Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Date
3/28/2011
Author
Approved By
Remarks
Not open to the Third Party
Table of Contents
1 Overview.................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Superior Service Solution............................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 OCS-Convergent Charging Solution ................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Postpaid Charging Mode...................................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Prepaid Charging Mode ....................................................................................... 4 1.2.4 Advantages of OCS.............................................................................................. 4 1.3 Overall system structure ................................................................................................. 7 1.3.1 Basic structure of the SCU Sub-system ............................. 1.3.2 Basic structure of the OCU Platform ................................. Service.................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Offered service ............................................................................. 2.1.1 PPS Service(pps-voice-data-sms) ...................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Post-paid Service ............................................................................................... 13 2.1.3 USSD recharge and transfer credit Service........................................................ 13 2.1.4 Customer care .................................................................................................... 15 2.1.5 Provisioning ....................................................................................................... 16 2.1.6 Interconnection Billing and Settlement.............................................................. 16 2.1.7 Statistics Report ................................................................................................. 16 2.1.8 Revenue Assurance ............................................................................................ 16 2.1.9 Anti-Fraud Management .................................................................................... 17 Configuration and Calculation ............................................................................................ 18 3.1.1 Traffic Model ..................................................................................................... 18 3.1.2 CAPS Calculation .............................................................................................. 22 3.1.3 OCU System Design .......................................................................................... 22
II
1
1.1
OVERVIEW
Background
Life Telecom is a Netherlands based African telecom focused investment and management firm which owns converged mobile operators in Africa. Life Telecom owns Madamobil SA, a mobile operator having a license in Madagascar, through a Mauritius Company, Madamobil Holdings Mauritius Limited. Madamobil Holdings Mauritius Limited is a joint venture between TECOM Investments, a subsidiary of Dubai Holdings, one of the largest institutional investors and Life Telecom Holdings. Madamobil has already implemented a network for voice and data services based on CDMA 2000 1X/EVDO Rev a Technology in the capital City of Antananarivo in Madagascar. The network in Antananarivo comprise of MSC, MGW, PDSN, BSC and 45 BTSs. There is a 9.3 meter International Gateway for international voice and Internet connectivity. Now, Madamobil want to build out a 2,000,000 subscriber network in Madagascar in project phase2, it will deliver both prepaid and postpaid service to the market, more specifically, the major population centers. This technical proposal aims to propose an optimized solution for the OCS System construction of Madamobil. And this proposal will be the standard for the future engineering implementation.
1.2
1.1.1
To introduce the advantages rendered by the OCS, first lets have a look at the conventional charging mode and its inherent defects.
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.1.4
Advantages of OCS
The object of the OCS is to separate the charging function from all NEs (such as SCP and SMSC) and integrate them into the unified OCS, and at the same time take account of the integration with the postpaid charging mode. The OCS works with the Hot Billing to deliver the integrated solution which features the following: z Users can only enjoy the service when their account balance is sufficient to cover the service charge. z Ensure charging timeliness and flexibility. z Satisfy carriers requirement for making profits. z Provide lower cost of arrear risk, more market opportunities and better customer experience. Compared with the current IN prepaid charging mode and Hot Billing, the OCS features the following:
IN prepaid Hot Billing postpaid OCS
IN prepaid
Support realtime charging to avoid overdraft Poor flexibility of service charging rate; poor data Flexibility service support capability; slow development speed of new services.
OCS
Support realtime charging to avoid overdraft; realize credit control.
Realtime
Flexible charging rate and account handling capability, and powerful statistical analysis capability.
analysis capability.
The OCS is a system that integrates Convergence of and postpaid prepaid Independent Prepaid system Independent postpaid system both the prepaid and postpaid charging modes. For carriers, some services with high risks and prices shall adopt the prepaid mode. The charging mode is easily switchable for the OCS. Support full-service realtime
charging
charging of postpaid and prepaid Multiservice convergence Restricted support of data service Support full-service postpaid non-realtime charging. users, including such services as MMS, WAP browsing, location service, downloading, streaming, instant trading. Involve system construction cost and post-stage Involve the charging system and customer care system construction cost and cost caused by arrears. The earlystage cost is lower than that of IN, and is mainly required to meet equipment demand and realtime handling Compared with the cost for the construction and maintenance of IN prepaid systems, and the BOSS postpaid and message, and mobile
upgrade/reconstruction cost. Cost The large network scale, equipment performance and reliability and network
construction
requirement.
The OCS boasts the following advantages: z Enable effective support of the prepaid service development: Bringing lower risks and high profits for the telecom carriers, the prepaid service is the most important charging mode for mobile services, and the online charging will undoubtedly better support the development of prepaid services. z Enable effective risk mitigation The mobile services pose high risks than the fixed ones because of the inherent features of mobile services. The development of market and services, however,
ZTE Confidential Proprietary 5
brings with it more high-risk and high-credit-limit services. The OCS enables realtime monitoring of the service use so as to help carriers effectively mitigate risks. z Provide effective means to attract customers The prepaid service features simple network entry and easy expenditure control, and even provides such attractive services for users as high-credit-limit consumption through the online charging function, so as to provide an effective means for carriers to expand their market. z Require lower comprehensive cost The OCS lowers the defaulting and opportunity costs, and takes account of the price performance ratio, construction cost and comprehensive system stability as well through the integration of two systems. Therefore, it is a solution with low comprehensive cost. In addition, the different proportions of online charging users and quasi-realtime charging users will produce varied comprehensive costs. Therefore, the carriers can determine the optimal user proportion through various types of operation analysis so as to yield optimal price performance ratio. z Improve customer loyalty The new generation of charging solution can effectively attract customers through the provision of flexible service bundling and pricing policies, and improve the customer churn cost so as to greatly enhance the customer loyalty and make the telecom market expansion get on the right track of virtuous development circle. z Provide opportunities to optimize network structure The conventional IN-based prepaid solution is neither the most optimized network structure nor in compliance with 3GPP-recommended prepaid networking mode because of its defects such as large investment, poor service adaptability and slow market reponse. In addition, it is also defective in terms of stability (for example, in IN mode, the connection cannot proceed upon the SCP breakdown. After the OCS shares data with Hot Billing, the Hot Billing can be used to handle the problem.) z Meet industrial development trend The 3GPP has put forward the OCS solution, in which the NEs of IN and data service network implement the core functions and the OCS implements such functions as charging and rating. Therefore, the construction of the OCS is in line with the latest international standards and is a necessary choice to meet industrial development trend.
1.3
3GPP TS 32.215: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Charging data description for the Packet Switched (PS) domain". 3GPP TS 32.225: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Charging data description for the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)". 3GPP TS 32.240: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Charging Architecture and Principles". 3GPP TS 32.260: "Telecommunication management; charging management; IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) charging". 3GPP TS 32.270: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) charging". 3GPP TS 32.271: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Location Services (LCS) charging". 3GPP TS 32.299: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Diameter charging application". 3GPP TS 32.296: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Online Charging System (OCS) applications and interfaces". 3GPP TS 32.297: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Charging Data Records (CDR) file format and transfer". 3GPP TS 32.298: "Telecommunication management; charging management; Charging Data Record (CDR) parameter description". 3GPP TR 32.815: "Online Charging System (OCS) architecture study". IETF Internet-Draft: "Diameter Credit Control Application" IETF RFC 3588: "Diameter Base Protocol".
1.5
Bringing lower risks and higher profits for the telecom carriers, the prepaid service is the most important charging mode for mobile services, and the online charging will undoubtedly better support the development of services. z Enable effective risk mitigation
The mobile services pose high risks than the fixed ones because of the inherent features of mobile services. The development of market and services, however, brings with it more high-risk and high-credit-limit services. The OCS enables real-time monitoring of the service use so as to help carriers effectively mitigate risks. z Flexible price plan
The OCS system will provide web-based interface to configure the price plan for ETC, and it provides diversified measures for setting up discount price plans, such as Percent: The operator can provide a percentage-based discount plan according to the usage charge of some type. Summation: The operator can set a required value of consumption for some type of charge, and the customer has to pay it no matter the consumption is below or above this value. The operators can create more expressions to set discount amount as required. The system can rate based on the session, event, content, flow and so on. z Provide effective means to attract customers
The prepaid service features simple network entry and easy expenditure control, and even provides such attractive services for users as international roaming and high-credit-limit consumption through the online charging function, so as to provide an effective means for carriers to expand their market. z Require lower comprehensive cost
The OCS lowers the defaulting and opportunity costs, and takes account of the price performance ratio, construction cost and comprehensive system stability as well through the integration of two systems. Therefore, it is a solution with low comprehensive cost. In addition, the different proportions of online charging users and quasi-real-time charging users will produce varied comprehensive costs. Therefore, the carriers can determine the optimal user proportion through various types of operation analysis so as to yield optimal price performance ratio. z Provide opportunities to optimize network structure
The conventional IN-based prepaid solution is neither the most optimized network structure nor in compliance with 3GPP-recommended prepaid networking mode because of its defects such as large investment, poor service adaptability and slow market response. In addition, it is also defective in terms of stability (for example, in IN mode, the connection cannot proceed upon the SCP breakdown. After the OCS shares data with Hot Billing, the Hot Billing can be used to handle the problem.)
The 3GPP has put forward the OCS solution, in which the NEs of IN and data service network implement the core functions and the OCS implements such functions as charging and rating. Therefore, the construction of the OCS is in line with the latest international standards and is a necessary choice to meet industrial development trend.
1.6
SCU is the service control part of the OCS system. It provides the service logic program required for services, controls and provides the service data required for processing services. SCU is designed using N+1 backup as well as load sharing methods. SCP product features are as follows: SCP is based on the common computer system, supporting UNIX and Windows operating system, and its software is designed with C language, facilitating migration on multiple hardware platforms. Provide flexible Service Independent Blocks (SIBs) to meet various service demands; SIB design complies with ITU-T recommendations on IN SIB design; SCP adopts parallel processing mechanism to provide various load-sharing modes; SCP features high reliability. z Signaling Interface Unit (SIU/V3)
SIU processes the protocol messages of TCAP of INAP, WIN, CAP, MAP, and SIGTRAN and distributes the calls to the corresponding SCP for processing according to the message distribution table. SIU product features are as follows: The hierarchical module design and object software design philosophies have been employed in the system software design; The system is empowered with very high expandability; The system provides a perfect load control function;
10
Special SIU message distribution mechanism not only enhances the system stability but also improves the service processing performance of the system. The signaling processing is designed strictly in accordance with INAP, WIN PHASE 1, CAMEL Phase 3 standards. The system features high processing capability and supports linear expansion of nodes with multiple SIU and SCP modules. The system provides perfect traffic measurement and signaling tracing functions, facilitating operation management. z Service Management Processor (SMP)
Based on the common computer platform and large-scale commercial database processing technology, the SMP can manage services and the entire system as well. SMP product features are as follows: Perfect service management functions. Supporting online modification and loading of services. Provide desirable system expandability and safe access management; The transaction processing mechanism of the database can ensure the integrity of the data. The main parts of the system (including the processor, hard disk, power supply, etc.) employ the redundancy configuration. z Voucher Center (VC)
The functions of VC include receiving recharge requests from elements such as the IVR, USSD, SMS, or the self-service platform, authentication of rechargeable cards, authentication of the recharged account, sending recharge notification. VC features the following characteristics: High reliability: A dual-network dual-plane structure avoids the single-point of failure in design and important parts adopt the 1+1 hot backup mode. The system adopts centralized management and distributed processing so as to isolate and localize a fault. System software adopts a hierarchical module design and an object-oriented design philosophy, so the system features powerful scalability for functional expansion. The transaction capability of the system can be linearly improved with the increase of CPU amount. A database optimization technology is adopted to improve the processing speed of the database.
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A storage database technology is adopted to improve the processing speed of the database. z Man Machine Language (MML IMP)
MML IMP server can be used on interface between core part SCU and the external system. It can protect the core part from unlawful visit or lash attack. And it can perform some protocol conversion, message distribution work z Diameter credit control (DCC IMP)
DCC Server is the interface server for communication with the internal OCU via DCC protocol z Online Charging Unit (OCU Server)
OCU Server is the core charging part of the system. It performs convergent charging functions for the services. Based on the real-time message mechanism, OCS receives the charging request and performs charging, according to the service data, customer data and charging strategies, then returns the charging result to the service control elements. z Database Server
Database server is a core component of OCS. It is running a Oracle. Customer information, business data, and CDRs are stored in database presented in a way of many tables. OCS Server loads the data from database server into its own memory database when it starts running, and synchronizes all the updates like balance and CDR data into database server once they are changed. z CSIP server
CSIP is a unified interface processing part, which implemented the MML, SMPP, HTTP, and socket private interface with outside systems, such as, VC, SMSC etc. z Application Server
Application Server is carrying out Web related functions for the system. Since ZTE OCS is a fully Web-enabled system, all interface clients can be operated through user-friendly Web based interfaces. Application server adopts Microsoft IIS as Web service server, and use .net application platform to develop functions for three main applications: User and account information management, business data management (for example: price plan management), and System management.
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2
2.1.1
SERVICE
PPS Service(pps-voice-data-sms)
This is a typical service of pay before service. When a user signs an agreement for PPS, the network carrier will allocate a unique account corresponding to the user phone number. All the call fees of the PPS user will be deducted from the account in real time. Once the balance is short or the account is overdue, the carrier will stop the service of the user until the user recharges into the account. Maximal daily or monthly call fee limit can be set to protect the users benefit. PPS provides for the carrier a kind of management of effectively controlling some vicious users owing fee and overdrawing, reducing the telecom carriers managing risk, to ensure the normal income and to bring to the carrier considerable profit. On the other hand, the users neednt pay flat rate, or go to service center every month. And if the carrier adopts reasonable tariff, more users will be attracted and thus improve the network utilization ratio and get back the investment early.
2.1.2
Post-paid Service
ZTE OCS supports both prepaid and post-paid, actually the only difference between prepaid service and post-paid service is the payment method. OCS allows prepaid customers to have powerful rating/discounting/bundling functionalities and provides postpaid customers with flexible credit controls of high-value products. OCS adopts 3-level account model, that is, customer, account and subscriber. Using such architecture, all users can sign different contracts with a different person to purchase different telecom services according to their demand. One more person can share a contract, while one person can own one or more contracts. And one contract can contain one or more services, and one account can pay for multi-services.
2.1.3
13
information is transmitted over SDCCH whose data rate is 600bit/s and which is the same as that of SMS transmitting. In talking time, USSD uses FACCH whose data rate is 1000bit/s and is five times of that of SMS whose messages are transferred over SACCH. Besides, SMS employs a store-and-forward, transaction-oriented technology while USSD provides a session-oriented service by which all the information are interchanged within a dialogue without having to establish a new connection. Besides, with simplified error-checking and less complex storage process, USSD responds up to seven times faster than SMS does. USSD service is now available by most mobile phones and easy to use by keying a very short string without relying on the menus on the phones. 1. USSD Command Format
According to USSD standard, a mobile originated USSD command should be follows: Starting Identifier + Service Code + Separating Identifier+ Service Parameter ++Ending Identifier Identifier: Generally, the starting and separating identifier is *, while the ending identifier is # Service code: It is 1-3 digits. Its content is specific to each service and specifies its target network node. It is finalized that service code 100 to 149 is for the service of HPLMN and 150 to 199 for VPLMN. Service Parameter: It is used to help the application to get more information like password, recharging card number, dialed number, etc. from the user. The longest USSD command is 160 digits. Take the Prepaid Recharge service as an example to show how to use USSD service: *111*55146422355413#. The USSD string means that the user is wishing to use prepaid recharge service (identified by service code 111) and the recharge card number is 55146422355413. USSD command is very easy to remember and furthermore, user can put it into the phone book to avoid forgetting. 2. Service Flow
The flow of USSD Recharge service is described as below. 1) The recharge user requests the service by entering USSD character string: *111*55146422355413#, the number 55146422355413 is supposed to be the recharge card number. MSC of the visited network first checks the user initiated USSD message. If it is in a valid format and the service code is for home network, the serving MSC will route back the message to the home HLR according to the service code 111 in the USSD character string. HLR transfers the USSD message to the SCP. SCP is responsible for recognizing the service and processing the recharge service accordingly.
14
2)
3)
4)
If the recharge is successful, it directly sends a successful message notifying the recharge subscriber the result. Otherwise, it will send a message that is recharge failure.
The flow of USSD transfer credit service is described as below. 1) The transfer user requests the service by entering USSD character string: *112*2603254344*5#, the number 2603254344 is supposed to be the transfer telephone number, and the number 5 is supposed to be transfer amount. MSC of the visited network first checks the user initiated USSD message. If it is in a valid format and the service code is for home network, the serving MSC will route back the message to the home HLR according to the service code 112 in the USSD character string. HLR transfers the USSD message to the SCP. SCP is responsible for recognizing the service and processing the transfer service accordingly. If the transfer is successful, it directly sends a successful message notifying the transfer subscriber the result. Otherwise, it will send a message that is transfer failure.
2)
3) 4)
HOME NETWORK
MSC
2, USSD request
HLR
IN-SCP
4, SCP recharge/transfer
2.1.4
Customer care
The OCS system regards every single contact of customers as a potential chance to deepen the relationship between the operator and customers, no matter whether the customer is inquiring a product, responding to a promotion, applying for a service or complaining about a bill. From the chance of the
15
customer, the operator can have the possibility to improve customer value and loyalty. As a result, with the customer care available in OCS system, you can: z z z z z Provide a complete set of customer care including Order Entry, query service and payment service. Implement all operations in a single interface. Carry out effective service promotion, win more chances of cross sales and create more revenues. Improve customer satisfaction and minimize customer loss. Prevent malicious fraud from the customers and cut down benefit loss.
2.1.5
Provisioning
For the provisioning, the work sheet that is generated by the customer care subsystem and arrear handling subsystem will be converted into the format specified by the NE and distributed to the corresponding NE for handling, and then the handling results of the NE will be resolved. So all the service requirements can be transferred between terminal customers and NEs, every step and processing is automatic.
2.1.6
2.1.7
Statistics Report
ZTE-OCS report platform is developed on the basis of ActiveReport for .NET of Data Dynamic. ActiveReport, which mostly makes realtime report, is a lightweight report tool with easy use and powerful function (Analytical report is a BI issue). System is provided with almost all functions which ActiveReport can offer. Furthermore, it is encapsulated and developed some new characters, such as customized report platform and customized report designer, data source substance, multiple batches statistic and so on. So all your business reports requirements for multi-services can be fulfilled easily.
2.1.8
Revenue Assurance
End-to-end revenue assurance mechanism encompasses advanced transaction integrity functionalities that detect, correct and ensure all revenue-generating events that occur on a carrier network are accurately counted, rated and billed.
16
Whole-process Audit & Checking function is one of the most important measures to assure the revenue of operators, each of the important modules of OCS can be monitored during the running period, so that they can be traced and restored. It also adopts data comparison as main check method. And the comparison can be based on month, week or week. And the comparison result can be presented by graph.
Interface
Pre-processing
Rating
Billing
Interconnect Settlement
Centralized Monitoring
2.1.9
Anti-Fraud Management
To avoid revenue leakage, OCS provides kinds of credit control methods to prevent fraud and overdraft. We have a special credit plan management function, so we can configure the control policies. When the users usage reaches the credit limit, the system will keep customers informed all the time, like reminding the user or terminating the service procedure. System credit control is defined by operator according to user feature; User credit limit is defined by user himself. The system credit limit is used for fraud control and user credit limit is to remind the user to avoid overdraft.
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3
3.1.1
18
The traffic model mentioned in scope of supply document is copied here and other parameters are the default and experience values.
OCU based on this we suggest to configure the capacity as the following table. Services
Pre-Paid/Postpaid voice service users EVDO users
ZTE Confidential Proprietary 21
Value
2M 33,000
1.00 1.8
2.67
Value
736k 120k 128,400,000 1.00 1.8
2.67
3.1.2
CAPS Calculation
CAPS (Call attempts per second) is a value measuring the system load by each service, it will be the most frequently referred parameter throughout the whole procedure of dimensioning ZTE OCS system. It follows the formula below: CAPS=(Number of service usersBHCA)3600 =(Number of service userstraffic of each subscriber)MHT The CAPS value of each service is listed in the following table.
Service PPS voice PPS-SMS CAPS Phase0 1000 55.56 18.5
EVDO
Total CAPS
1074.06
3.1.3
This is OCS hardware solution is designed for the 200k subscribers. It covers the phase0 requirement for Madamobil. 1. OCS TPMC Calculation i. The Calling TPMC in Busy Hours
The calling TPMC in busy hours in OCS mainly include the call service and the AOC service. The real-time bonus and accumulation coefficients (40%) should also be considered. And also the FN(Friend Number)/zone coefficients (20%) should also be considered. The Calling TPMC in Busy Hours = the TPMC per CAPS of Call service*CAPS of the call service*(1+ real-time bonus and accumulation coefficients)* (1+ FN/zone coefficients) The call service function in OCS mainly include the communication, rating, preprocessing (packet the message, unpacked the message and authentication), balance management, CDRs generation, session poll management. The TPMC tested in the lab for OCS listed as fellow:
The calling service functions Communication TPMC/Caps Rating TPMC/Caps Preprocessing (packet the message, unpacked the message and authentication) TPMC/Caps Balance management TPMC /Caps CDRs generation TPMC /Caps Session Pool management TPMC /Caps 54.3 26.8 3.8 19.3 TPMC 7.8 89.1
So, the Calling TPMC in Busy Hours =201.1*174.1*1.4*1.5=73,524.2; ii. The application service TPMC in Busy Hours: The application service mainly includes the charging, payment, query, change the service and notified by the SMS. The application service TPMC in Busy Hours = the number of the subs* the ratio of the service in busy hours * the TPMC per service for charging& payment, query, change the service and notified by the SMS*(1+ real-time bonus and accumulation coefficients)* (1+ FN/zone coefficients).
The application service functions Charging& payment Query TPMC for OCS server 18.3 19.5
ZTE OCS Technical Proposal for LifeTelecom Change the service Bill generation Notified by the SMS 15.2 20 2.4
So, the application service TPMC in Busy Hours= 200,000 * 0.2% * (18.3+19.5+15.2+20+2.4)*1.4*1.5 =63,336; 2. DB TPMC Calculation i. The application service TPMC in Busy Hours: The database server is mainly responsible for application service request and the SMS request. The application service TPMC in Busy Hours = the number of the subs*(the average TPMC per application service transaction* Ratio of application service in busy hours + the average TPMC per SMS transaction* Ratio of SMS transaction in busy hours) *(1+ real-time bonus and accumulation coefficients)* (1+ FN/zone coefficients);
The application service for database Charging& payment TPMC Query TPMC Change the service TPMC Bill generation SMS service TPMC /Caps TPMC for Database 15.5 6.3 9.2 12 1.3
The application service TPMC in Busy Hours = 200,000 * (44.3 * 0.2%)*1.4*1.5 = 37,212
ii.
The report TPMC in Busy Hours: The average time of the report should be controlled in 1 minute. As the result of the test in the lab, the report TPMC is 10,000;
iii.
The total TPMC for Database = (The application service TPMC in Busy Hours + The report TPMC in Busy Hours + TPMC used by OS itself + TPMC used by cluster software)/ redundancy coefficient; TPMC used by OS itself should be 10,000; TPMC used by cluster software should be 2,000;
And the redundancy coefficient should be taken into consideration, it is 70%. The total TPMC for Database = (73,524.2+63,336+37,212+10,000+ 10,000+2,000)/0.7 = 280,103.1; And the TPMC of IBM P55A with 8C(8*1.65) 32G memory is about 350,000; IBM P55A with 8C(8*1.65) 32G is mainstream server.