Next Generation Telephony Systems and Services

Introduction

Before You Start

• ArrowBilling Login URL
• ArrowBilling Login username and password
• Login URL for Endusers for Arrow Billing
• Gatekeeper IP address and H.323 ID
• SIP Proxy IP address
  

Initial Configuration

General Guidlines

Rate Tables

1. Create rate table manually. This option may be sufficient during test phase. For those wanting to start real quick, you can use default rate table named "Rate1" which is set in the system. It covers all possible destination codes, therefore testing to any destination should be possible without any modifications.
   
1. To add or modify rate table manually, please click on the main menu item Rates. You can either modify the existing blank sample rate "Rate1" by clicking on its name or create a new table by clicking on the submenu item Create New Rate Table. You will be prompted to type the table name and description. Please note that the field Rate Table Name cannot be left blank. You can also create the table based on another existing table and specify the change per minute rates by a percentage.
2. To add an entry in Rate table, click on its name and then on the link Add New Rate Item (Destination). The page for New Base Rate Item will open.
3. Available fields for new destination are as follows:
   
   • Destination code - destination country code, example 1, 44 or 91
   • Description - destination country name as it will appear in reports
   • Base tariff/rate per minute - basic rate to be applied per minute
   • Currency - list of currencies added in the system
   • Enabled - specifies whether calls to this destination are allowed
   • Increment seconds - the number of seconds in the pulse, applied after the minimum charge seconds. The users have to pay for each pulse.
   • Grace period seconds - the number of initial seconds for which no rate is applied. Used to prevent false calls.
   • Minimum charge seconds - all calls having duration shorter than this value will be rounded up and charged to this value.
    
   
4. Click on the button Add Item.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 for other destinations
2. Upload Rate table from file. You can upload whole destination list with rates from file table. The exact format and procedure is described in Rate Upload Guide .

Creating Accounts

1. Account/Number/Alias - this field is the primary means of authentication of caller accounts. It must be filled with a valid phone/card number or H.323 alias or ANI. Only digits are allowed for phone/card numbers and ANI while for H.323 alias, digits, letters and special characters (_, @) are allowed.
2.  Password - account password.
   
3. IP Address - required if the account is identified by its IP address. Normally used only for wholesale accounts.
4. E.164 Number - this number is used to prevent endpoint registration with voluntary phone numbers when using H.323+E.164 alias authentication.
5. Authentication type - main authentication method of accounts, such as IP Address, ANI/Number, H.323ID, H.323ID + E.164 Number, or Telephony Trunk ID. For testing, inculding SIP accounts use H323ID authentication type.
6. Account Group - Accounts must belong to one specified Account Group. Routing is performed based on Account groups. You can use default group "Group1" during testing. Account groups can be accessed from Account Groups in the main menu.
7. Enable Web Login - this checkbox field controls user access to the system via end-user login screen.
8. Web Login Username - this text field lets you provide the username to access the end-user screen.
9. Web Login Password - in this field you can type the password to access the end-user screen.
10. Language - this field lets you choose the language to be used for accessing the account.
11. Company - this drop-down menu allows assignment of the account to a particular Company. Do not modify it during testing.
12. Agent - this drop-down menu defines the ownership of accounts. It allows assignment of accounts to a particular agent. Not needed during testing
    
13. Reseller - reseller also defines the ownership of accounts. It allows assignment of accounts to a particular reseller. Not needed during testing
14. Currency - default currency of account.
15. Starting Credit - this text box represents the initial amount of funds granted to the account at the moment of the creation of accounts.
16. Credit Limit - credit Limit is the maximum negative balance of account that is allowed. This value is always positive.
17. Account Status - this field can enable the account to receive services or disable the account to reject the services. It can also make the account available for immediate use or make it pending to indicate temporarily unavailability.
18. Rate - the Rate Table used by this account.
19. Prepaid - prepaid/postpaid mode. Checking this option will reset the Credit Limit of the account to zero. Account will need positive balance to place calls.
20. Account is Master - sets this account as Master. If account is master for other accounts, they are authenticated against its credentials and calls are charged to Master Account.
21. Master Account - this field works with the previous one. If the account is not master, you can select a Master Account for it from this drop-down menu.
22. Recurring Service - recurring service to be applied to this account, such as subscription fee.

Creating Carriers

You should create at least one carrier to route traffic to. It is done by creating Company and attaching VoIP Terminating Account to it. Step by step procedure is following:

1. Click Companies -> Add New Company.
2. Fill in Company name and optional Address fields. Leave membership to Account Groups, Reseller and Agents with no change
3. Click Add Company button below.
4. The edit screen will appear. Scroll down the page and click Add Terminating Account link
5. Terminating Account screen will appear.
6. Fill in following required fields:
1. Choose Currency;
2. Fill in Carrier IP Address;
3. Rate. If you have created Your Buy Rate, please fill it here. Otherwise leave default "Rate1". This will cause your sale rate be equal to buy rate thus making profits display zero;
4. Prefix. Optional Technical prefix assigned by carrier;
5. Specify number of ports or leave Unlinited if you dont know;
6. Protocol - either H.323 or SIP for this carrier.
7. Click Add Account. After then click Return to Company Details to return back and add more accounts to this Carrier if needed.

Creating Routes

You should create at least one route. Routes are created withing Routing section of ArrowBilling. Detailed routing manual can be found in Routing Document , here will just briefly list steps to create one route.

1. First click Destinations and check if Default Destination ALL is assigned to Default Destination Group.
2. Click Routing Groups
3. Click EDIT link against Default Routing Rule
4. Add Originating Account groups by clicking Originators - Add New. Add Account Groups which you would like to route by this Routing Group. If you have not created any new groups, please add "Group1". Note that each Account Group should be added to Only One Routing Group.
5. Add Routing Rule. Click Routing Rules - Add New. Select Carrier Account by IP Address, Destination Group to route to this carrier and Priority. 1 - designates highest priority. Enabled checkbox must be selected.
6. Routing is configured. You may wish to modify prefix handleing by each account group.This is done within each Account Groups by using Account Groups menu.

Testing

Testing Procedure

Configure your calling device. Make sure Account alias and Pasword matches those in ArrowBilling. Set the IP address of SIP proxy or H.323 gatekeeper. For H.323 devices you may also need to set GK ID. 

1. If the entry does not exist, there may be a couple of reasons for it:
   1. The call is not reaching the gatekeeper/proxy.
   2. The call is attempting to send prefix which does not exist. Please make sure you dial proper prefix.
2. If the entry does exist, please see disconnect cause for the call. If the disconnect cause is "15", possibly (but not always) the settings in Arrow Billing do not allow the caller to make call. Please see Arrow Billing configuration above and Appendix A as well for requirements to successfully authenticate the call.
3. If you see the entry, click on Call Detail in the navigation menu item Billing to see if it was properly rated. Lack of CDR entry indicates that the steps were not properly followed in creating rate tables and/or customer accounts.

Appendix A. Summary of Requirements for Successful Authorization and Authentication Message

1. Account/Alias and password matches endpoint ID  and password
2. Account Status is "Enabled".
3. Account Balance is higher than Credit limit (note that credit limit always is positive number).
4. Called Destination exists in Rate table.
5. Routing is properly configured.
   

Appendix B. How to Create Reseller Account

Reseller and Agent management is detailed explained in Reseller and Agent Management in DataTechLabs ArrowBilling

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