Eicon Networks DIVA LAN ISDN - Manual (Page 60)

Chapter Five: Minimizing ISDN Charges The Cost Control page 60
2. Set the Idle timer.
3. Click Finish.
4. Click Save.
5. Click Reset.
Data call thresholds
By defining data call thresholds, you are able to limit the total number of calls or total length of calls made by
any one profile during a set period of time. This is especially useful as a safety measure if you have devices that
may inadvertently generate a large number of calls or may stay connected indefinitely.
The threshold monitoring interval is set in days. During this interval, the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem tracks the
duration and number of calls each profile makes. You can set two different limits to watch for:
• Maximum duration of calls: Sets the maximum number of hours a profile can be connected during the
threshold monitoring interval. Range: 0 (disabled), 1 to (24 * number of days in the interval).
• Maximum number of calls: Set the maximum number of calls a profile can make during the threshold
monitoring interval. Range: 0 (disabled) to 1000
If a profile exceeds either limit, all profiles are disabled. You must reset the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem to
re-activate the profiles (or dial them manually to connect). Doing either also resets the threshold interval. (To
determine if a profile has been disabled, click Connection Profiles on the Configuration main menu.)
ISDN billing intervals
A billing interval is the minimum amount of connection time your ISDN provider recognizes. For example,
many ISDN providers use a one minute interval, which means you pay the same amount whether you are
connected for ten seconds, or sixty seconds. Sometimes, two intervals are used, one for the first minute, and
one for each subsequent minute.
It is to your advantage to stay connected for the entire length of your billing interval. This helps avoid
situations where a connection is established to transmit or receive a small amount of data, taken down, then
immediately brought up again moments later.
The DIVA LAN ISDN Modem has two timers that let you manage your billing intervals.
• Initial Billing Interval: Sets the minimum amount of time that an ISDN B-channel will be enabled.
• Recurring Billing Interval: Sets the minimum amount of time that an ISDN B-channel remains enabled
after the Initial Billing Interval expires.
These timers should be set to match the billing intervals used by your ISDN provider. For example, if your
ISDN provider charges a flat fee for the first minute, and then bills every 40 seconds thereafter, you would set
the intervals as follows.
• Initial Billing Interval = 60 seconds
• Recurring Billing Interval = 40 seconds
This ensures that each time an ISDN B-channel is enabled, it stays active for at least 60 seconds. This avoids a
situation where a B-channel is enabled only for 30 seconds, dropped, then enabled again a few seconds later. If
a B-channel is up for more than 60 seconds, then the interval is reduced to 40 seconds.
The billing interval timers work in conjunction with the idle timer. When the idle timer expires, the B-channel
is dropped at the end of the next billing interval.