Product, Customer, Service, Resource, Supplier / Partner, and
Enterprise. Each box on the map represents a level 1 Application Map category.
The Application Map also recognizes managed resources including network based resources;
content servers Intelligent network platforms and related network control technologies such as
element management systems as well as the OSS infrastructure fabric e.g. bus technology, business
process management engines etc. The term OSS is used to cover all the systems that are used by a
telecom operator, sometimes referred to as OSS and BSS.
Figure 2. The Telecom Applications Map
The bulk of this document is used to describe the level 1 applications of each of the layers of the
Application Map. In some cases, level 1 applications are broken down into level 2 applications
where additional clarity would help the reader. Each application includes an overview
description, a functionality description, and supporting contracts.
21. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 21 of 283
Welcome to the Telecom Applications Map. This document is intended as a working guide to
help operators and their suppliers use a common reference map and language to navigate a
complex systems landscape that is typically found in fixed, mobile and cable operators. Where the
Business Process Framework ® provides a frame of reference for telecom processes and the
Frameworx Information Framework provides a frame of reference for standardized information
language, the Telecom Applications Map provides a frame of reference for telecom applications.
Release 1.0 of this document concentrated on the Operations (Fulfillment, Assurance, and Billing)
segments of the Business Framework primarily in the Resource Management, Service Management,
and Customer Management layers. Release 2.x provided further detail in these layers as well as the
Market / Sales, Product, Supplier / Partner, and Enterprise Management layers. Grouping some of
the level 1 categories into an Operational Support & Readiness (OSR) Business Process Framework
segment was also introduced, along with the addition of supporting contracts for some of the level 1
categories.
Release 3.0 further unpacks the various applications and provides Level 2 and Level 3 application for
the Market/Sales, Customer Management, Service Management and Resource Management
domain. In addition to this the concept of SIP applications is also introduced, especially at the
resource management layer. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) concepts were taken in mind while
restructuring the application domains. Mapping between the Telecom Applications Map and
Business Process Framework / Information Framework will be addressed in a future release.
The Telecom Applications Map provides the bridge between the Frameworx framework building
blocks (Business Process Framework and Information Framework) and real, deployable, potentially
procurable applications by grouping together process functions and information data into recognized
OSS and BSS applications or services.
No document like this can ever be ‘right’ in the sense that it represents a perfect systems
infrastructure for an operator. What this document intends to give the industry is a common frame of
reference that allows the various players who specify, procure, design and sell operation and
business support systems to understand each other’s viewpoints. It has been built up from
observation of typical systems available in the industry today and will naturally evolve as these
systems evolve.
Wherever possible, the Telecom Applications Map keeps to language already common in the
industry or used in other TM Forum publications particularly the Business Process Framework. It has
been designed to be as generic as possible without losing touch with market reality and to be familiar
as possible to industry users, thus it uses the familiar layering concepts of the TMN model, enhanced
to cover the management of resources rather than simply the network. Thus in this context,
resources could be a variety of items such as network elements, sub-networks or servers.
The document is laid out against this layering approach and describes the principal functions of each
layer and each system. For completeness, the Application Map includes infrastructural systems, such
as bus technology and business process management technology that are not strictly applications.
There are a number of benefits to the industry in using a common Telecom Applications Map:
Common Application Language
The common language for information exchange within the industry will result in reduced
investment risks and costs through industry alignment. The procurement process will be
22. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 22 of 283
made easier by using a common map and application definition, and component license costs
will be reduced through higher reusability and lower custom development. As the Application
Map is adopted by the industry, the market for suppliers based on operators procuring from
the standard applications model will grow.
Standard Application Requirements
A key deliverable of the Application Map is an industry set of standard application requirements that
will enable the development of reusable components leading to a more modular approach to
application development. This reuse will result in lower costs through economies of scale. Similarly
the component approach will encourage the adoptions and development of standard interfaces
between components which will again reduce development costs.
Enable Automation
The standard, deployable components that result from the adoption of the Application Map will
enable a higher degree of automation within the service providers’ businesses which will in turn
reduce human errors and improve operational efficiency. With solutions based on a standard
application map it will be easier for organizations to change the way in which they work by adding or
changing components within their support systems. Similarly, mergers and acquisitions will be easier
to manage through the common understanding of applications delivered by the Application Map’s
common language and the business integration points easier to identify.
The Application Map has been developed using a product deployment and product
implementation point of view to identify typical systems available in fixed, mobile, and cable
operators today and assist the various players who specify, procure, design and sell operation
and business support systems to understand each other’s viewpoints.
Assumptions used in the development of the Telecom Applications Map were:
An application is a set of one or more software artifacts consisting of well-defined functions, data,
business flows, rules and interfaces. These artifacts include:
o Data Model for data used to interface to and within application
o Policies for governing external and internal application resources
o Flow Model for functionality with application
o Contract Specifications for (externally visible) interfaces to functionality with
application
Applications are implementable as a deployable package and procurable in the system market
place.
It should be noted that this definition is from a Telecom Applications Map viewpoint.
The definition for an application from the technology neutral architecture viewpoint is "An
Frameworx Application is a container artifact which provides an encapsulation of the
requirements, specification and implementations of designed functionality, from the
perspective of Service Providers, needed to support a specific business goal within
their operating environment."
Additional information regarding Frameworx terminology can be found in the Frameworx
Technology Neutral Architecture suite of TMF053 documents, and in GB927
Frameworx Lifecycle Methodology.
23. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 23 of 283
In order to be an application, there must be at least two commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS)
products in the market. This was verified by at least two service providers
OSS/BSS terminology was used in the general text, but was not used to differentiate
functionalities nor separate areas on the Application Map.
If a feature had its own context (could stand alone), and its own features and contracts, it
became a level 2 application
Higher level applications contain core functionality that is shared with its next level applications
or a compound application of its descendants with an additional functionality.
Leaf applications only contain specific functionality.
Supported contracts are typical and important, but are not a complete list. They will serve as
requirements input to the TMF Interface Program.
The Business Process Framework level 1 vertical segments, FAB, OSR and SIP, were used for
the Customer, Service, Resource, and Supplier / Partner layers only.
The SID domain horizontals excluding the Common Business Entities (CBE) were used and the
team “management” was added.
Used Business Process Framework terminology when discussing business functions and
Information Framework terminology when discussing system data.
The following are open issues which will be addressed in the next release:
Terminology used is not always in alignment with Business Process Framework, Information
Framework, or Lifecycle/TNA
Mapping Application Map to Business Process Framework and Information Framework
Framework Application Short descriptions which will be released along with the Application Map
3.0 poster
24. Application Framework (TAM) Map
GB929, Version 4.1 TM Forum 2010 Page 24 of 283
3. Market/Sales Management
Figure 3. 3. Market/Sales Management
