System usage types are pre-defined in the IDI platform. You can change the Name of the system usage type (which does not change its function) and you can determine whether or not it will be available for selection when creating Pricing Plan.
Each usage type is based on one of three usage units: seconds, occurrences, percentage.
Seconds-based usage types generally use the duration of the usage to determine the charge assessed to the customer.
Note
This unit cannot be used with occurrence-based rating methods, such as the Occurrences or Total Occurrences rating methods.
Occurrence-based usage, while using the duration field of a usage record, usually counts the number of instances of usage (rather than length of usage) to determine the charge. The duration field contains the number of instances/clicks/uses.
Note
This unit cannot be used with the seconds-based rating methods.
Percentage-based usage uses the duration field of the Usage Detail Record as a percentage amount, not a length of usage. This percentage is assumed to have four decimal places. For example, if the percentage for a record detail is 50.435%, it is represented in the duration field of the usage detail record as 504350.
Since the duration fields can be quite large, you should increase the Maximum Call Duration field in the Audit section of Rating and Billing Options.
Currently, only user-defined usage types can use this usage unit.
This unit cannot be used with tiered rating methods, such as the Occurrences, Minutes, Total Count, or Total Occurrences rating methods.
This unit can only be used with second-based rating methods.
The system uses the following calculation to determine the charge:
(Duration / 1000000) * Rate Plan Detail Amount = Charge Amount
The shortcut menu for the Usage Types table lets you edit usage types. See Working With Data Management Tables.