Stateful and stateless are adjectives that describe whether a computer or computer program is designed to note and remember one or more preceding events in a given sequence of interactions with a user, another computer or program, a device, or other outside element. Stateful means that the computer or the program keeps track of interactions, usually by setting values in a storage field designated for that purpose. Stateless means that there is no record of previous interactions. Each interaction request is entirely processed from information that comes with it.
Stateless mode
The stateless rating is a service provided by SAP Convergent Charging to your client application (online mediation system). The stateless rating feature means that the SAP CC system does not charge any account for a service usage but only calculates the corresponding price amount (rating process). During the stateless rating operations, the state of SAP Convergent Charging does not change. In this mode, SAP Convergent Charging does not modify or keep any data in its database after rating (balances, credit limits, counters in contracts).
For example, states of counters are stored and maintained in an external system outside SAP Convergent Charging. SAP CC Core Server runs as a basic ‘calculator’. This rating process corresponds to the 3GPP “Class A rating definition”.
Note: In stateless mode, you cannot used objects such as charge plans, provider contracts, and dependent charges. |
Stateful mode
SAP Convergent Charging maintains the states of counters, for example, and updates counters when the rating is confirmed. In this mode, SAP Convergent Charging modifies or keeps data in its back-end database after charging. Stateful charging corresponds to the 3GPP “Class B rating definition”.
In stateful mode, you can use any of SAP Convergent Charging's objects.
