A.1 General
32.2513GPPCharging managementPacket Switched (PS) domain chargingRelease 17Telecommunication managementTS
Charging Characteristics can be supplied by the HLR/HSS/AAA to the Gn/Gp SGSN or the HSS to the MME as part of the subscription information. Upon IP-CAN bearer activation, the Gn/Gp SGSN (resp. MME) forwards the Charging Characteristics parameter to the P-GW (resp. S-GW then the P-GW). Upon TDF session establishment, the P-GW forwards the Charging Characteristics parameter to the TDF (resp. PCRF then the TDF). A subscriber may have Charging Characteristics assigned to his subscription and/or his subscribed APNs. Default charging characteristics may also be pre-provisioned on the PCN.
The Charging Characteristics parameter consists of a string of 16 bits designated as Behaviours (B), freely defined by Operators, as shown in TS 32.298 [51]. Each bit corresponds to a specific charging behaviour which is defined on a per operator basis, configured within the PCN and pointed when bit is set to "1" value.
The Gn/Gp SGSN and the PCN may either apply the Charging Characteristics provided by the HLR/HSS or ignore it to apply a default configuration. For example for a foreign subscriber, the network may choose either the Visiting or the Roaming default behaviour. Consequently, the network may apply:
– The Charging Characteristics provided by the HLR/HSS
– The Home default behaviour (the SGSN and the S-GW belong to the Home PLMN)
– The Roaming default behaviour (the P-GW and/or TDF belongs to the Home PLMN of the subscriber, a.k.a. home-routed scenario).
– The Visiting default behaviour (the SGSN, the S-GW and the P-GW and/or the TDF belongs to the Visited PLMN a.k.a. local breakout scenario)
For example, one way to define a charging behaviour could be to associate it to a specific usage designed according to following guidances:
One usage may consist of a set of trigger profiles associated to CDR types, with following trigger sets, e.g.:
– S-CDR: activate/deactivate CDRs, time limit, volume limit, maximum number of charging conditions, tariff times;
– SGW-CDR: same as S-CDR, plus maximum number of S4-SGSN/MME changes;
– PGW-CDR: same as S-CDR, plus maximum number of S-GW changes;
– M-CDR: activate/deactivate CDRs, time limit, and maximum number of mobility changes;
– TDF-CDR: same as PGW-CDR
– SMS-MO-CDR: activate/deactivate CDRs;
– SMS-MT-CDR: active/deactivate CDRs.
– LCS-MO-CDR.
– LCS-MT-CDR.
– LCS-NI-CDR.
In addition to these trigger sets, an optional charging gateway address may also be specified:
– If the CGF address is configured in the P-GW’s selected Charging Characteristics behaviour, the P-GW shall apply it for the PGW-CDRs. The P-GW applied CGF address is sent to Gn/Gp SGSN/S-GW during IP-CAN bearer activation.
– If the CGF address is configured in the TDF’s selected Charging Characteristics behaviour, the TDF shall apply it for the TDF-CDRs pertaining to the TDF session.
– In the home or visiting case, the S-GW shall apply the CGF address received from the P-GW to the SGW-CDRs pertaining to this IP-CAN bearer. In the roaming case, or if no CGF address is received from the P-GW, the S-GW shall use the CGF address from its own applied Charging Characteristics behaviour, or, if it does not exist, it uses the default CGF address. There is no need to send CGF address to S4-SGSN/MME as it does not generate charging data.
– In the home or visiting case, the Gn/Gp SGSN shall apply the CGF address received from the P-GW to the S-CDRs pertaining to this IP-CAN bearer. In the roaming case, or if no CGF address is received from the P-GW, then the Gn/Gp SGSN shall use the CGF address from its own selected Charging Characteristics behaviour, or, if it does not exist, use the default CGF address. For M-CDRs and SMS CDRs, the Gn/Gp SGSN shall use the CGF address configured in the Charging Characteristics behaviour that it applies to the respective CDRs, or if no such address is configured then the default CGF shall be used.
Tables A.1.1, A.1.2 and A.1.3 are informative examples intended for clarification.
Table A.1.1: Example of Charging Characteristics behaviours for SGSN
|
S-CDR |
M-CDR |
|||||||
|
Behaviour Index bits 0 – 3 |
CGF Address |
Active |
Time limit |
Volume limit |
Change cond |
Tariff times |
Active |
… |
|
0 |
– |
Yes |
30 min |
100 K |
2 |
0-7, 7-12, … |
Yes |
.. |
|
1 |
100.128.35.20 |
No |
– |
– |
– |
– |
No |
.. |
|
2 |
– |
Yes |
10 min |
50 K |
1 |
0-24 |
Yes |
.. |
|
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
Charging Characteristics behaviour in S-GW is used for SGW-CDR generation
Table A.1.2: Example of Charging Characteristics behaviours for S-GW
|
SGW-CDR |
||||||||
|
Behaviour Index Bits 0-15 |
Primary and Secondary CGF Addresses |
Active |
Time Limit |
Vol Limit |
Change Cond. |
Tariff times |
… |
|
|
0 |
100.128.35.20 100.128.35.21 |
Yes |
30 min |
100K |
2 |
0-7, 7-12 |
… |
|
|
1 |
100.128.35.21 100.128.35.20 |
No |
– |
– |
– |
– |
… |
|
|
2 |
100.128.35.21 100.128.35.20 |
Yes |
10 min |
50K |
1 |
0-24 |
… |
|
|
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
|
Charging Characteristics behaviour in P-GW is used for PGW-CDR generation / and for online charging.
FBC is always active in P-GW. PCRF, if triggered, may provide default charging method to PCEF (P-GW) per IP-CAN bearer session. If received by the PCEF, it supersedes the "Default charging method’" in Charging Characteristics behaviour, see TS 23.203 [215] for more information about default charging method. PCRF may also provide CGF/OCS addresses to P-GW per IP-CAN bearer session. If received by the P-GW it supersedes the "Primary CGF/OCS address"’ and "Secondary CGF/OCS address"’ in Charging Characteristics behaviour, see TS 23.203 [215] for more information.
Table A.1.3: Example of Charging Characteristics behaviours for P-GW
|
Offline charging (PGW-CDR) |
Online charging |
||||||||||
|
Behaviour Index Bits 0-15 |
Default charging method |
Primary and Secondary CGF addresses |
Active |
Time Limit |
Vol Limit |
Change Cond. |
Tariff times |
… |
Primary and Secondary OCS addresses |
Active |
… |
|
0 |
Online |
100.128.35.20 100.128.35.21 |
Yes |
30 min |
100K |
2 |
0-7, 7-12 |
… |
100.128.35.30 100.128.35.31 |
Yes |
… |
|
1 |
Offline |
100.128.35.21 100.128.35.20 |
No |
– |
– |
– |
– |
… |
– |
No |
… |
|
2 |
Online /Offline |
100.128.35.21 100.128.35.20 |
Yes |
10 min |
50K |
1 |
0-24 |
… |
100.128.35.31 100.128.35.30 |
Yes |
… |
|
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
Table A.1.4: Example of Charging Characteristics behaviours for TDF
|
Offline charging (TDF-CDR) |
Online charging |
||||||||||
|
Behaviour Index Bits 0-15 |
Default charging method |
Primary and Secondary CGF addresses |
Active |
Time Limit |
Vol Limit |
Change Cond. |
Tariff times |
… |
Primary and Secondary OCS addresses |
Active |
… |
|
0 |
Online |
100.128.35.20 100.128.35.21 |
Yes |
30 min |
100K |
2 |
0-7, 7-12 |
… |
100.128.35.30 100.128.35.31 |
Yes |
… |
|
1 |
Offline |
100.128.35.21 100.128.35.20 |
No |
– |
– |
– |
– |
… |
– |
No |
… |
|
2 |
Online /Offline |
100.128.35.21 100.128.35.20 |
Yes |
10 min |
50K |
1 |
0-24 |
… |
100.128.35.31 100.128.35.30 |
Yes |
… |
|
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
… |
The TDF may apply ABC per TDF session using either charging characteristics or charging information conveyed via ADC rules that are received from the PCRF.
If Charging Characteristics are received by the PCRF from the P-GW, the PCRF may take them into account when providing Charging information and Default charging method to the TDF.
Upon the initial interaction with the TDF, the PCRF may provide:
– Charging Characteristics, if received from the PCEF, defining how to control TDF behaviour regarding online and offline charging.
– Charging information containing OFCS and/or OCS addresses defining the offline and online charging system addresses respectively. If received by the TDF, it supersedes the Primary OFCS/OCS address and Secondary OFCS/OCS address predefined at the TDF.
– Default charging method indicating what charging method shall be used in the TDF session for every ADC rule where the charging method identifier is omitted. If received by the TDF, it supersedes the defined Default charging method.
NOTE: TDF may also ignore the supplied Charging Characteristics for the cases defined in clause A.7.
In case the TDF receives both Charging Characteristics and Charging information and Default charging method parameters, the Charging Information and Default charging method shall supersede the values received in Charging Characteristics.
Other examples for behaviours are:
– Selection of the applicable idle context purge timer, i.e. use global value or use special value. This feature could be used to distinguish between customers and/or APNs whose IP-CAN bearers should be purged after short (e.g. 30 minutes) or long (e.g. 12 hours) periods of inactivity.
– Use specific charging gateway address (override all other configured/selected CG addresses).
– Deactivate SMS-MO-CDRs for customers of the own PLMN using pre-configured SMSC addresses.
– Disable PGW-CDRs for roamers that use the HPLMN P-GW.
– Allow or inhibit the use of own P-GWs by visitors.
– Allow or inhibit network triggered QoS change (upgrade and/or downgrade).
– Inhibit CDR generation when the user data volume has not reached a minimum configurable value, e.g. to limit the number of no/low-value added CDRs when the user activity is null or very low.
– Inhibit triggering of PCRF in the P-GW by not establishing a Gx session during the IP-CAN session establishment procedure as defined in TS 23.203 [215].
– Inhibit triggering of PCRF in the HSGW by not establishing a Gxa session during the IP-CAN session establishment procedure as defined in TS 23.203 [215].
The Gn/Gp SGSN selects the Charging Characteristics behaviour for M-CDR generation upon the creation of a MM context. Gn/Gp SGSN, S-GW and P-GW select the Charging Characteristics behaviour upon creation of a IP-CAN bearer. Once selected, the Charging Characteristics behaviour shall be maintained throughout the lifetime of the MM or IP-CAN bearer. If the SGSN receives modified subscriber information from the HLR/HSS (e.g. execution of a stand-alone Insert Subscriber Data procedure) which includes changes the Charging Characteristics, the new Charging Characteristics shall be applied only to new IP-CAN bearers. This implies the following:
– the S4-SGSN/MME shall not send IP-CAN bearer modifications for the existing IP-CAN bearer to the S-GW because of Charging Characteristics change;
– the Gn/Gp SGSN shall not send IP-CAN bearer modifications for the existing IP-CAN bearer to the P-GW because of Charging Characteristics change.