Overview
ISO/IEC 16500-9:1999 - part of the DAVIC family - defines Usage Information Protocols for generic digital audio‑visual systems. The standard specifies interface requirements, data formats and protocol stacks for collecting and transferring usage data from DAVIC system elements to External Support Systems (ESS) such as billing, pricing, and market research systems. Its purpose is to ensure consistent, interoperable exchange of usage records across delivery systems, set‑top units, servers and external business systems.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Usage data management architecture: Defines roles like Usage Data Collection Element and DAVIC System Manager, and describes usage data flows and management functions (generation, accumulation, validation, assembly, formatting, correlation and administration).
- Protocol stacks: Normative guidance for management and collection interfaces including SNMPv1 and CMIP, and how these map to usage data structures.
- Usage data structures: Specification of SNMP MIB entries, CMIP managed object classes, ASN.1 type modules, attributes, actions, notifications and name bindings used to represent usage events.
- Usage data transfer interfaces: Defines both interactive and bulk transfer methods, including bulk recording formats, file structures, file‑naming conventions, file transfer procedures, storage and removable medium handling.
- Operational & management considerations: Relationships to Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) concepts, validation and correlation support for billing integrity, and administrative operations for collection endpoints.
- File transfer protocols & options: Recommendations for transfer mechanisms (e.g., FTP options) and practical deployment considerations for reliable bulk transfer to ESS.
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO/IEC 16500-9 is targeted at organizations and professionals who need standardized, auditable usage data from digital audio‑visual services:
- Network operators & service providers - to export standard usage records for billing and revenue management.
- Billing and OSS/BSS vendors - to ingest consistent usage formats from diverse DAVIC-compliant devices.
- Content rights administrators & market researchers - to receive usage data for licensing, royalties and audience measurement.
- System integrators & device manufacturers - to implement the collection interfaces (SNMP/CMIP, MIBs/objects) on servers and set‑top units.
- Standards conformance testers - to validate interoperability of usage data exchange.
Related standards
ISO/IEC 16500 is a multipart specification. Related parts include:
- ISO/IEC 16500-1..8 (system models, protocols, information representation, security, management)
- Accompanying DAVIC technical reports and TR 16501 for additional guidance.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 16500-9, DAVIC, usage information protocols, usage data, billing interface, SNMP, CMIP, usage data transfer, digital audio‑visual systems.