The high-level process from loading measurements through calculating usage is as follows1:
Load Initial Measurements: This step involves loading the raw measurement data from the head-end systems or other sources into the Initial Measurement Data (IMD) table. The IMD can be of scalar or interval type, and can have different statuses, such as new, processed, or rejected2.
Validate, edit, and estimate Initial Measurements: This step involves applying the Validation, Estimation, and Editing (VEE) rules to the IMD to check for data quality, completeness, and accuracy. The VEE rules can perform various actions, such as validating the IMD against predefined criteria, editing the IMD values based on business logic, estimating the missing or invalid IMD values based on historical or statistical methods, or generating exceptions for the IMD that require manual intervention3.
Create Final Measurements: This step involves creating the Final Measurement Data (FMD) from the IMD that have passed the VEE rules. The FMD are the processed and validated measurement data that are used for further processing, such as usage calculation, billing, reporting, or analysis. The FMD can also have derived values that are calculated from the FMD values using derivation formulas.
Calculate Usage: This step involves calculating the usage transactions from the FMD using the usage calculation rules. The usage calculation rules define how to calculate the service quantity and price for a usage transaction based on the usage subscription, the rate schedule, the measuring components, and other parameters. The usage transactions are the output of the usage calculation process that are used for billing or other purposes. References:
1: Overview of Usage Calculation
2: About Initial Measurements
3: About Validation, Estimation, and Editing
: About Final Measurements
: About Usage Transactions
