Call Charge Monitoring and Limiting (TopStop)
| Note | The features and/or parameters listed in this article may not be available from your telephone service provider. |
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Introduction
The feature "Monitoring and Limiting Call Charges (TopStop)" supervises the incurred fees of all outbound chargeable connections and block further connections if a definable limit is reached:
- Configurable charge limit per month and / or day
- Information by email if a defined level of monthly charge has been reached
- Alert by email when a charge limit of the month or day has been reached
Contents
Call Charge Monitoring and Limiting
The feature “Monitoring and Limiting Call Charges (TopStop)" allows the surveillance of the accumulated call charges. A defined limitation prevents the uncontrolled overflow of charges in case of, e.g.:
- limited budget
- misuse of telephone numbers or connected VoIP devices (fraud)
This feature can be set per month and / or day.
The Call charge monitoring for a given period (day, month) is as follows characterized:
- All fees for outgoing calls since the beginning of the period are summed
- At the beginning of a new period, the value is automatically set to 0.00
- If the charge limit is reached, an ongoing connection automatically disconnected. New chargeable outbound connections are not possible.
| Note |
Emergency calls are still possible after the exceeding of a charge limit! |
Monthly Call Charge Monitoring and Limiting and Alarming
There can be set up one maximum charge limit (TopStop) per month. For a vPBX the charge limit applies to all connected subscribers. The charge limit can be increased or decreased at any time. If the limit of the current month is reached and outgoing chargeable calls are blocked then increase the limit and new calls are immediately possible again.
If an alarm email address is configured then this feature informs about of the following events:
- The definable alarm threshold has been reached (probably the charge limit will be reached soon)
- The limit is reached and therefore outgoing chargeable calls are blocked.
Daily Call Charge Monitoring and Limiting and Alarming
If the “Daily TopStop” is activated and a daily maximum charge limit defined then charges are supervised on a daily basis. The behavior is equal to the monthly basis.
If an alarm email address is configured then this feature informs about the following events:
- The limit is reached and therefore outgoing chargeable calls are blocked.
Preventing Misuse (Fraud)
The feature "Monitoring and Limiting Call Charges (TopStop)" is highly suitable to avoid high cost in case of misuse (fraud)!
Misuse can result by:
- the SIP Credentials of the public or internal vPBX telephone numbers were not kept secret.
- VoIP telephones or VoIP devices were hacked. These devices are very vulnerable when connected directly to the Internet!
| Note |
Experience shows that if a limit is already exceeded at the beginning of the period, a misuse may have taken place or is in progress. An accurate control of the connection details CDR in the ”vPBX Call List” or “Subscriber Call List” is recommended! |
Configuration
Where to Configure this Feature
As vPBX administrator:
-
Tab "PBX"
- Tab "TopStop"
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Parameter Configuration
Parameter: Current value
| Description: | Displays the total accrued fees since the beginning of the month. |
| Configuration: | |
| Default: | |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.7 |
Parameter: Remaining amount
| Description: | Displays the remaining amount available until the end of the current month. |
| Configuration: | |
| Default: | |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.9 |
Parameter: Max. value
| Description: | Defines the maximum value of the monthly limit.
The monthly limit is accumulated from the beginning of the month. At month change the value is automatically set to 0.00. |
| Configuration: | Configuration String:
|
| Default: | None |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.7 |
Parameter: Alarmlevel
| Description: | Defines as a percentage of the maximum value when an email is to be sent to the specified email address. |
| Configuration: | Selection Menu:
|
| Default: | 90% |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.7 |
Parameter: Alarm email
| Description: | Defines the email address to which a notification is sent when
is reached. |
| Configuration: | Configuration String:
|
| Default: | None |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.7 |
Parameter: Daily TopStop
| Description: | Defines whether a daily charge limit has to be monitored. |
| Configuration: | Selection Button:  Activated -  Not activated
|
| Default: | Not activated |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.9 |
Parameter: Daily max. value
| Description: | Defines the maximum value of the daily limit.
The daily limit is accumulated from the beginning of the day. At day change the value is automatically set to 0.00. |
| Configuration: | Configuration String:
|
| Default: | None |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.9 |
Parameter: Daily current value
| Description: | Displays the total accrued fees since the beginning of the day. |
| Configuration: | |
| Default: | |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.9 |
Parameter: Daily remaining amount
| Description: | Displays the remaining amount available until the end of the current day. |
| Configuration: | |
| Default: | |
| Version: | AdminCenter V5.9 |
© Aarenet Inc 2018
Version: 3.0
Author: Aarenet
Date: July 2017
