Using the Import Export Connector (IEC)

As a price model developer, you want to test your new model with consumption data. To do this, you create CSV files containing test data that simulates CPU, RAM, and Bandwidth usage for your rating and charging scenarios. These CSV files are uploaded as chargeable items into SAP Convergent Charging using the Import Export Connector. The SAP Convergent Charging Import/Export Connector (IEC) is an application that facilitates the import and export of low volume data between different systems, applications, sources, and destinations. The IEC application is responsible for scheduled data transfers between the external systems and the SAP Convergent Charging system.

IEC allows you to do the following:

• Transfer data from external systems to SAP Convergent Charging.
• Modify and consolidate transferred data regardless of the transfer method.
• Collect data from files or external databases.
• Extract lines from files, line by line, or extract all the lines which are inserted between two specific lines.
• Manipulate complex character strings, such as CSV parsing.
• Create chargeable items from collected data.
• Send XML API requests to SAP Convergent Charging Core Server.
• Execute SQL requests.
• Perform XML and XSL operations.

A scenario consists of a series of interconnected actions to be carried out, and can be scheduled based on the parameters specified in the scenario's root element. The execution of a scenario can be performed using SAP Convergent Charging IEC.

A scenario is a set of linked actions to be executed. This entity may be scheduled according to the parameters defined in the scenario root element.

A scenario can be executed by SAP Convergent Charging Import/Export Connector.

To define the scenario, the following four steps need to be considered in a business context:

• Data Collection: Identifying the process for importing data in the scenario. For example, collecting Consumption Data Records from files line by line.
• Data Modification: Determining how to make the collected data exportable, such as generating one chargeable item from each collected line and parsing them through a CSV parser.
• Data Export: Outlining the process for exporting data from the scenario, such as sending chargeable items to be rated to SAP Convergent Charging Core Server using Message API.
• Execution Period: Establishing the frequency of executing the scenario, such as every hour.