Range Table Introducer as Comparator

The Range Table Introducer component allows you to use an existing range table in a plan and set up the logic that defines the computation of the final values. You can also use a parameter or a property of the rating context to identify the range table. If you use a parameter, its value can be redefined:

• In a charge plan (or in an offer) to refer to another range table in the pricing catalog of the service provider

• In a provider contract to refer to different subscriber range tables dedicated to each end customer of the service provider

The Range Table Introducer component compares row by row the ranges of a range table with an input property of the plan. The comparison stops when the property matches at least one row of the ranges. The output columns related to the selected range are retrieved in generated properties that you can use in the plan. If no property matches the comparison, an appropriate branch is activated and some default additional values are computed.

When it is inserted in the decision tree, the Range Table Introducer component creates three separate branches:

• A first branch (Input property Is before first bound) that is processed when the input value is negative

• A second branch (Is in a range) that is performed when the input value belongs to a range defined in the range table

• A last branch that depends on the related range table class specified in the component:

• A branch (Is after the last defined bound) that is executed when the input property value is outside the last range (if the related range class is bounded)

• A branch (Is in last unbounded range) that is activated when the input property value is in the last unbounded range (if the related range class is unbounded)

When the component is performed by the SAP CC system at runtime, only one branch is executed depending on the test result.

You can use the following generated properties in the logic in a branch:

• All output column values are usable in the rating (or refilling) context.

• When a column represent a number and the column is marked as cumulative, the cumulated value is generated in a context property.

• Range boundaries are available as context properties: Lower bound and upper bound.

• The size of the range is available: Upper bound value - lower bound value

• When the input value is included in a range, the prorate within the range is available: (input value - lower bound value) / (upper bound value - lower bound value)

• The difference between the input and the lower bound (upper bound in case of unbounded range) is also provided.

Use

In a price plan, if you want to apply different prices to branches according to the value of a specific property, you may need to compare a property with a numerical value or another property. To use the Range Table Introducer inside your price plan, do the following:

1. After you add the component, choose a range table class, a range table, a date reference, and a property to compare with the ranges of the range table.

2. Describe the pricing logic of each decision tree branch by using logic components and end each branch with a Function component. In each branch, different new properties are available.

Example   

In the telecommunication industry, a company sells voice services and has configured a range table class and a unique range table in its pricing catalog. The table specifies a unit price per minute regarding the call duration. To use this range table in the pricing logic, you set up a charge with a price plan that includes a Range Table Introducer component.

In the pricing catalog of this service provider, you must configure:

• A range table class (last range is unbounded, output column is a unit price per minute)

• And a range table (see the examples of range tables in the online Help of SAP CC Core Tool)

You create a new reusable charge and set up its price plan.

• You insert this Range Table Introducer component

• You set up this component and set up its branches using Function components and other logic components (*):

• In the first branch (Is before first bound): Add a No Access function

• In the second branch (Is in a range): Add a Linear function where A is the unit price set for the selected range, X is the call duration since the beginning of the range (see Value Beyond Lower Bound), and B is the cumulative price since the beginning of the phone call.

• In the last branch (Is in last unbounded range): Add a Linear function

(*) You can configure more complex pricing logic in these branches.

Identification area

Name: Type the name of the component (mandatory).

Description: Allows you to type the description of the component (optional).

Definition tab

Range Table Class: Provides the list of available range table classes. Select the range table class that you want to use with the Range Table Introducer. To open and modify the range table class, click .

Range Table: Provides the list of available range tables that relate to the selected class with the list of parameters and properties of type string. Select the range table that you want to use with the Range Table Introducer, or select a parameter or a property that must include at runtime the identifier of a range table or a subscriber range table (see the note below).

Reference Date: Provides the list of date properties. Select a date property. The Reference Date enables the SAP CC system to select the appropriate version of the business data table.

Input Property: Displays the number properties of the rating context and allows you to select the property that you want to compare with the ranges of the range table. Select the property that you want to compare with the ranges of positive numbers.

Mapping of Generated Properties: Displays the output columns of the range table and allows you to rename the generated properties. When a comparison is true between properties, the Reference Date, and the input property, the generated properties retrieve the values of the output column entries.

• Column Name: Displays the output column name of the range table.

• Column Description: Displays the description of the output column of the range table.

• Type: Displays the type of the output column as configured in the selected range table class. The type are: String, Single Number, Cumulative Number, or Range Size Cumulative Number. Depending on this type, the SAP CC system generates one or two new properties for each output column.

• Generated Property Name: Displays the name of the generated property that retrieves the value of the cell in the output column and that relates to the row selected by the range comparison. The generated property retrieves the value of the cell in the output column that relates to the row selected by the range comparison. To change the name of the generated property, double-click the entry, and then type a new name. You can use this new generated property in the branches of this Range Table Introducer component. The default name is the name of the output column.

• Generated Cumulative Property Name: Displays the name of the generated cumulative property that retrieves the cumulative value or the range size cumulative value computed by the system. You can set up this name when the output column is type of Cumulative Number or Range Size Cumulative Number. To change the name of the generated cumulative property, double-click the entry, and then type a new name. You can use this new generated property in the branches of the component. The generated cumulative property retrieves the value of the cell in the output column that relates to the row selected by the range comparison.

• Cumulative value: The generated property is type of number. Its value is computed by adding the output column values of all the rows in the range table until the row selected by the range comparison.

• Range size cumulative value: The generated property is type of number. Its value is computed according to the formula (output column value x range size) applied on row in the range table before the row selected by the range comparison.  

Availability of generated properties:

Computed Properties: Displays the computed properties that allows you to rename the generated properties visible in the rating contexts of the different branches.

• Computed Value: Displays the computed values that are available in the branch of the component. Some values are not available depending on the branch.

• Computed Property Name: Displays the names of the computed properties that provide additional information and may be useful for the configuration of the pricing logic of the branches. To change the name of the default computed property, double-click the entry, and then type a new name. You can use this new computed property in the branches of the component according to their availability (see the table below).

Availability of computed properties: