The number of chargeable item classes in a modeled customer depends on chargeable item packages that are used to run the simulation. Each chargeable item class of the modeled customer profile must be set up. You must define the number of times that a chargeable item class is consumed by a hypothetical consumer during the simulation. This number is referred to as the number of item occurrences. Statistical distributions can be used to help generating the number of occurrences. The number of chargeable item class occurrences is defined by:
The distribution type: Constant or variable (uniform, lognormal, or customized)
The value or the number of values according to the chosen distribution type
The period: Daily, weekly, or monthly, for example
The Occurrences tab displays different fields depending on the usage distribution that you have chosen.
Distribution: Provides the list of usage distributions. Select one of the following usage distributions:
None (Constant Value): The number of chargeable item class occurrences is uniformly distributed during the chosen period. Select the periodicity, and then type the number of chargeable item class occurrences in the Constant Value field.
Uniform: The number of chargeable item class occurrences is uniformly distributed during the chosen period, but this number varies between a minimum value and a maximum value. Select the periodicity, and then type the minimum number of occurrences in the Minimum Value field and the maximum number of occurrences in the Maximum Value field.
Lognormal: The number of chargeable item class occurrences is distributed according to a gaussian lognormal distribution during the chosen period. Select the periodicity, and then type the average value in the Mean Value field and the standard deviation in the Standard Deviation field.
Custom: The number of chargeable item class occurrences is distributed according to your needs. You can vary the number of occurrences during the chosen period. Select the periodicity, and then type the maximum number of occurrences for the chosen period in the Maximum Value field. When you select this option, a drawing tool opens to allow you to create a bar graph. If you are not familiar with the drawing tool, learn how to create a bar graph.
Periodicity: Provides the list of periods during which the chargeable item classes are consumed. Select one of the following periodicity:
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
Constant Value: Allows you to type the number of times that a chargeable item class is consumed. This field is available in the None (Constant Value) distribution.
Minimum Value: Allows you to type the minimum number of times that a chargeable item class is consumed. This field is available in the Uniform distribution.
Maximum Value: Allows you to type the maximum number of times that a chargeable item class is consumed. This field is available in the Uniform distribution and the Custom distribution. If you modify the value of this field, click a periodicity; otherwise, the change is not taken into account.
Mean Value: Allows you to type the average number of times that a chargeable item class is consumed. This field is available in the Lognormal distribution.
Standard Deviation: Allows you to type the standard deviation in the Lognormal distribution. The standard deviation shows you how tightly all the various examples are grouped around the mean in a set of data.