Understanding Processing Methods
Head end systems, external applications, and market participants can have one or more associated processing methods that define the format or means by which it receives or sends data from or to the application, such as bill determinants, interval data, or meter events. Processing methods are also used to define how to create information internal to the application such as initial measurement data and usage transactions. Processing methods can also be used to define the information an external system wishes to subscribe to receive from our application.
At the lowest level processing methods are used to identify an outbound message type, business object, batch control, or message category and number.
Each processing method is comprised of a business object that defines what is being mapped as well as how it should be mapped.
Important Processing Method System Events
The actual logic to determine the appropriate output for a given head end system, external application, or market participant and processing role for a processing method is executed by the following system event:
- Determine Processing Method(s): is a business object algorithm system event that takes in a head end system, external application, or market participant, a processing role, and a list of relevant input data aka related object (e.g. a measuring component, device, etc). For the head end system or external application and the input data it will analyze the selection criteria to determine the appropriate output.
How Processing Methods Work
Processing methods perform two basic tasks:
- They define the criteria for selecting the appropriate output. This can be as simple as providing a single object in return without qualification or in more involved situations it could support determining the appropriate return object based on characteristics of the data being processed. This is accomplished through the data structure defined on the processing method business object.
- They evaluate the criteria for selecting the appropriate output given a specific head end system, external application, or market participant. This is accomplished through the Determine Processing Method system event on the processing method business object.
Each processing method business object can be associated to one or more processing roles. This is done by adding the Applicable Processing Role business object option. It is these processing roles that actually create the association between a head end system, external application, or market participant, the processing method, and the functional event that is being executed. For example, when initial measurement data is processed through the IMD Seeder the processing role Initial Measurement Creation is used to identify the processing method "How to Create MC Related Information" which maps a particular measuring component type to the appropriate initial measurement business object to be used for processing.
When system logic requires the results of a processing method the service Determine Service Providers and Methods is used. This service is available to call via Java or from within scripting through the business service of the same name. It can be called in one of two ways:
With a head end system, external application, or market participant: identifies the appropriate output for a single head end system, external application, or market participant being processed for the input processing role and related objects
Without a head end system, external application, or market participant: used to identify subscribing sysems. This will provide a list of any head end system, external application, or market participant that has the input processing role and an appropriate output given the related objects.
Processing Methods Available
There are the following processing methods provided by the base package:
|
Name |
Details |
Business Object |
|
How to Create OB COMM/Send OB Message |
Identifies Message Number/Category, Business Object, Outbound Message Type and allows for an override by a device type. |
D1-HowToCreateActivityOBComm |
|
How to Create MC Related Information |
Identifies a business object and allows for an override by measuring component type. |
D1-HowToCreateMCInformation |
|
How to Process Device Event Related Info |
Identifies a business object, outbound message type, and batch control by device event category allowing for an override by device event type. |
D1-HowToProcDvcEvtsInformation |
|
How to Process Device Related Information |
Identifies a business object and allows for an override by device type. |
D1-HowToProcessDeviceInfo |
|
How to Send Activity Related Information |
Identifies a batch control and business object by activity type and allows for an override by device type. |
D1-HowToSendActInformation |
|
How to Send Activity Related O\B Messages |
Identifies an outbound message type, message category, and message number and allows for override by activity type. |
D1-HowToSendActivityResponse |
|
How To Create US Related Information |
Identifies a business object and allows for override by usage subscription type. |
D2-HowToCreateUSInformation |
|
How To Send US Related Information |
Identifies a batch control, business object, and outbound message type and allows for override by usage subscription type. |
D2-HowToSendUSInformation |
|
How to Process Service Point Related Info |
Identifies a business object and allows for override by service point type. |
D1-HowToProcSPRelatedInfo |
|
How to Send Field Activity Related Info |
Identifies a outbound message type and allows for an override by field task type. |
D1-HowToSendFARelatedInfo |
|
How to Send Field Activity Remark Info |
Identifies an outbound message type for an activity remark type. |
D1-HowToSendActivityRemarkInfo |
|
How to Translate External Value |
Identifies a business object and allows for override by identifier. |
D1-HowToTranslateExternalValue |
|
How to Request Customer Notification |
Identifies a list of outbound message types. |
D1-HowToRequestCustomerNotific |
|
How to Process Business Flag Related Info |
Identifies an outbound message type and allows for an override by business flag type. |
D1-HowToProcessBusinessFlagInf |