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Tarrif and Call viewing software? -request- |
roskelld
Joined: Dec 01, 2001
Posts: 98
From: UK - Orange P990i
PM |
I love the idea of buckets to store my free time 
Do you think it would be such a big deal to have the config as a PC app? or maybe even a web based one, then you could send the file straight to the P800.
I've got a feeling that it might be a bit much to store the config on the phone, maybe not tho... we could really do with a coder in here to give some 010100011 direction. | |
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julianmclean
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: 118
PM |
BTW, I'm not some sort of bucket-mad freak! I just think they're neat...
This message was posted from a Pea |
Rumik
Joined: Apr 17, 2003
Posts: 117
PM, WWW
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So I take it no progress has been made with this then? |
julianmclean
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: 118
PM |
OK, here's the update on what I've been doing so far with this software. If people are interested in this, please post here or PM me with suggestions, help, ideas, whatever:
I've been taking a bit of time in the designing the objects and views that will be required in the program and so far this is how I've been trying to implement it:
Objects:
Tariff - contains details of a specific tariff for a specific network in a specific country. Has a few details on settings for peak time, etc, version, etc, and more importantly contains any number of call types and buckets (see below). The tariff objects are store in configuration files and are non-specific to the user so once a tariff object has been configured by someone, it can be distributed to anyone using the same tariff.
Call Type - a specificly identifiable usage type defined with a type (call, sms, mms, gprs, etc.), mask (e.g. 0845 numbers, 07 for mobiles, etc.), time when it applies (peak, off-peak, weekend), cost per unit. The idea is basically that every thing you do will fall into a specfic call type (e.g. calling an 0800 number after 7pm will fall into one call type.). Each call type may or may not have a bucket assignment...
Bucket - an allowance of free units, defined as a type (call, sms, etc.), units per month, etc.
Contract - specifc object for the user defining the start and end of the contract, network, a few settings, billing date, and the tariff to be implemented during each period (calculated based on the start date and monthy billing day).
State - the current state of all call types/buckets defined within a tariff for a particular month. There will be a state object for each month for the duration of the contract, which will store how many units were rolled over from the previous month for each bucket, the current remaining units for each bucket, the current usage of each call type, and the date/time that this state was last synchronised with the phone records. This state object can then be used to perform incremental syncs because you know that at a certain time you has X units, and then you only need consider what happened since then to get the current figures. Obviously changes to the tariff object will require a full sync for the entire current period, but this will be handled by the Synchoniser stuff...
Synchroniser - I've not yet done anything on this yet, but the idea is that when a sync is requested, it gets the call/sms/grps/etc record details from the phone. Next, it uses the Tariff object to map each usage to a specific call type and then updates the State object by deducting the appropriate units from the bucket and adding units onto the usage of each call type.
Network ID - Some sort of object that stores which numbers/phone book entries/etc are for you own network. This will be used by the Synchroniser to help put different calls in each call type. Got a few ideas around this but it may get messy.
Views:
Main view - shows a list of the buckets and call types for the tariff for the current month and shows how many units you have left in each bucket, and how many units you have used for each call types (or show money spent with a total).
Tariff View - for editting tariff, buckets, call types
Contract View - for editting contract
Sync View - for performing syncs
Preferences View - any other settings required
Network ID View - set which numbers are on your own network
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Anyway so far, I've got Tariff and Contract configuration files, you can load the Tariff, and edit it. Same for contract. I've built Tariff, Bucket, Call Type, Contract views and will soon be doing the other main view, etc. There's lots of polishing left to do, but the major stumbling block coming up is how to get the call/sms records from the phone. I would really appreciate some help in doing this - hopefully I can do it using JNI, but I haven't the foggiest where to start with this. When I can do this it will be a case of building the Sync object to get this info and perform the mappings to call types. There's alot of work left, but I think I've got the main concepts ready to go.
If this sounds good to you and you want to help, contribute ideas, code, anything then post here please. Specifically, anyone with JNI/Symbian experience would be a great help. What would be really good would be a pre-built API to get the stuff I need from the phone!
Comment away...
This message was posted from a Pea |
Rumik
Joined: Apr 17, 2003
Posts: 117
PM, WWW
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Sounds absolutely perfect matey. Exactly what I'm after.
I can't code, but I'm a damn fine beta tester. |
monkeymagic
Joined: Mar 26, 2003
Posts: 7
PM |
Good on yer... I can do pointless bucket icons.
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paulq77
Joined: Jun 03, 2003
Posts: 134
From: Aberdeen, UK
PM |
hi there,
I work for a mobile phone company and I think it would be a bit impossible for the software to be able to keep up with the tariffs and extra "bolt on" tariffs as there is so many and tariffs and offers change from month to month.
I reckon it might be possible but the developers would have to update it all the time to keep it valid and this would not be very cost effective to the developer or consumer.
This would be ideal in an ideal world but afraid it aint a perfect world!
We are just going to have to keep getting hit with big bills. I am getting hammered on my GPRS usage!! |
julianmclean
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: 118
PM |
@paulq77
Some good points there, and now I started trying to model all this it is indeed extremely complicated! But I am trying to alleviate some of these problems in the design of the objects, and the way the program will work:
1. Tariffs are non-user specific. As soon as a someone writes a config file for a new Tariff, it can be made available on the web and everyone can download it to use it. Tariffs will need to be versioned aswell, so you can see whether you have the most up-to-date one.
2. Tariffs can still be user configured however, for example by adding a new bucket of 60 texts if you subscribe to that option.
3. In terms of constantly changing tariffs, it is very true that they change like the wind, but an individual will be on that tariff for at least 1 monthly period with no changes and therefore for that person, at most a re-config will be required once a month.
I'm not saying it is a perfect system and it may very well crash and burn if it is not possible to keep up with tariff changes - I guess it depends how many users there are out there and whether new tariffs are easily downloadable from a central location.
Only time will tell... |
paulq77
Joined: Jun 03, 2003
Posts: 134
From: Aberdeen, UK
PM |
Yeah these are good points but then you have to consider these points as well:-
1) the time and money that is going to be consumed by the developers into researching all the tariffs changing and the time it takes to developing them.
2) They would have to pass the costs onto the consumer and the program would have to be expensive for them to break even on it.
3) Would consumers be willing to pay this??
4) T-Mobile and orange lets you find out you totally monthly bill at any time of the month via a freephone call and you can find out how many free minutes and text you have left so would this software really be a viable option as i am sure Voda and O2 will go the same way.
5) At lastly, did you know there is loads of different service providers for Voda and O2 and they have very varying call charges and tariffs therefore multiplying the complications to extreme levels!! |
ole1973
Joined: Jun 08, 2002
Posts: 140
From: London
PM |
Surely this is possible it's EXACTLY what I was thinking about when my last bill came!
Surely just some kind of spreadsheet type application would do the trick whereby you enter your details of your specific priceplan and then using the info from your call data it can work out everything ... I mean I accept that the tariffs are changing day to day, but it wouldn't have to be tariff specific .... it could just be based on what the user sets as parameters of thier tariff.
Damn I wish I was clever enough to make this program myself!! |
paulq77
Joined: Jun 03, 2003
Posts: 134
From: Aberdeen, UK
PM |
still a very complicated thing to develop and by the time you have typed the stuff in, you could have phoned the network and found everything you needed to know out!! |
andreilopez
Joined: May 15, 2003
Posts: 4
PM |
this is nice!
hmm also, it would be nice if the program will be able to track actual phone call usage in minutes and another that would display call lengths but any fraction of a minute is considered a minute. (so a 1:59 call would be displayed as 2 minutes). This would then by multiplied by peak/off-peak rate which would then show your call charges. |
julianmclean
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: 118
PM |
Well, I'm not saying its an easy task - it is an extremely complex problem, and the variety of tariffs available make it very difficult. This why I am spending the time on defining things properly. That is supposed to be one of the beauties of OOP (Object Oriented Programming) - anything can be modeled, no matter how complex.
Forgetting how many different variations there are, a tariff comes down to only a few variables which I am trying to model:
Call Types - the only difference between one call and another that you make from your phoen is the destination and time (who and when). The time is easy and you can then decide whether it is peak/off-peak/weekend, whatever. The destination is the hard part, btu this generally comes down to some rules. e.g. for UK we know that "07..." is a mobile, "0800..., 0808..." are free phone (well, 10p on most UK scumbag networks), "0845..." is national rate, "+4416..." is call to France or somewhere, etc, etc. Finally, anything lef that is "01..., 02..." is UK landline. There is the compliaction of X-net numbers which to be honest is a complete arse, but rest is given in the call records. If you had the time, you could look through the call records on your phone and look at each call you made. Because you know what your tariff charges are, and who is on your netwrk, you could sit down with a piece of paper and work out what your approximate bill is. All I'm trying to do is create a program which does this for you. It will never be 100% accurate, but it will give a good guess.
Call Buckets - the only other side to a tariff is free allowances. Certain types of call you made are included and therefore are free while the bucket lasts. These really aren't half as complicated as call types.
Anyway, coming back to the points about it being sustainable money-wise - I'm not doing this for profit, I'm doing it as a challenge. More than likely it will be freeware and the idea is that it is self-sustaining. Somewhere on the web where people can upload and download pre-configured tariffs is all that is required.
You may very well be right and that it will not work, but that's no reason not to try. If I fail, it may prompt someone else into producing something better that does work.
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Eva-m00
Joined: Jun 08, 2002
Posts: 364
From: Liverpool, UK
PM |
This sounds like a brilliant idea! I've been thinking about a program like this for ages, glad someone brave is giving it a go! Seriously I would easily pay upto £20 for a app like this.. Good luck! ~Eva
This message was posted from a P800 |
julianmclean
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: 118
PM |
Hmmm, maybe it won't be freeware after all..... ;o) | |
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Posted: 2003-04-04 16:36
