| News & Views Data Migration Survey Will Generate Ideas, Thought Leadership and Solutions
 By Phil Dance, Managing Director, BT Design and Innovate, BT Group
Data migration remains one of the major challenges facing all new systems implementations. We no longer have green field opportunities, and 24x7 business processes makes it difficult—or nearly impossible— to find adequate downtime to migrate data from old systems.
Read More  |  | TM Forum Expands Cable Multiple System Operator Outreach
 By Donna Bastien, Marketing Manager, Collaboration Program
TM Forum has made the Internet Protocol Detail Record (IPDR) interface specification available to the public. Extending the specification’s reach beyond TM Forum members will help drive the adoption of IPDR. The intent is to maximize and accelerate IPDR use by hardware and software suppliers and systems integrators. Already, TM Forum is developing and extending the specification’s reach through contributions of MSO members and ongoing work with CableLabs® through TM Forum’s Cable Multiple System Operator (MSO) initiative.
Read More Help IPsphere Specify and Deliver IP-Based Services
 By Donna Bastien, Marketing Manager, Collaboration Program
The IPsphere team is seeking developers and business-oriented people to assist them in developing an open, multi-stakeholder services framework for the rapid creation and automated deployment of IP-based services.
Read More Service Delivery Framework Documents in Final Approval Process
By Donna Bastien, Marketing Manager, Collaboration Program
Two Service Delivery Framework (SDF) documents are available for formal member vote:
TMF061, Service Delivery Framework Reference Architecture
TMF519, Service Delivery Framework Business Agreement, Release 1.1 Service providers must standardize and automate service delivery processes across service lifecycles when dealing with media-rich, converged services.
Read More | What's Happening The Business Process Framework (eTOM)—Taking It To a New Level
Team members have introduced level-four processes in selected areas. Check out Solution Frameworks Mappings, Release 1.0 (GB942MAP).
The level of decomposition for the Business Process Framework (eTOM) has hovered at Level-3 process elements, but the need for a set of lower-level processes inspired a group of dedicated eTOM and Information Framework (SID) team members to go to Level 4 in selected areas. The selected areas include: Order Handling, Service Configuration and Activation, Resource Provisioning, Problem Handling, Service Problem Management, Resource Trouble Management, and Service Quality Management.
The purpose of the Level-4 decomposition is to save members time, as they can have a standard way of decomposing lower-level processes through the published eTOM. The Level-4 processes will become part of the updated set of Integration Framework guide books (the book containing the draft Level-4 processes is known as the GB942MAP). TM Forum Solution Frameworks (NGOSS) Mappings also reveal inter-framework relationships, which helps foster a holistic approach to processes, information, applications, or integration.
 Now Available: Evolving SDPs – Essential Plumbing For Smart Pipes
Click here for more information and to download it now.
Two New Catalysts For Management World Americas
The Dynamic (Syndicated) Content Delivery (DCD) Catalyst and Application Data Migration (ADM) Catalyst will be featured in Forumville during Management World Americas.
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| TM Forum Case Study: T-Mobile, Comarch Consolidate Legacy Inventory Systems TM Forum standards expedited improvements in Comarch’s systems and in problem and incident management within T-Mobile’s fault management and trouble ticketing capabilities. By Susana Schwartz, Editor, Research & Publications A new TM Forum case study, submitted for the November edition of the “Case Study Handbook” details how T-Mobile and its inventory system supplier, Comarch, built a Resource and Service Inventory (R&SI) system using TM Forum standards. The case study reveals how both companies worked to develop and integrate R&SI with existing inventory and configuration management systems using TM Forum’s Solution Frameworks (NGOSS) and Business Process Framework (eTOM).  | Malgorzata Kwatera-
Knapek, OSS Solution Manager at Comarch | “We find that more and more of our service provider customers are becoming standards-oriented in their attempts to lower integration costs and improve maintenance of different systems; they increasingly look for COTS [commercial-off-the-shelf] that are standards compliant,” says Malgorzata Kwatera-Knapek, OSS solution manager, Comarch. She adds that TM Forum frameworks provide Comarch useful recommendations of how the majority of its customers want systems to be built. “That helps position us in the market as a company that wants to ease integration and improve long-term maintenance of systems,” she says. Most recently, Comarch introduced a new complement to its platform for OSS process management. The company also used TM Forum recommendations for how to map ITIL onto eTOM so that “off-the-shelf,” its workflow engine could be used to further streamline OSS operations. “That work really expedited the configuration for us.” says Kwatera-Knapek. In terms of the T-Mobile project, Comarch needed to use standards to expedite the creation of a service inventory layer that would offer T-Mobile an end-to-end representation of its services. “We wanted to improve incident and problem management processes through a holistic view of not only technical resources, but 'organizational' resources as well,” says Kwatera-Knapek. “That will help T-Mobile match units to services so it will be possible to know who is responsible for what.” In other words, the consolidation of different resource inventory systems into one system means there now exists a model of services that enables T-Mobile to see the relationships among different domains. “Now our customer can see how the same element in the network is related to the ‘planned picture’ and discovered network data,” says Kwatera-Knapek. Additionally, she notes, “the service inventory layer—the source of customer facing services for systems like fault management and trouble ticketing—allows T-Mobile to ‘drill up’ from the resource information to the service information, as well as down from the service to the resource information.”
By integrating different sources of resource inventory information into one system, and by adding a service inventory layer that represents the customer facing services, there is now an end-to-end representation of services. That layer uses Comarch service modeling capabilities within a SID-based data model. Back to top
Data Migration Survey Will Generate Ideas, Thought Leadership and Solutions By Phil Dance, Managing Director, BT Design and Innovate, BT Group Data migration remains one of the major challenges facing all new systems implementations. We no longer have green field opportunities, and 24x7 business processes makes it difficult—or nearly impossible— to find adequate down time to migrate data from old systems. As a TM Forum member and board member, I have spoken to a number of service providers who have shared my concerns through discussions in the Data Migration community. Based on this feedback, I have been working with TM Forum colleagues to understand how we can provide help and guidance on the data migration challenge.  We feel a good place to start is an analysis of the major issues that we all face and the current state-of-the-art solutions. We have compiled a short questionnaire to provide data for the analysis, guide our thoughts, and inform a whitepaper and session presentation at Management World Americas in Orlando. When you complete the survey you will be entered to win an iPod Touch™. The iPod Touch™ drawing closes November 25, 2009.
The TM Forum can only help if we know what the real issues are, so please take the time to complete the questionnaire, or ask one of your trusted colleagues to do it for you. If we have great data we can offer good advice. Regards, Phil Dance
Managing Director BT Design and Innovate
BT Group Board Member
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TM Forum Expands Cable Multiple System Operator Outreach  By Donna Bastien, Marketing Manager, Collaboration Program
TM Forum has made the Internet Protocol Detail Record (IPDR) interface specification available to the public. Extending the specification’s reach beyond TM Forum members will help drive the adoption of IPDR. The intent is to maximize and accelerate IPDR use by hardware and software suppliers and systems integrators. Already, TM Forum is developing and extending the specification’s reach through contributions of MSO members and ongoing work with CableLabs® through TM Forum’s Cable Multiple System Operator (MSO) initiative.
IPDR has earned a reputation as a specification capable of gathering more robust data sets at lower costs and at faster speeds than other standards can achieve. These benefits have driven IP network and service providers to gather and exchange usage measurement data records using IPDR—particularly valuable for next-generation services that depend on an extended value-chain of partners. The IPDR specifications have already been widely adopted by industry leaders, such as CableLabs®, which adopted IPDR/SP as a mandatory part of DOCSIS™ (Data over Cable Service Interface Specification) and OpenCable™.
With IPDR, MSOs and service providers bill for complex, IP-based services, without lengthy development. IPDR also makes it easier to monitor service patterns and usage, thus increasing revenue and improving management for operational efficiency.
The IPDR Solution Suite incorporates a comprehensive set of tools, including IPDR Streaming Protocol Specification, Business Solution Requirements, IPDR Specification Design Guide, File Transfer Mode Protocol Specifications, Ley Service Specifications, the, IPDR/XDR Encoding Format, and IPDR Usage Data Accounting Requirements.
Resources - For more information on IPDR standards, visit the TM Forum IPDR website. To stay up-to-date with Usage Data Management and IPDR activities, or to make contributions, join the IPDR User Group and the TM Forum Interfaces Community.
- Visit Management World Americas, Orlando, December 8-10, 2009 for an executive debate on “Where Does Cable Go Next?” The debate will feature Roberto Nobile, COO, Cablevision Argentina, Tom Vari, CIO & SVP, Application Delivery, Rogers Communications, Inc, and Rodrigo Duclos, CTO, Net Serviços. An extensive series of cable industry-oriented presentations will be given in the Cable Stream.
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Help IPsphere Specify and Deliver IP-Based Services  By Donna Bastien, Marketing Manager, Collaboration Program
The IPsphere team is seeking developers and business-oriented people to assist them in developing an open, multi-stakeholder services framework for the rapid creation and automated deployment of IP-based services.
Already, the IPsphere Framework specifications have been trialed by four international Tier-1 operators using a complex high-definition video conferencing application, which was demonstrated at Management World 2009 in Nice. Additionally, the Framework is being applied in the defense industry, which relies heavily on network-centric operations that allow for communications anywhere, anytime on the battlefield (read below, “IPsphere Framework Finds Its Place In the Defense Industry).
The IPsphere Framework defines mechanisms for the automated offer, purchase, and provisioning of service components among multiple stakeholders. It is a framework based on the principles of service-oriented architecture (SOA), which enables service providers to abstract objects so they can be mixed and matched according to user needs. The next release of IPsphere specifications will include use cases, a tutorial, a QoS document, Release 2 architecture specifications, and functional blocks enhancements.
IPsphere Framework Finds Its Place In Defense Industry
The IPsphere Framework enables network-centric operations, which are critical to the defense industry. Network-centric operations are necessary if people are to access the information they need when they need it, regardless of the network in which the information resides.
To exchange and manage information such as quality, security, and accounting across administrative boundaries, the defense industry has found that IPsphere’s federated framework helps end users use standardized templates to define services, as well as identify and select providers that offer capabilities meeting the criteria for those services. As a result, network infrastructures can be offered to a growing array of users on an ad hoc basis.
An excellent Government Computer News article, “Military Grapples with Missing Links to its Global Network," describes the defense industry’s need for network-centric operations and the role IPsphere will play.
The TM Forum Defense Interest Group is leveraging the IPsphere Framework in order to specify and deliver services. The results will be demonstrated in a technology innovation Catalyst at Management World Americas, taking place in Orlando from December 8-10.
For more information on IPsphere, visit the IPsphere website or participate in the community discussions. To join the team, please contact Paul McCullin at pmccullin@tmforum.org.
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Service Delivery Framework Documents in Final Approval Process Two Service Delivery Framework (SDF) documents are available for formal member vote:
TMF061, Service Delivery Framework Reference Architecture
TMF519, Service Delivery Framework Business Agreement, Release 1.1 Service providers must standardize and automate service delivery processes across service lifecycles when dealing with media-rich, converged services. They can get a start by: - Using a variety of network infrastructures, including telecom and IT;
- Customizing for small target markets, including the market of one;
- Composing services from individual service elements that may be acquired from or exposed to third parties.
The Service Delivery Framework (SDF) Program helps companies accomplish those goals by creating an industry reference for the management of new services traversing different boundaries—whether network and IT, or any across the service provider organization. The reference provides structure to an environment in which customers and end-users can blend existing and new services so that services can be made available anywhere, anytime, and through any access method.
The Service Delivery Framework Program defines a conceptual management structure for enabling the delivery of next-generation services—independent of the underlying software or network technologies used to implement those services. This service delivery management structure addresses the full services lifecycle, covering such important use cases as concept-to-cash, service marketplace, service composition or aggregation, and service catalogs.
The program describes the service delivery management landscape and provides a reference model and a reference architecture of the essential building blocks needed to manage the delivery of next-generation services. The reference model and architecture form the basis for detailed service delivery management requirements.
For information on the Service Delivery Framework team click here or join the SDF Community here. TMF061, Service Delivery Framework Reference Architecture, Release 1.0
The Service Delivery Framework Reference Architecture document provides the conceptual definition of essential design patterns, including their scope and characteristics, which the SDF architecture must support. These elements are specified at an abstract level, independent of implementation technologies, deployment and execution environments, as well as any specific business scenarios they might support.
TMF061 provides an overview of the essential Reference Architecture element, describes why a standardized SDF framework is required to manage the SDF Service Lifecycle, and explains how the SDF Service Management Interface exposes manageability. The document also includes: - The SDF Reference Information Architecture: the data manipulated by the SDF architecture components
- The SDF Support Services: the components of the SDF Reference Architecture
- A mapping of the introduced components against a business scenario, Management of Composed Service, in order to explain how TMF061 elements can be put together to form a SDF Reference Architecture.
- SDF design challenges when used across ownership boundaries.
TMF519, Service Delivery Framework Business Agreement, Release 1.1
The Service Delivery Framework (SDF) Business Agreement document outlines the requirements for a flexible and efficient life-cycle-management of next-generation services. It describes SDF business objectives and business requirements, including: - SDF Integration Infrastructure
- SDF Managed Entities
- SDF Management
- SDF Functional Capabilities
- SDF Support for Customer, Supplier and Partner Relationships
All business objectives and requirements have been captured in a Requirements Management Tool, where information such as the original source for each objective or requirement is registered in addition to each specific objective or requirement text. Call To Action: The Service Delivery Framework team has just initiated Phase IV of its work, which will focus on specification development. The team is soliciting service provider business scenarios and use cases that highlight the challenges of end-to-end service management. The use cases will be used to validate the specifications and to drive team priorities.
The team is also soliciting input on existing standards, technologies, and product implementations regarding end-to-end service lifecycle management, such as service management metadata definitions and management, service registry, and management interfaces for highly distributed environments. | Back to top
Two New Catalysts For Management World Americas
The Dynamic (Syndicated) Content Delivery (DCD) Catalyst and Application Data Migration (ADM) Catalyst will be featured in Forumville during Management World Americas. Check Out the Dynamic Content Delivery Catalyst In Forumville
By Eric Troup, TM Forum Member and Industry Architect, Microsoft
The Dynamic (Syndicated) Content Delivery (DCD) Catalyst project builds on the success of the TM Forum Content Encounter. The goal is to move closer to a multi-industry architecture that empowers consumers to access content over any available network connection, using any convenient device.
Several initiatives such as “TV Everywhere” from the cable industry are seeking to provide seamless consumer access to digital content on disparate devices. The DCD Catalyst defines a solution that is decoupled from access network technologies in anticipation of next generation IP networks, including 4G wireless. Content is defined more broadly to include video, entertainment, and hosted services. We call this “Widespread Access to Video, Entertainment, and Services (WAVES).
The technologies in the DCD Catalyst include: an active catalog component, a federated identity solution, and multiple devices. The implementation of an active catalog is important as the definition of content expands and as distribution channels become more far reaching.
The federated user identity allows a consumer to access content licensed from multiple content providers on any number of different computing devices regardless of how attached to the network. The DCD Catalyst uses version 2 of the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML 2.0), an OASIS standard that provides single-sign on (SSO) among multiple identity providers and multiple content providers. SAML has wide industry support from companies like Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Computer Associates, RSA as well as the OpenSAML project. Information cards issued by the identity provider allow users to be authenticated to multiple web sites without having to provide a user name and password at each site.
Devices considered are: personal computers, portable media players, smart phones, and gaming consoles. An important aspect of a DCD WAVES solution is that each entity involved in the content/entertainment/services marketplace operate independently.
Any industry solution will require cooperation among multiple entities, including content owners/media companies, content service providers, network service providers, and technology companies that offer user devices for connecting to the network and interacting with content. This Catalyst is a first step towards that goal.
For more information, please contact Rebecca Huft.
Application Data Migration Catalyst
By Matt Hooper, CMO, Celona Technologies
Celona, a provider of business-centric application data migration software to the communications industry, has joined forces with leading systems integrator, Logica, and the leading service provider in the Netherlands, KPN, to showcase how new approaches to data migration can significantly reduce the risks, costs and overall complexity associated with operations- and business support systems' (OSS/BSS) transformation programs.
The Application Data Migration Catalyst in Orlando will demonstrate how application data migrations can be designed and run in line with business objectives. It will also show how to manage the movement of users, data, applications and processes without causing unnecessary cost and disruption to business operations. This ensures that the complexities of process-dependent data are fully managed with full compliance support, thus removing data migration from the critical path of the business.
The Catalyst will be applicable for CRM, billing, inventory and order management systems, or practically any kind of system which spans the OSS/BSS environment.
If you are interested in participating, please contact datamigrationcatalyst@celona.com.
Why Join this Catalyst?
The communications industry is going through a period of major transformation. Service Providers are working hard to optimize their OSS/BSS to drive new business models and accommodate the reality of market consolidation. Each of these activities brings a sharp focus on cost consolidation, enhanced customer support and improved operational efficiency—key drivers to business transformation, which in turn drives the need for Application Data Migration.
The majority (about 60 percent) of all migrations either overrun or even fail, according to Bloor Research. Managing the risk of migration in OSS/BSS involves migrating large volumes of complex data across multiple business applications from legacy systems and infrastructure. Today’s OSS/BSS applications are highly interdependent and have business processes that operate on a 24/7 basis. As a result, it can be risky for operators to upgrade and migrate to new applications such as inventory management, billing and CRM without the right data migration capabilities and tools in place. The purpose of this Catalyst is to address those challenges.
OSS/BSS operations need to navigate these challenges so that programs are completed on time and on budget, and to do so in a way that can handle inevitable changes in business requirements to secure success. This Catalyst can help service providers and partners meet these challenges.
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