CHARGING FOR MOBILE ALL-IP

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.

Y.-B. Lin and S.-I. Sou, Charging for Mobile All-IP
Telecommunications, Wiley Publishing Co. in October, 2009.
ISBN: 978-0-470-77565-3 (300 pages)
OUTLINES

Charging in CS Domain

CAMEL

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Charging in PS Domain

GTP Protocol

Online Charging System

Diameter

2
CHARGING EVOLUTION IN 3GPP

CS Domain: CDR generated in MSC

IN supported CAMEL

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Call Details Record (CDR)

PS Domain: GTP’ used in SGSN and GGSN

Charging Data Record (CDR)

IMS: Charging convergence

IP-Based AAA protocol (Diameter from IETF)

Online Charging System (OCS)

3
EXAMPLE OF MOBILE-TO-MOBILE CS CALL

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4
IN SUPPORTED IN GSM

In the 3GPP Circuit Switched (CS) service
domain, the Mobile Switching Center (MSC)

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server sends the CDRs to the billing system for
offline charging.

The CS online charging is implemented by two
functions through Customized Applications for
Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL)

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INTELLIGENT NETWORK

Intelligent Network (IN) allows fixed or mobile

operators to offer enhanced telephony services such as
number translation and prepaid call.

Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.

As an IN standard, CAMEL provides mobile
intelligence across mobile communications network.

Phase 1 was tailored for the GSM-based core networks.

Phase 2 extended phase 1 with a greater range of options such
as prepaid call charging. In this phase, a pre-recorded
announcement can be played to alert the prepaid user of a
prepaid call when the user’s credit is depleted.

Phase 3 supports control capabilities for mobile services
including SMS and GPRS.

Phase 4 is extensible for any enhancements. In particular, it 6
provides control capabilities for the IMS services.
CAMEL FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURE (1/2)

The GSM Service Switching Function
(gsmSSF) is implemented in a switching node
such as Mobile Switching Center (MSC).

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The GSM Service Control Function (gsmSCF)
implements operator specific services through
the CAMEL service logic.

The GSM Specialized Resource Function
(gsmSRF) provides various resources (such as
voice prompt, announcements and DTMF
digit collection) that can be allocated to
support interaction between users and
gsmSRF. 7
CAMEL FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURE (2/2)
b
e HLR MAP
gsmSCF

MAP CAP

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MAP MAP
CAP CAP

a
gsmSSF VLR gsmSSF
f
GMSC MAP MSC
g
ISUP c ISUP
gsmSRF
d Intelligent
Peripheral

CAP: CAMEL Application Part GMSC: Gateway Mobile Switching Center

gsmSCF: GSM Service Control Function
gsmSSF: GSM Service Switching Function
ISUP: ISDN User Part
VLR: Visitor Location Register
gsmSRF: GSM Specialized Resource Function
HLR: Home Location Register
MAP: Mobile Application Part
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PACKET SWITCHED ARCHITECTURE

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a b c
RNC HLR f
CG
MS (UE) Node B
Ga
d
RNC SGSN GGSN g PDN
Gn Gi
MS (UE) e
Node B
UTRAN Core Network

CG: Charging Gateway GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node

signaling HLR: Home Location Register
signaling Node B: Base Station
and data RNC: Radio Network Controller
UE: User Equipment
MS: Mobile Station
PDN: Packet Data Network
SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node
UTRAN: UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
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GPRS TUNNELING PROTOCOL EXTENSION

When a Mobile Station (MS) accesses General
Packet Radio Service (GPRS), the Charging Data
Records (CDRs) are generated based on the
charging characteristics (data volume limit,

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duration limit and so on) for that service.

In a GPRS session, the CDRs are generated by
the GPRS Support Nodes and are sent to the
Charging Gateway (CG) via the GTP‘ protocol.
GSN CG
Charging GTP' Service GTP' Service Charging
Agent Provider Provider Server

(1) CDR_TRANSFER (REQ)

(2) Data Record Transfer Request
(3) CDR_TRANSFER (IND)

(4) CDR_TRANSFER (RSP)

(5) Data Record Transfer Response
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(6) CDR_TRANSFER (CNF)
AN OFFLINE CHARGING EXAMPLE OF A
GPRS SESSION
1 1
PDN

GGSN Web Server

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MS1 1 Billing
1 CG
System PDN
SGSN G-CDR

GGSN Web Server

MS1 2 Billing
CG
System
SGSN
S-CDR

PDN

GGSN Web Server

G-CDR
MS1 Billing
CG 3
System
S-CDR 11
SGSN
CHARGING FOR CS AND PS DOMAINS
Ga

e g f CG
gprsSSF
GGSN
Ga
SGSN d
b gsmSCF

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PDN CAP (Phase 3)
i PS Service
Domain HSS/HLR
h

CAP (Phase 2)
gsmSSF
CDR
c
a MSC CDR
Billing
Server System
CS Service
Domain
CG: Charging Gateway CS: Circuit Switched
GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node HLR: Home Location Register
HSS: Home Subscriber Server MGW: Media Gateway 12
MSC: Mobile Switching Center PDN: Packet Data Network
PS: Packet Switched SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node
SCF: Service Control Function SSF: Service Switching Function
 THE IMS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
m Application
Server

d P-CSCF

g CDF
I-CSCF BGCF h
e

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MS (UE) n
HSS S-CSCF MGCF j
f
Radio Access GPRS Core i PSTN
k
Network Network MRF T-SGW
l
a
GGSN
MGW b PDN
c
IP Multimedia core
network Subsystem (IMS)
BGCF: Breakout Gateway Conrol Function CSCF: Call Session Control Function
CDF: Charging Data Function GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node
HSS: Home Subscriber Server I-CSCF: Interrogating CSCF
MGCF: Media Gateway Control Function MGW: Media Gateway
MRF: Media Resource Function MS: Mobile Station
PDN: Packet Data Network P-CSCF: Proxy CSCF 13
PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network S-CSCF: Serving CSCF
T-SGW: Transport Signaling Gateway UE: User Equipment
CHARGING FOR MOBILE ALL-IP NETWORKS

• Advanced mobile telecom incorporates data

applications with real-time control and

Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.

management, which requires a convergent and
flexible online charging system. Such
convergence is essential to mitigate fraud and
credit risks and provide more personalized advice
to users about charges and credit limit controls.
• Online charging allows simultaneous prepaid and
postpaid sessions to be charged in real-time.

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REMOTE ACCESS DIAL IN USER
SERVICE (RADIUS)

The Remote Access Dial In User Service (RADIUS)
protocol was originally defined by Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) to provide

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centralized Authentication, Authorization, and
Accounting (AAA) framework for network access.

RADIUS is developed based on the client-server
architecture, and is commonly used in Network
Access Servers (NASs) such as wireless access points
and VoIP gateways.

REQUEST
a b
RADIUS ANSWER RADIUS 15
Client Server
DIAMETER

The Diameter protocol was derived from RADIUS
with more flexibility, and is generally believed to

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be the next generation AAA protocol.

Diameter is an extensible messaging protocol
enabling AAA within and across IP multimedia
networks that relies on secure and reliable
transports.

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 DIAMETER-BASED OFFLINE CHARGING

Offline charging for both events and sessions are
performed between an IMS node and the CDF

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through the Rf reference point which is designed
for non-real-time operations.
Originating network: home1.net.tw Terminating network: home2.net.hk

b CDF1 Rf cscf1.home1.net.tw cscf2.home2.net.hk Rf

CDF2
cdf1.home1.net.tw CSCF1 CSCF2 cdf1.home2.net.hk
c

a OCS1 Ro Ro OCS2
MS1 MS2
ocs1.home1.net.tw ms2@home2.net.hk ocs2.home2.net.hk
ms1@home1.net.tw

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AN OFFLINE CHARGING EXAMPLE OF
IMS CALL

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 Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.
Network Node CDF
(Diameter Credit (Diameter Credit
Control Client) Control Server)

1. ACR (START_RECORD)

2. ACA (START_RECORD) Opens CDR

3. ACR (INTERIM_RECORD)

4. ACA (INTERIM_RECORD) Updates CDR

5. ACR (STOP_RECORD)
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6. ACA (STOP_RECORD) Closes CDR
UMTS R5 OFFLINE CHARGING
(j) MMS Relay
Server
(i) Billing Bi
(a) CCF
System

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Rf
MMS Service
Domain CTF

(e) S-CSCF
(f) P-CSCF
(g) I-CSCF

Application
(d) MGCF
(h) BGCF

(c) MRF
IMS Domain

Server

(b)
GGSN
WAP Gateway GPRS

BGCF: Breakout Gateway Control Function CCF: Charging Collection Function

CSCF: Call Session Control Function
GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node
MGCF: Media Gateway Control Function
MRF: Media Resource Function
S-CSCF: Serving CSCF
CTF: Charging Trigger Function
I-CSCF: Interrogating CSCF 20
MMS: Multimedia Messaging Service
P-CSCF: Proxy CSCF
WAP: Wireless Application Protocol
DIAMETER-BASED ONLINE CHARGING

All-IP mobile network utilizes the Diameter Credit
Control (DCC) application to communicate with the
Online Charging System (OCS) through the Ro
interface.

Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.

21
UMTS ONLINE CHARGING

We introduced the UMTS R6 Online Charging
System (OCS). Specifically, we described the
functionalities of the OCS components including the

Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.

session-based charging function, the event-based
charging function, the rating function and the
account balance management function. We also
elaborated on the contents of the rating messages
exchanged between the charging functions and the
rating function within the OCS.
Billing System

IMS/GPRS a Online
Charging
b Traffic Plane Function System
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c Charging Rule Function

UMTS CHARGING ARCHITECTURE (RELEASE 6)
Offline Charging Trigger Function
Online Charging Trigger Function
Billing
System
(k) Application
Server
Bx Bo
(l) CGF
(d) MRFC
Ro
Ga (e) MGCF

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(m) Rf ISC (n) IMS-
(f) CSCF (a)
CDF GWF
Online
(g) BGCF Charging
Wo System
Wf (h) WLAN
Rf CAP
(i) SGSN

(j) GGSN
Gz Gy
(b) TPF
Offline Charging
Online Charging

(c) CRF

BGCF: Breakout Gateway Control Function CAP: CAMEL Application Part

CDF: Charging Data Function
CRF: Charging Rule Function
GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node
IMS: IP Multimedia core network Subsystem
MGCF: Media Gateway Control Function
OCS: Online Charging System
TPF: Traffic Plane Function
CGF: Charging Gateway Function
CSCF: Call Session Control Function
IMS-GWF: IMS Gateway Function
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ISC: IMS Service Control
MRFC: Media Resource Function Controller
SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node
WLAN: Wireless LAN
THE OCS ARCHITECTURE

Online Charging System

Account f
a c Balance
Management Recharge

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Session Rr
Rc Function Server
Based (ABMF)
Charging Account
Function Database
(SBCF)
g
d
Charging
Bo Billing
Ga Gateway System
Function
b (CGF)
Event
Based
Charging
e Rating
Function (RF)
Function Re
(EBCF)
Tariffs Database

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IMMEDIATE EVENT CHARGING

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Online Charging System
Messaging
UE1 P-CSCF S-CSCF EBCF RF
Application Server
1. MESSAGE
1. MESSAGE
1. MESSAGE 2. CCR
(EVENT_REQUEST)
3. Price Request
4. CCA
3. Price Response
(EVENT_REQUEST)

Message Delivery
5. 200 OK
5. 200 OK
5. 200 OK

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EVENT CHARGING WITH UNIT
RESERVATION

Online Charging System

Messaging

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UE1 P-CSCF S-CSCF EBCF RF
Application Server
1. MESSAGE
1. MESSAGE
1. MESSAGE 2. CCR
(INITIAL_REQUEST)
3. Price Request
4. CCA
3. Price Response
(INITIAL_REQUEST)

Message Delivery
5. 200 OK
5. 200 OK 6. CCR
5. 200 OK (TERMINATE_REQUEST)

6. CCA
(TERMINATE_REQUEST)

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SESSION CHARGING WITH UNIT RESERVATION
Online Charging System
UE1 P-CSCF1 S-CSCF1 SBCF RF

1. INVITE
1. INVITE
2. CCR (INITIAL_REQUEST)

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3. Tariff Request

3. Tariff Response
4. CCA (INITIAL_REQUEST)

IMS signaling for call

establishment with UE2
5. 200 OK
5. 200 OK
IMS call connection to UE2

6. CCR (UPDATE_REQUEST)

6. CCA (UPDATE_REQUEST)

IMS call release

7. CCR (TERMINATE_REQUEST)
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7. CCA (TERMINATE_REQUEST)
SERVICE DATA FLOW-BASED CHARGING

• n this chapter, we introduced the service data

flow-based charging (FBC) architecture consists
of the Charging Rule Function (CRF), the Traffic

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Plane Function (TPF) and the Application
Function (AF).
• The FBC allows breaking down of a PDP context
into individual service data flows determined by
the IP addresses and the port numbers.
Therefore, the mobile operators can meter data
usage for individual service flows.
• The FBC solution is used to accurately classify
and charge the data packets by their content
types through static and dynamic policies. 28
FBC ARCHITECTURE FOR IMS/GPRS
SERVICES
ocs.home.net.tw
Gy
PDP Context (Bearer Session) Charging Rule 1 OCS
sgsn.home.net.tw IP Filter 1

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Service Flow 1 cdf.home.net.tw
Charging Rule 2 a Gz
d Service Flow 2 IP Filter 2 CDF
SGSN TPF

...
...
Charging Rule n crf.home.net.tw
UE Service Flow n
IP Filter n Gx
IP 192.168.100.1 CRF c
GGSN
Rx
ggsn.home.net.tw
AF b
AF: Application Function CDF: Charging Data Function
CRF: Charging Rules Function CSCF: Call Session Control Function CSCF
GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node OCS: Online Charging System
SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node TPF: Traffic Plane Function
UE: User Equipment

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 AN EXAMPLE OF SERVICE DATA FLOWS

crf.home.net.tw CRF OCS ocs.home.net.tw

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PDP Context (Bearer Session)
WAP Server
sgsn.home.net.tw Charging Rule 1 IP 192.168.1.1
Service Flow1 (WAP) IP Filter 1 Port 3000
packets to/from IP 192.168.1.1 and Port 3000
SGSN TPF
Charging Rule 2 Streaming
Service Flow2 (Streaming)
UE packets to/from IP 192.168.1.2 and Port 5000 IP Filter 2 Server
IP 192.168.100.1 IP 192.168.1.2
ggsn.home.net.tw GGSN Port 5000

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PCC INTEGRATION ARCHITECTURE FOR
IMS SERVICE

Through the Policy and Charging Control (PCC)
defined in 3GPP R7 [3GP07c], integration of QoS
policy and charging rules can be realized in the

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IMS network. In the PCC architecture, the SBLP
and the FBC functionality are utilized to
integrate the QoS policy and charging control.
PCEF: Policy and Charging Enforcement Function
PCRF: Policy and Charging Rules Function

a PCEF/GGSN c PCRF
Charging Data Gz
Function (CDF) Traffic Plane Gx Charging Rules CSCF
Function (TPF) Function (CRF) Rx
Application
g Function
Gy Gq
Online Charging b Policy
Go d Policy (AF) f
Enforcement Decision
System (OCS)
Function (PEF) Function (PDF)

Sp 31

e Subscription Profile
Repository (SPR)
REFERENCE

3GPP. 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Service
and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; Charging management;
Online Charging System (OCS): Applications and interfaces (Release 6), 3G TS
32.296.

Copyright (c) Wiley Publishing Co.

3GPP. 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core
Network; IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS); Stage 2 (Release 5), 3G TS 23.228.

3GPP. 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core
Network and Terminals; Policy control over Gq interface (Release 6), 3G TS 29.209.

3GPP. 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Service
and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; Charging management; IP
Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) charging (Release 6), 3G TS 32.260.

3GPP. 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Service
and System Aspects; Telecommunication management; Charging management;
Diameter charging applications (Release 6), 3G TS 32.299.

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