The present document specifies the Advice of Charge (AoC) framework for relevant events, sessions, and services. The 3GPP umbrella charging architecture and principles are defined in TS 32.240.
The AoC framework detailed herein provides for both offline and online charging models. It specifies the following:
The AoC architecture.
The common principles that govern AoC.
The AoC function that enables the IMS AoC framework.
Exemplary message flows.
AoC interface data description.
All terms, definitions and abbreviations used in the present document, that are common across 3GPP TSs, are defined in the 3GPP Vocabulary, TR 21.905. Those that are common across charging management in 3GPP network, services or subsystems are provided in the umbrella document TS 32.240 and may be copied into clause 3 of the present document for ease of reading. Finally, those items that are specific to the present document are defined exclusively in the present document.
Requirements that govern the AoC work are specified in TS 22.115.
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present document.
References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or non-specific.
For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same Release as the present document.
ETSI TS 182 012 (V2.1.4): "Telecommunications and Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networking (TISPAN); IMS-based PSTN/ISDN Emulation Sub-system (PES); Functional architecture".
ETSI TS 183 043 (V2.3.1): "Telecommunications and Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networking (TISPAN); IMS-based PSTN/ISDN Emulation; Stage 3 specification".
ETSI ES 201 296 (V1.3.1): "Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN); Signalling System No.7 (SS7); ISDN User Part (ISUP); Signalling aspects of charging".
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in TR 21.905 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.
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.
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 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.
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)