3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations
32.2763GPPCharging managementRelease 17Telecommunication managementTSVoice Call Service (VCS) charging
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in TR 21.905 [100] and the following apply. A term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in TR 21.905 [100].
CAMEL: network feature that provides the mechanisms to support operator specific services even when roaming outside HPLMN.
CAMEL subscription information: identifies a subscriber as having CAMEL services.
chargeable event: activity utilizing telecommunication network resources and related services for:
– user to user communication (e.g. a single call, a data communication session or a short message); or
– user to network communication (e.g. service profile administration); or
– inter-network communication (e.g. transferring calls, signalling, or short messages); or
– mobility (e.g. roaming or inter-system handover); and
– that the network operator may want to charge for.
As a minimum, a chargeable event characterises the resource / service usage and indicates the identity of the involved end user(s).
charged party: user involved in a chargeable event who has to pay parts or the whole charges of the chargeable event, or a third party paying the charges caused by one or all users involved in the chargeable event, or a network operator.
charging: function within the telecommunications network and the associated OCS/BD components whereby information related to a chargeable event is collected, formatted, transferred and evaluated in order to make it possible to determine usage for which the charged party may be billed (offline charging) or the subscriber’s account balance may be debited (online charging).
charging event: set of charging information forwarded by the CTF towards the CDF (offline charging) or towards the OCS (online charging). Each charging event matches exactly one chargeable event.
charging function: entity inside the core network domain, subsystem or service that is involved in charging for that domain, subsystem or service.
Circuit Switched (CS) domain: domain within GSM / UMTS in which information is transferred in circuit switched mode.
credit control: mechanism which directly interacts in real-time with an account and controls or monitors the charges, related to the service usage. Credit control is a process of: checking if credit is available, credit reservation, deduction of credit from the end user account when service is completed and refunding of reserved credit not used.
domain: part of a communication network that provides network resources using a certain bearer technology.
GSM only: qualifier indicating that this clause or paragraph applies only to a GSM system. For multi-system cases this is determined by the current serving radio access network.
in GSM,…: qualifier indicating that this paragraph applies only to GSM System.
in UMTS,…: qualifier indicating that this paragraph applies only to UMTS System.
"middle tier" (charging) TS: term used for the 3GPP charging TSs that specify the domain / subsystem / service specific, online and offline, charging functionality. These are all the TSs in the numbering range from TS 32.250 to TS 32.279, e.g. TS 32.250 [10] for the CS domain, or TS 32.270 [30] for the MMS service. Currently, there is only one "tier 1" TS in 3GPP, which is TS 32.240 [1] that specifies the charging architecture and principles. Finally, there are a number of top tier TSs in the 32.29x numbering range ([50] ff) that specify common charging aspects such as parameter definitions, encoding rules, the common billing domain interface or common charging applications.
online charging: charging mechanism where charging information can affect, in real-time, the service rendered and therefore a direct interaction of the charging mechanism with bearer/session/service control is required.
Online Charging System: the entity that performs real-time credit control. Its functionality includes transaction handling, rating, online correlation and management of subscriber account balances.
real-time: real-time charging and billing information is to be generated, processed, and transported to a desired conclusion in less than 1 second.
successful call: connection that reaches the communication or data transfer phase e.g. the "answered" state for speech connections. All other connection attempts are regarded as unsuccessful.
tariff period: part of one (calendar) day during which a particular tariff is applied. Defined by the time at which the period commences (the switch-over time) and the tariff to be applied after switch-over.
tariff: set of parameters defining the network utilisation charges for the use of a particular bearer / session / service.
UMTS only: qualifier indicating that this clause or paragraph applies only to a UMTS system. For multi-system cases this is determined by the current serving radio access network.
voice call: any CircuitSwitched call, whatever the teleservice used (speech, 3.1 kHz audio, Fax, or CS data) except CS video telephony calls (BS 37, 64 kbit/s unrestricted digital info mode). Voice over LTE is not included in this definition.
3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:
B Interface between a VLR and its associated MSC(s).
C Interface between an HLR and an MSC.
CAP Reference point for CAMEL between a network element with integrated SSF and the OCS.
D Interface between an HLR and a VLR.
Ge Reference point between a gprsSSF and a gsmSCF.
Gr Interface between an SGSN and an HLR.
Ro Online charging reference point between a Proxy Function and the OCS.
3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 [100] and the following apply. An abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in TR 21.905 [100].
3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
CAMEL Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic
CAP CAMEL Application Part
CCA Credit Control Answer
CCR Credit Control Request
CS Circuit Switched
CTF Charging Trigger Function
DCCA Diameter Credit Control Application
DP Detection Point
EU European Union
GMSC Gateway MSC
gsmSCF GSM Service Control Function
gsmSRF GSM Specialized Resource Function
gsmSSF GSM Service Switching Function
GSM Global System for Mobile communication
HLR Home Location Register
HPLMN Home PLMN
IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
MF Mobile Forwarded
MO Mobile Originated
MS Mobile Station
MSC Mobile services Switching Centre
MSISDN Mobile Station ISDN number
MT Mobile Terminated
OCS Online Charging System
PLMN Public Land Mobile Network
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
VCS Voice Call Service
VLR Visitor Location Register