Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2005.10 8
EXPERT’S FORUM
EXPERT’S FORUM
Shan Mingjun, a senior expert in the charging field. Currently he is the Vice Chairman of 3GPP SA5-Charging Group
and leads major charging activities related to OCS, IMS and EPC. In addition, he has been serving as Vice Chairman of
OMA MCC for two terms since August 2005.
broadcast and multicast service (MBMS). IN, CAMEL has been playing a crucial based, charging systems should offer
Charging for prepaid voice services role in terms of prepaid voice services. support accordingly. Service based on the
was integrated into the online charging OCS was specified to suppor t CAP session initiation protocol (SIP) cannot
system in Release 6. The OCS supported access since Release 6. Differing from the be effectively implemented without a
CAP access to realize the charging for DIAMETER-based Ro protocol, CAMEL convergent billing system. SIP-based IMS
prepaid voice services. In other words, the is implemented independently from forms the direct technical driver.
intelligent network (IN) can be regarded the OCS as a charging access protocol. Expanding new services: A robust
as the OCS’s voice processing component. CAMEL’s development in 3GPP began charging system is necessary for the quick
Release 7 optimized the OCS by in 1997 and its original version was deployment of new applications and
supporting online charging control for embodied in Release 99. CAMEL 4 was combination of new services. Prepaid
open mobile alliance (OMA) enablers, defined in Release 5 and maintained in and postpaid charging convergence
under which OMA applications were Releases 6 and 7. coupled with flexible charging modes can
facilitated by 3GPP infrastr uctures benefit operators by providing a range of
to implement both online and offline combined services for customers, which
charging. Convergent billing’s accelerates the service provision and
The major change in Release 8 is drivers and capabilities effectively tailors services to suit individual
to enable correlated online charging needs.
among the bearer, subsystem and service Driving factors Unified service provision: In the early
application layers during the service stage of service development only postpaid
processing. It ensures the integrity of The development of convergent billing customers can access some services due to
charging data to facilitate reasonable goes along with the changes in both a high credit rating requirement. GPRS
charging modes. In addition, 3GPP and telecom network architecture and new provides an example of such a service for
3GPP2 will adopt a common set of IMS service development. As a focus in the which prepaid customers had to wait a
architecture, enabling organizations such telecom charging field, convergent billing considerable length of time. Convergent
as 3GPP2 and TISPAN to use OCS more is driven by the following core factors: billing will mitigate this problem by
conveniently. The OCS will also support A L L I P n e t w o r k d e ve l o p m e n t : facilitating unified services for both
wider access to richer network scenarios. As circuit switched (CS) based or IN prepaid and postpaid customers.
As one of the major protocols to access based services are shifting to ALL IP In addition, convergent billing
architecture enables the charging of driver for operators and SPs under which
services provided by third parties, such
As 3G packet networks a flexible and open rating engine greatly
as SPs, while customer loyalty can be increase demands on online assists new business mode development.
enhanced through flexible tariff packages. A rating engine should be able to charge
charging systems, OCS any event and combined services. Some
Four fundamental capabilities believe that the rating engine can exist
will be gradually deployed independently from the charging system
As detailed above, the catalysts for and provide open interfaces. Whether the
convergent billing mainly derive from worldwide following the rating engine is independent or internally
changes in network architecture, new integrated, the key capabilities of the
ser vices, and customer needs. Four
conclusion of its current convergent billing should include open
fundamental capabilities are required for and ongoing optimization and unified interfaces, as well as a holistic
the successful operation of a convergent service charging mechanism.
billing system: under the 3GPP framework. Customer-centric data organization.
Real-time charging. This applies to Great variations occur in prepaid and
charging for convergent networks and Analyses attest that OCS postpaid user experience during different
services. Charging lays the foundation for charging stages, and this is largely related
telecom operations. The essence of the indeed forms the best to deployed technologies.
charging is to meter network usage and With customer service upgrades, the
statistics of service requests. Billing is over
framework for convergent distinction between prepaid and postpaid
services is increasingly blurred. From a
charging.
One of the essential parts of charging
billing implementation. technological standpoint, convergent
is to redefine charging elements, and then billing should facilitate the switching
redefine the structure for network and In China, the number of fixed between customer groups, allowing a
service control. This simplifies charging broadband customers has grown customer to select prepaid charging for
methods. Charging now observes service explosively since 2002, having increased some services, while postpaid charging for
use logic instead of service use quantities. on average by over 50% each year. On other services to enhance usage flexibility.
This also presents a challenge in attempting the other hand, Chinese fixed network
to define the interoperation between the operators have witnessed decreased
charging system and the network. monthly tariff and reduced revenues, OCS is the best direction
Bundled service charging. This seeks although the quantity of broadband access
to satisfy the mixed subscription of voice, has increased. This illustrates that simple
As demonstrated in its development,
message, and data services. A new difficulty tariff models cannot help increase ARPU
OCS can deliver a flexible, swift and
has emerged concerning charging based on or implement flexible pricing for niche
real-time charging function. It solves the
ad-hoc scenarios, which has arisen due to markets. Moreover, improvements will not
problem of prepaid and postpaid service
greater freedom requested by customers. be derived from increased bandwidth or
shifts, and enables operators to quickly
While this increases the challenges face Internet services.
assess customer needs in order to more
by operators and equipment suppliers, it Converged rating engine. Service
accurately plan the launch of new services
potentially yields higher customer returns. variety embodies a major development
and convergent schemes.
A s 3 G p a c k e t n e t w o r k s i n c re a s e
demands on online charging systems,
OCS will be gradually deployed worldwide
following the conclusion of its current
and ongoing optimization under the
3GPP framework. Analyses attest that
OCS indeed forms the best framework for
Postpaid based Postpaid based Prepaid based
on offline charging on online charging on online charging convergent billing implementation.
Ensuring compatibility
The 3GPP OCS is heading toward
multiple charging access provision for
networks bearing different services. To
Fig. 1 Charging logic of prepaid and postpaid services meet network evolution demands, the
OCS’s internal components are further