3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations

32.2803GPPAdvice of Charge (AoC) serviceCharging managementRelease 17Telecommunication managementTS

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].

Add-on charge: additional charge on top of the current tariff. An add-on charge can either be metered in non-monetary units (e.g. meter pulse) or in monetary-units (e.g. currency).

Advice of Charge (AoC): The Advice of Charge (AoC) supplementary service provides AoC Information to the served user for information (AoCI) or for charging (AoCC) related to a corresponding event, session or usage of a service. The AoC service may be delivered prior to, during or after the service delivery.

AoC for Information (AoCI): An AoC supplementary service where the provided information is non-binding. I.e. the provided information is an estimation of the service cost and/or tariff. The provided information and the actual charges may differ.

AoC for Charging (AoCC): An AoC supplementary service where the provided information is binding. I.e. the provided information shall correspond to the actual charges.

AoC at communication set-up time (AOC-S): An AoC supplementary service provided at communication establishment and/or at tariff switch time. The provided information includes Tariff Information for the requested service.

AoC during the communication (AOC-D): An AoC supplementary service provided during the communication at predefined triggering conditions. The provided information includes accumulated Cost for the ongoing usage.

AoC at the end of communication (AOC-E): An AoC supplementary service provided when the communication is released. The provided information includes the total accumulated Cost.

Auxiliary Advice of Charge Function (AACF): An AACF provides Tariff and/or Cost information for the requested service. The AACF resides outside of the local AoC function and the charging domain.

NOTE: In this release, the AACF is considered as CDP for AoCI purpose. CDP is defined in TS 29.658 [209]. The terms AACF and CDP may change in the future as a result of possible addition of charging capabilities.

Charge Advice information (CAI): CAI elements as described in TS 22.024 [203].

Charge Determination Point (CDP): Defined in ETSI ES 201.296 [214].

IMS-based PSTN/ISDN Emulation Sub-system (PES): Defined in ETSI TS 182 012 [212].

Tariff: set of parameters defining the applied charges for the use of a particular bearer / session / service.

3.2 Symbols

For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:

Symbol format

Bi Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the IMS CGF to the BD.

ISC ISC interface between the S-CSCF and the IMS-GWF

Rf Offline Charging Reference Point between an IMS Network Entity or an AS and the CDF

Ro Online Charging Reference Point between an AS, MRFC or the IMS-GWF and the OCS

<24.647> Reference point between UE and P-CSCF as defined in TS 24.647 [208]

<29.658> Reference point between IBCF/MGCF and the external network as defined in TS 29.658 [209]

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].

AACF Auxiliary AoC Function

ACF AoC Function

AGCF Access Gateway Control Function

AoC Advice of Charge

AoC-S AoC at communication Set-up time

AoC-D AoC During the communication

AoC-E AoC at the End of the communication

AoCI AoC for Information

AoCC AoC for Charging

CAI Charge Advice Information

CAMEL Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic

CCA Credit-Control-Answer

CCF Charging Collection Function

CCR Credit-Control-Request

CDF Charging Data Function

CDP Charging Determination Point

CGF Charging Gateway Function

CPC Calling Party Category

CSCF Call Session Control Function (I-Interrogating; P-Proxy; and S-Serving)

ECUR Event Charging with Unit Reservation

HSS Home Subscriber Server

IBCF Interconnection Border Control Function

IEC Immediate Event Charging

IMS-GWF IMS Gateway Function

ISC IMS Service Control

MGCF Media Gateway Control Function

OCS Online Charging System

OFCS Offline Charging System

PES IMS-based PSTN/ISDN Emulation Sub-system

RTTI Realtime Transfer of Tariff Information

SCUR Session Charging with Unit Reservation

SIP Session Initiation Protocol

UE User Equipment

UNI User to Network Interface

VGW Voice over IP Gateway