14 Sharing Groups

You use sharing groups in Oracle Communications Billing Care to create and maintain resource sharing groups.

To work with sharing groups, see the following topics:

• Working with Resource Sharing Groups

• About Charge Sharing

• About Discount Sharing

• About Profile Sharing

Working with Resource Sharing Groups

A resource sharing group consists of an owner and one or more members who share resources. A resource sharing group can be one of the following types:

• Charge Sharing. See "About Charge Sharing".

• Discount Sharing. See "About Discount Sharing".

• Profile Sharing. See "About Profile Sharing".

• Collections Sharing. See "About Collections Sharing".

You create resource sharing groups by selecting members and the services that the owner wants to include. For example, the charges and discounts for IP services could be shared. A member account can participate in multiple sharing groups. And, if multiple group owners invite a member to share charges or discounts for the same service, the member can join any or all sharing groups for that service.

About Charge Sharing

Charge sharing enables a customer to sponsor the charges of other accounts or services in the system. For example, it enables a company to pay for all of its employees' GSM telephony services, or a parent to pay for the child's SMS and email services.

When a member incurs charges sponsored by the owner, the charges are applied to the owner's balance group first. Any charges that remain afterward impact the member's balance group.

Use Charge Sharing in the Sharing Groups menu to add, view, modify, or delete charge sharing groups and to add or delete members from a charge sharing group. For more information, see the following topics:

• Creating a New Charge Sharing Group

• Modifying a Charge Sharing Group

• Deleting a Charge Sharing Group

• Adding Members to a Charge Sharing Group

• Viewing the Membership List in a Charge Sharing Group

• Searching for a Member in a Charge Sharing Group

• Removing One or More Members from a Charge Sharing Group

• Modifying a Member's Details

• Modifying Priorities for Members of a Charge Sharing Group

• New or Edit Charge Sharing Group Page

Creating a New Charge Sharing Group

To create a new charge sharing group:

1. Navigate to the account page. For information about searching for an account and viewing the account page, see "Finding an Account".

2. On the account page, from the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

3. Click New in the Charge Sharing pane.

   The New Charge Sharing Group page appears.

4. In the Name field, enter a name for the charge sharing group.

5. Select Defer update of parent balance to postpone updating the balance of a parent account.

6. From the Services list, either select the required service or select Account for non-service charges.

   A list of charge shares appears in the Charges to be Shared table. This table displays the name, description, events, and validity period of the charge.

7. Select one or more charges to be shared from the table.

8. Click Save.

   A charge sharing group is created with no members.

Modifying a Charge Sharing Group

To modify a charge sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click Edit () for the group that you want to modify.

   The Edit Charge Sharing Group page appears.

3. To change the name of the charge sharing group, enter a new name.

4. To postpone the process of updating the balance of a parent account, select Defer update of parent balance. If already selected, you can deselect it to cancel postponing the process.

5. To add or remove charges from the group, select or deselect the charges in the Charges Shared table.

6. Click Save.

Deleting a Charge Sharing Group

To delete a charge sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click Delete () for the group that you want to delete.

   A warning message appears.

3. Click Delete.

Adding Members to a Charge Sharing Group

To add members to a charge sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, do one of the following:

   • If the group has existing members, click the link showing the number of members, and then Add Members.
   • If the group has no members, click Add Members.

   The Add Members dialog box appears, displaying the Find Members tab.

3. Enter the account search criteria and click Search.

   The search results appear on the right. The search returns a maximum of 50 results. Refine your search criteria if you do not find the account you are searching for.

4. Select one or more accounts to add as members.

5. Click Next.

   The Select Service tab appears.

6. From the list, either select the required service or select Account for non-service charges that you want to include for charge sharing.

   To include services for future purchases, select the appropriate services from the checklist displayed below the service selection field.

7. Click Save.

Viewing the Membership List in a Charge Sharing Group

To view the membership list in a charge sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members.

Searching for a Member in a Charge Sharing Group

To search for a member in a charge sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members.

3. Click Search.

   The Search Members dialog box appears.

4. Enter the member account search criteria and click Search.

   The search results appear. The search returns a maximum of 200 results.

   Tip:

   To view all the members' accounts again, click Search and then, in the Search Members dialog box, click Reset.

Removing One or More Members from a Charge Sharing Group

To remove one or more members from the charge sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members in that group.

3. Select one or more members to remove.

4. Click Delete.

   A confirmation message appears.

5. Click Remove.

Modifying a Member's Details

You can modify a member account in a charge sharing group to include or exclude services based on the requirements. For example, you can add future purchases and non-service charges or remove services that are currently being charged by the group owner. The charges for each specific service you select are assumed by the group owner.

To modify the details of a member account:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members in that group.

3. Click Edit () next to the account details.

   The Member Details page appears that lists all the services for that account.

4. To add or remove a service for current or future purchases, select or deselect the appropriate services from the checklist.

5. Click Save.

Modifying Priorities for Members of a Charge Sharing Group

You can increase or decrease priorities for members of charge sharing groups.

To modify the priorities of charge sharing group members:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Charge Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Membership section, click Edit () for the member for which you want to modify the priority.

   The Modify Priorities appears with a list of group names and existing priority settings.

3. Select the up arrow (move up) or the down arrow (move down) to increase or decrease the priority.

4. Click Save.

New or Edit Charge Sharing Group Page

Use the New or Edit Charge Sharing Group page to:

• Create and modify charge sharing groups

• Add or remove members from charge sharing groups

• Select specific services for charge sharing groups

Field	Description
Name	Name the charge sharing group. The name you enter must be unique. You cannot use this name for any other discount or charge sharing group owned by the account.
Services	Select a service. You can either select the specific service or select Account for non-service charges.
Charges to be Shared	This table lists the charges that the group owner will assume for the group members. Each row displays the charge name, description, event type included in the charge, and validity period of the charge.

About Discount Sharing

Discount sharing is based on discounts purchased by the owner as part of a product rate plan. Shared discounts impact the member's balance groups by either increasing noncurrency resources or reducing the currency impact of an event.

For discount sharing groups, the noncurrency resources that were offered as part of the discount have been depleted in the owner account; for example, a monthly discount of free minutes that has already been consumed by the owner or other members. In this case, the member still benefits from currency-type shared discounts such as a 10% reduction on bills for email usage or a $15 discount on overseas calls.

Use Discount Sharing in the Sharing Groups menu to add, modify, or delete discount sharing groups and to add or delete members from a discount sharing group. For more information, see the following topics:

• Creating a Discount Sharing Group

• Modifying a Discount Sharing Group

• Deleting a Discount Sharing Group

• Adding Members to the Discount Sharing Group

• Viewing the Membership List in a Discount Sharing Group

• Searching for a Member in a Discount Sharing Group

• Removing One or More Members from the Discount Sharing Group

• Modifying a Member's Details

• Modifying Priorities for Members of a Discount Sharing Group

• New or Edit Discount Sharing Group Page

Creating a Discount Sharing Group

To create a discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. Click New in the Discount Sharing pane.

   The New Discount Sharing Group page appears.

3. In the Name field, enter a name for the discount sharing group.

4. Select Defer update of parent balance to postpone updating the balance of a parent account.

5. From the Services list, either select the required service or select Account for non-service charges.

6. Select one or more discounts to share.

7. Click Save.

   A discount sharing group is created with no members.

Modifying a Discount Sharing Group

Note:

You cannot use Billing Care to modify automated discount sharing groups.

To modify a discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click Edit () for the group that you want to modify.

   The Edit Discount Sharing Group page appears.

3. To change the name of the discount sharing group, enter a new name in the Name field.

4. To postpone the process of updating the balance of a parent account, select Defer update of parent balance. If already selected, you can deselect it to cancel postponing the process.

5. To add or remove discounts from the group, select or deselect the discounts in the Discounts to Apply table.

6. Click Save.

Deleting a Discount Sharing Group

Note:

You cannot delete automated discount sharing groups.

To delete a discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click Delete () for the group that you want to delete.

   A warning message appears.

3. Click Delete.

Adding Members to the Discount Sharing Group

Note:

You cannot use Billing Care to add members to automated discount sharing groups.

To add members to a discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, do one of the following:

   • If the group has existing members, click the link showing the number of members, and then Add Members.
   • If the group has no members, click Add Members.

   The Add Members dialog box appears, displaying the Find Members tab.

3. Enter the account search criteria and click Search.

   The search results appear on the right. The search returns a maximum of 50 results. Refine your search criteria if do not find the account you are searching for.

4. Select one or more accounts to add as members.

5. Click Next.

   The Select Service tab appears.

6. From the list, either select the required service or select Account for non-service charges that you want to include for charge sharing.

   To include services for future purchases, select the appropriate services from the checklist displayed below the service selection field.

7. Click Save.

Viewing the Membership List in a Discount Sharing Group

To view the membership list in a discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members.

Searching for a Member in a Discount Sharing Group

To search for a member in a discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members.

3. Click Search.

   The Search Members dialog box appears.

4. Enter the member account search criteria and click Search.

   The search results appear. The search returns a maximum of 200 results.

   Tip:

   To view all the members accounts again, click Search and then, in the Search Members dialog box, click Reset.

Removing One or More Members from the Discount Sharing Group

Note:

You cannot remove members from automated discount sharing groups.

To remove one or more members from the discount sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members in that group.

3. Select one or more members to remove.

4. Click Delete.

   A confirmation message appears.

5. Click Remove.

Modifying a Member's Details

You can modify a member account in a discount sharing group to include or exclude services based on the requirements. For example, you can add future purchases and non-service charges or remove services that are currently applicable for discount by the group owner.

To modify the details of a member account:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Charge Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members in that group.

3. Click Edit () next to the account details.

   The Member Details page appears that lists all the services for that account.

4. To add or remove a service for current or future purchases, select or deselect the appropriate services from the checklist.

5. Click Save.

Modifying Priorities for Members of a Discount Sharing Group

You can increase or decrease priorities for members of discount sharing groups.

To modify the priorities of discount sharing group members:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Discount Sharing.

   The Discount Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Membership section, click Edit () for the member for which you want to modify the priority.

   The Modify Priorities page appears with a list of group names and existing priority settings.

3. Select the up arrow (move up) or the down arrow (move down) to increase or decrease the priority.

4. Click Save.

New or Edit Discount Sharing Group Page

Use the New or Edit Discount Sharing page to:

• Create and modify discount sharing groups

• Add or remove members from discount sharing groups

• Select specific services for discount sharing groups

Field	Description
Name	Name the discount sharing group. The name you enter must be unique. You cannot use this name for any other discount or charge sharing group owned by the account.
Services	Select a service. You can either select the specific service or select Account for non-service charges.
Discounts to Apply	This table lists the discounts that the group owner will share with the group members. Each row displays the discount name, description, quantity, event type included in the discount, and validity period of the discount.

About Profile Sharing

A profile sharing group enables an account or an account's service to share a profile with other accounts or services. A profile stores ERAs or other types of information about an account.

The group owner can be an account or a service. If an account is the owner, profiles from all the services owned by the account are available for sharing. If a specific service is the owner, only profiles of that service are available for sharing. For example, a friends and family list can be set up for a GSM service owned by one account and then shared so that a GSM service belonging to other accounts can use the same list.

Note:

Only service-level profiles can be shared. Account-level profiles cannot be shared, even if the profile sharing group is owned by an account.

Use Profile Sharing in the Sharing Groups menu to add, modify, or delete profile sharing groups and to add or delete members from a profile sharing group. For more information, see the following topics:

• Creating a Profile Sharing Group

• Modifying a Profile Sharing Group

• Deleting a Profile Sharing Group

• Adding Members to the Profile Sharing Group

• Removing One or More Members from the Profile Sharing Group

• New or Edit Profile Sharing Group Page

Creating a Profile Sharing Group

To create a profile sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Profile Sharing.

   The Profile Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. Click New next to the Profile Sharing pane.

   The New Profile Sharing Group page appears.

3. In the Name field, enter a name for the profile sharing group.

4. From the Services list, either select the required service or select Account for non-service charges.

   A list of profiles that are available for sharing, appears in the Profile Shared table. This table displays the type, label and the account/service of the accounts.

5. Select one or more accounts for profile sharing.

6. Click Save.

   A profile sharing group is created with no members.

Modifying a Profile Sharing Group

To modify a profile sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Profile Sharing.

   The Profile Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click Edit () for the group that you want to modify.

   The Edit Profile Sharing Group page appears.

3. To change the name of the profile sharing group, in the Name field, enter a new name for the group.

4. To add or remove profiles shared from the group, in the Profiles Shared table, select or deselect the profiles in the group.

5. Click Save.

Deleting a Profile Sharing Group

To delete a profile sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Profile Sharing.

   The Profile Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click Delete () for the group that you want to delete.

   A warning message appears.

3. Click Delete.

Adding Members to the Profile Sharing Group

To add members to a profile sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Profile Sharing.

   The Profile Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, do one of the following:

   • If the group has existing members, click the link showing the number of members, and then Add Members.
   • If the group has no members, click Add Members.

   The Add Members dialog box appears, displaying the Find Members tab.

3. Enter the account search criteria and click Search.

   The search results appear on the right. The search returns a maximum of 50 results. Refine your search criteria if you do not find the account you are searching for.

4. Select one or more accounts to add as members.

5. Click Next.

   The Select Service tab appears.

6. From the list, either select the services you want to include for charge sharing.

   Note:

   You can either select the specific service or select Account for non-service charges.

   To include services for future purchases, select the appropriate services from the checklist displayed below the service selection field.

7. Click Save.

Removing One or More Members from the Profile Sharing Group

To remove one or more members from a profile sharing group:

1. From the Actions menu, select Sharing Groups, and then Profile Sharing.

   The Profile Sharing page appears, with Ownership and Membership sections.

2. In the Ownership section, click the link showing the number of members.

   The Members page appears with a list of members in that group.

3. Select one or more members to remove.

4. Click Delete.

   A confirmation message appears.

5. Click Remove.

New or Edit Profile Sharing Group Page

Use the New or Edit Profile Sharing Group page to:

• Create and modify profile sharing groups

• Add or remove members from profile sharing groups

Field	Description
Name	Name the profile sharing group. The name you enter must be unique. You cannot use this name for any other profile sharing group owned by the account.
Group owner	Select a service. You can either select the specific service or Account for non-services.