Describing the Access Object

The access object is a small object that is managed by SAP Convergent Charging automatically along with provider contracts. Its header consists of only two fields:

• The user ID
• The service ID

You might recognize these two properties as two of three mandatory properties of a chargeable item class. These fields are available for all chargeable item classes.

Beyond these two fields, the access object contains a table which can contain multiple rows. Each row states a start and end date for its validity, and a reference to a contract ID and the corresponding charge within that contract.

This information is the link between the chargeable item and the contract. Whenever a chargeable item is processed by SAP Convergent Charging, the following chain of steps allows identification of the charge to process the chargeable item:

1. Search for the access object with the user ID and service ID stated in the chargeable item.
2. From the table in the access, select the line that is valid at the date and time stated by the consumption date in the chargeable item.
3. Select the contract with the ID stated in the selected table line.
4. Within the contract, select the contract item (pointing to a charge plan) that is pointing to the charge stated in the table line.
5. Let the chargeable item be processed by the price plan of that charge.

When a new contract is created in the system, SAP Convergent Charging automatically creates all access objects necessary to address all master charges with usage rates. In the business example provided for this course, a contract is created for the cloud selection service. Along with the contract, three access objects are created as shown in the following graphic.

When a contract item is terminated at a certain date, the validity of the table lines within the corresponding access object are provided with the same end date. That way, usage records with a consumption date after the contract items validity cannot be associated with the contract anymore. Rating requests will return an error in these cases, pointing to the fact that no valid access could be found for the chargeable item.

When a contract is deleted from the system, the corresponding access objects are deleted as well. As the system manages access objects automatically, access objects should not be modified by the user.