Setting up a property of a modeled customer
A chargeable item class can consist of one or more user properties
of numerical, string, or date type. In a simulation, you often need to
analyze the results when you vary the user property values of chargeable
item classes.
Before a chargeable item class is consumed, the properties
are assigned values that can be constant or variable. When the values
are variable, you can choose among several types of statistical distribution
to generate them.
The value of a numerical property or a date property can
be either constant or variable. When it is variable, it follows uniform,
lognormal, or customized distribution rules. In the latter case, you must
specify a set of possible values with their associated probabilities.
For a string property, you need to define the statistical
distribution that is used to generate chargeable item class properties.
Example
If the numerical property represents a telephone number prefix,
you may want to simulate the constant usage of 20% international calls
(prefix property value: 00) and 80% mobile calls (prefix property value:
06).
Number property
The Value area allows you to assign
values to a numerical property of a chargeable item class according to
different statistical distributions.
Distribution: Provides the list of
distributions. Select one of the following distributions:
None (Constant
Value):The numerical property is assigned the same value. Select the Number Type, and then type the value in the Constant
Value field.
Uniform: Before
the chargeable item class is consumed, the numerical property is assigned
a different value, which vary uniformly between a minimum value and a
maximum value. Each different value has the same probability to be assigned
to the property. Select the Number Type, and then
type the minimum value in the Minimum Value field
and the maximum value in the Maximum Value field.
Lognormal:
Before the chargeable item class is consumed, the numerical property is
assigned a different value, which is distributed according to a gaussian
lognormal distribution. Select the Number Type,
and then type the average value in the Mean Value
field and the standard deviation in the Standard Deviation
field.
User Defined:
Before a chargeable item class is consumed, the numerical property is
assigned a different value, which is distributed according to your needs.
You can vary the values, their number and their probability. In the table,
you add values by clicking 
, and then type the probability
of each value. To remove a value, select a row, and then click 
.
Number Type: Provides the list of
number types. Select Decimal or Integer.
Constant Value: Allows you to type
the value. This field is available in the None (Constant
Value) distribution.
Minimum Value: Allows you to type
the minimum value. This field is available in the Uniform
distribution.
Maximum Value: Allows you to type
the maximum value. This field is available in the Uniform
distribution.
Mean Value: Allows you to type the
average value. 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 values are
grouped around the mean in a set of data.
String property
The List of possible values area
allows you to assign string values to a string property of a chargeable
item class.
Before a chargeable item class is consumed, the string property
is assigned a different string value, which is distributed according to
your needs. You can vary the string values, their number, and their probability.
In the table, you add string values by clicking , and
then type the probability of each string value. To remove a string value,
select a row, then click .
Date property
The Delay with consumption or start date
area allows you to add a delay to a date property of the chargeable item
class. The delay values vary according to different statistical distributions.
Time Unit: Provides the list of delay
time units. Select one of the following:
seconds
minutes
hours
days
Distribution: Provides the list of
distributions. Select one of the following distributions:
None (Constant
Value):The delay is assigned the same value. Select the Number
Type, and then type the value in the Constant
Value field.
Uniform: The
delay is assigned a different value, which vary uniformly between a minimum
value and a maximum value. Each different value has the same probability
to be assigned to the property. Select the Number Type,
and then type the minimum delay in the Minimum Value
field and the maximum delay in the Maximum Value
field.
Lognormal:
The delay is assigned a different value, which is distributed according
to a gaussian lognormal distribution. Select the Number
Type, and then type the average delay in the Mean
Value field and the standard deviation in the Standard
Deviation field.
User Defined:
The delay is assigned a different value, which is distributed according
to your needs. You can vary the values, their number, and their probability.
In the table, you add values by clicking , and then type
the probability of each value. To remove a value, select a row, and then
click .
Number Type: Provides the list of
number types. Select Decimal or Integer.
Constant Value: Allows you to type
the delay. This field is available in the None (Constant
Value) distribution.
Minimum Value: Allows you to type
the minimum delay. This field is available in the Uniform
distribution.
Maximum Value: Allows you to type
the maximum delay. This field is available in the Uniform
distribution.
Mean Value: Allows you to type the
average delay. 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 delays are
grouped around the mean in a set of data.