Telecom Application Map
Encyclopedia
The TM Forum Applications Framework (TAM) is produced by the TM Forum
. The TM Forum is the world’s industry association of web, telecom and media companies focused on end-end service management. The Forum pools expertise of 650+ members from 65 countries to discuss & agree common issues; frameworks and standards to allow their services to operate profitably, across increasingly complex value chains
The TM Forum
’s New Generation Operations and Support initiative NGOSS
(now renamed to Frameworx) is a comprehensive, integrated set of tools for defining, developing, procuring and deploying operational and business support systems and software. The scope covers the complete OSS / BSS development lifecycle.
Frameworx comprises a packaged set of industry-agreed guidelines; maps; models; methodologies, specifications, a developers’ toolkit and standardized interface definitions to guide the definition, development, procurement, and deployment of interoperable OSS/BSS solutions
These Frameworx artifacts, and the clearly defined methodology for using them, assist the user to define, design and build Frameworx solutions that can easily integrate into any Frameworx compliant environment.
Also referred to as TM Forum Applications Framework or the TAM (Telecom Application Map) the Telecom Application Map is one of the primary Frameworx artifacts. It considers the role and the functionality of the various applications that deliver OSS
and BSS
capability.
Structured along similar lines to other TM Forum NGOSS
artifacts: the process framework – the eTOM
and the information framework – the SID
, it is presented in a similar layered and vertical structure.
In doing so it enables procurement documents to be written with reference to the framework, thereby providing clear unambiguous statements of the functionality required of any given application, functional overlaps of existing applications to be identified, thereby facilitating rationalization and functional gaps to be identified.
The level of functional decomposition is such that these benefits can be realized but without being over prescriptive.
Within the TMF there is a strong definition of process (the eTOM) and data (the SID). The TM Forum Applications Framework provides a formalized way of grouping together function and data into recognised components, which would then be regarded as potentially procurable as either applications or services.
An application or service (for example: web services) can be a relatively coarsely grained software that implements functions/processes and acts on or uses data. In daily life we see applications such as word processors or mail clients; in OSS terms we would regard an application as something such as a CRM component, a billing system or an inventory solution – although we also understand that these can be decomposed to some extent – for example a billing system will include a number of smaller applications, such as a rating engine.
An “application” is defined as a set of one or more software artifacts comprising well defined functions, data, business flows, rules and interfaces. This would include a Data Model, for data used to interface to and within an application, policies, for governing external and internal application resources, a Flow Model, for functionality with the application and contract specifications for externally visible interfaces to the functionality within the application
Applications are implement-able as deployable packages and are procurable in the system market place.
The Telecom Application Map is not a part of either the SID
or the eTOM
definitions but links to both in an easily understandable way and also provide a mapping between the telecom application map eTOM
and SID
.
TM Forum
The TeleManagement Forum formerly the Network Management Forum, is an international non-profit industry association, for service providers and their suppliers in the information industry, the telecommunications industry and the entertainment industry.Members include telephone companies, cable...
. The TM Forum is the world’s industry association of web, telecom and media companies focused on end-end service management. The Forum pools expertise of 650+ members from 65 countries to discuss & agree common issues; frameworks and standards to allow their services to operate profitably, across increasingly complex value chains
The TM Forum
TM Forum
The TeleManagement Forum formerly the Network Management Forum, is an international non-profit industry association, for service providers and their suppliers in the information industry, the telecommunications industry and the entertainment industry.Members include telephone companies, cable...
’s New Generation Operations and Support initiative NGOSS
NGOSS
Frameworx, formerly known as NGOSS or "New Generation Operations Systems and Software" is the TeleManagement Forum’s programme to provide ways to help Communication Service Providers to manage their business...
(now renamed to Frameworx) is a comprehensive, integrated set of tools for defining, developing, procuring and deploying operational and business support systems and software. The scope covers the complete OSS / BSS development lifecycle.
Frameworx comprises a packaged set of industry-agreed guidelines; maps; models; methodologies, specifications, a developers’ toolkit and standardized interface definitions to guide the definition, development, procurement, and deployment of interoperable OSS/BSS solutions
These Frameworx artifacts, and the clearly defined methodology for using them, assist the user to define, design and build Frameworx solutions that can easily integrate into any Frameworx compliant environment.
Also referred to as TM Forum Applications Framework or the TAM (Telecom Application Map) the Telecom Application Map is one of the primary Frameworx artifacts. It considers the role and the functionality of the various applications that deliver OSS
OSS
-Science and technology:* Open-source software* Open Sound System, a standard interface for making and capturing sound in Unix operating systems* Open Search Server, search engine software...
and BSS
BSS
BSS is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Institutions* Bayridge Secondary School, Canada* Bayview Secondary School, Canada* Beaconhouse School System, Pakistan...
capability.
Structured along similar lines to other TM Forum NGOSS
NGOSS
Frameworx, formerly known as NGOSS or "New Generation Operations Systems and Software" is the TeleManagement Forum’s programme to provide ways to help Communication Service Providers to manage their business...
artifacts: the process framework – the eTOM
ETOM
The eTOM , published by the TM Forum, is a guidebook that defines the most widely used and accepted standard for business processes in the telecommunications industry...
and the information framework – the SID
NGOSS Shared Information/Data Model
Shared Information/Data Model or SID is a unified reference data model providing a single set of terms for business objects in telecommunications...
, it is presented in a similar layered and vertical structure.
In doing so it enables procurement documents to be written with reference to the framework, thereby providing clear unambiguous statements of the functionality required of any given application, functional overlaps of existing applications to be identified, thereby facilitating rationalization and functional gaps to be identified.
The level of functional decomposition is such that these benefits can be realized but without being over prescriptive.
Within the TMF there is a strong definition of process (the eTOM) and data (the SID). The TM Forum Applications Framework provides a formalized way of grouping together function and data into recognised components, which would then be regarded as potentially procurable as either applications or services.
An application or service (for example: web services) can be a relatively coarsely grained software that implements functions/processes and acts on or uses data. In daily life we see applications such as word processors or mail clients; in OSS terms we would regard an application as something such as a CRM component, a billing system or an inventory solution – although we also understand that these can be decomposed to some extent – for example a billing system will include a number of smaller applications, such as a rating engine.
An “application” is defined as a set of one or more software artifacts comprising well defined functions, data, business flows, rules and interfaces. This would include a Data Model, for data used to interface to and within an application, policies, for governing external and internal application resources, a Flow Model, for functionality with the application and contract specifications for externally visible interfaces to the functionality within the application
Applications are implement-able as deployable packages and are procurable in the system market place.
The Telecom Application Map is not a part of either the SID
NGOSS Shared Information/Data Model
Shared Information/Data Model or SID is a unified reference data model providing a single set of terms for business objects in telecommunications...
or the eTOM
ETOM
The eTOM , published by the TM Forum, is a guidebook that defines the most widely used and accepted standard for business processes in the telecommunications industry...
definitions but links to both in an easily understandable way and also provide a mapping between the telecom application map eTOM
ETOM
The eTOM , published by the TM Forum, is a guidebook that defines the most widely used and accepted standard for business processes in the telecommunications industry...
and SID
NGOSS Shared Information/Data Model
Shared Information/Data Model or SID is a unified reference data model providing a single set of terms for business objects in telecommunications...
.