CN102026136B - Method and system for online charging of local breakout of evolved packet system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an evolved packet domain local grooming and charging method, comprising: in the evolved packet domain local grooming roaming scenario, the policy control enhancement function (V-PCEF) of the access network sends a credit control request message to the access network The online charging system, wherein the credit control request message carries the identification information of the online charging system of the home network; after receiving the credit control request message, the online charging system of the visiting network, according to the attribution information carried in the credit control request message, The identification information of the network online charging system, and sends a credit control request message to the home network online charging system. The invention also provides an evolved packet domain local breakout and charging system. The present invention realizes charging in the roaming scenario of local breakout in the evolved packet domain.

Description

An Evolved Online Charging Method and System for Packet Domain Local Grooming

technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, in particular to an online charging method and system in the case of Evolved Packet Domain (EPS) Local BreakOut (LBO for short).

Background technique

The PCC (Policy and Charging Control, policy and charging control) architecture used in the R8 EPS local grooming defined by the current 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) wireless communication standards organization is shown in FIG. 1 . PCEF (Policy Control Enhanced Function) is located in the V-PLMN of the visited network. Policy and charging rule information is transferred from the PCRF (Policy Control Resource Function) of the home network to the PCRF of the visited network through the S9 interface, and then passed to the PCEF/BBERF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function/Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function, Policy and Charging Enhancement Function/Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function). The PCEF of the access network is connected to the OFCS (Offline Charging System, offline charging system) of the access network through the Gz interface, and is connected to the OCS (Online Charging System, online charging system) of the home network through the Gy interface.

Considering Figure 1 from the perspective of online charging implementation, it should be shown as the structural diagram shown in Figure 2 . The PCEF of the visited network should send the online charging credit control message to the OCS of the visited network, and then the OCS of the visited network forwards the online charging credit control message to the OCS of the home network. The OCS that accesses the network is called Proxy OCS (Proxy Online Charging System).

According to FIG. 2 , the communication establishment process in the existing local grooming situation is schematically shown in FIG. 3 . The steps are described as follows:

Step 301: The gateway GW located in the access network receives a request to establish an IP-CAN (IP Connectivity Access Network, IP connection access network) bearer, and the gateway accepts the request and assigns an IP address to the UE (user equipment);

Step 302: The gateway sends a policy and charging rule request to the PCRF, V-PCRF, which is also located in the visited network; the request contains enough information so that the V-PCRF can determine that the UE is a roaming user and the UE's home network;

Step 303: The V-PCRF determines the PCC rules required by the UE;

Step 304: The V-PCRF requests the H-PCRF for the allowed service and PCC rule authorization, wherein the V-PCRF obtains the H-PCRF identifier from the UE's home network identifier;

Step 305: If the H-PCRF does not have the subscription information of the UE, send a subscription characteristic request to the SPR (subscription attribute database);

Step 306: The subscription characteristic response returned by the SPR to the H-PCRF includes information such as allowed services, PCC rules, and whether online charging is necessary;

Step 307: H-PCRF performs authorization and policy decision. If the visited network does not support the online charging of the roaming user, this step may also reject the request of the online charging service user to establish an IP-CAN bearer;

Step 308: The H-PCRF sends the PCC decision to the V-PCRF, which includes the charging key, and optionally also includes the service identifier (Service Identifier) corresponding to the charging rule. If the access network supports online charging, the PCC decision It should also include the identifier of the OCS of the home network;

Step 309: The V-PCRF ensures that the PCC decision received from the H-PCRF satisfies the local policy of the visited network. If it is found that the roaming agreement between the visited network and the user's home network is violated, the V-PCRF may also refuse the PCC decision received from the H-PCRF. The received QoS (Quality of Service) adopts local policies;

Step 310: The V-PCRF sends the PCC decision to the GW. If the PCC decision sent by the H-PCRF in step 308 includes the identifier of the OCS of the home network, it also needs to be included here, and the GW strengthens this decision;

Step 311: If at least one PCC rule and one charging key are activated, the GW confirms that the IP-CAN bearer is established.

The problem existing in the prior art is that currently there is no clear method for how the PCEF of the visiting network and the OCS of the home network perform message exchange for roaming charging in the EPC local grooming roaming scenario.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an evolved packet domain local grooming and charging method and system, so that in the EPC local grooming and roaming scenario, the PCEF of the visiting network and the OCS of the home network perform message interaction to perform roaming charging .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an evolved packet domain local grooming and charging method, including: in the evolved packet domain local grooming roaming scenario, the policy control enhancement function (V-PCEF) of the access network sends a credit control request Send a message to the online charging system of the visited network, and the credit control request message carries identification information of the online charging system of the home network;

After receiving the credit control request message, the online charging system of the visited network sends a credit control request message to the home network online charging system according to the identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the credit control request message system.

Further, the above method may also have the following features, one or more online charging systems are deployed in the home network, and the identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the credit control request message refers to the home network online charging system. The identification information of at least one online charging system deployed in .

Further, the above method may also have the following features, the home network is deployed with an online charging system manager to address the online charging system in the jurisdiction, and the online charging system of the home network carried in the credit control request message The identification information of is the identification information of the online charging system manager.

Further, the above method may also have the following features, the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a diameter protocol.

Further, the above method may also have the following features, the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a non-diameter protocol, and the interface is capable of converting from the Diameter protocol to the non-diameter protocol ability.

The present invention also provides an evolved packet domain local grooming and charging system, including an access network and a home network, and the access network includes a policy control enhanced function (V-PCEF) and an online charging system,

in:

The V-PCEF is used to send a credit control request message to the online charging system of the visited network in the evolved packet domain local grooming roaming scenario, and the credit control request message carries the information of the online charging system of the home network identification information;

The online charging system of the visited network is configured to, after receiving the credit control request message, send a credit control request message to the home network according to the identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the credit control request message online billing system.

Further, the above system may also have the following features, one or more online charging systems are deployed in the home network, and the online charging system of the home network carried in the credit control request message sent by the V-PCEF The identification information refers to the identification information of at least one online charging system deployed in the home network.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned system may also have the following features, the home network is deployed with an online charging system manager to address the online charging system in the jurisdiction, and the credit control request message sent by the V-PCEF carries the The identification information of the home network online charging system is the identification information of the online charging system manager.

Further, the above-mentioned system may also have the following features, the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a diameter protocol.

Further, the above system may also have the following features, the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a non-diameter protocol, and the interface is capable of converting from the Diameter protocol to the non-diameter protocol ability.

The method and system of the present invention provide a scheme for interaction between PCEF and OCS, so as to realize roaming charging.

Description of drawings

The accompanying drawings described here are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the application. The schematic embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute improper limitations to the present invention. In the attached picture:

Figure 1 is a logical architecture diagram of local grooming LBO;

Figure 2 is a logical architecture diagram of local grooming LBO considering OCS interaction;

Fig. 3 is the communication establishment flowchart of existing LBO;

Fig. 4 is a flow chart of establishing LBO communication for online charging in the present invention.

Detailed ways

The LBO billing method of the EPS proposed by the present invention comprises:

When online charging is used in the LBO roaming scenario of EPS, the V-PCEF of the access network sends a credit control request (CCR) message to the OCS of the access network (the OCS can be called Proxy OCS, proxy online charging system). The request message carries the identification information of the OCS of the home network;

After receiving the credit control request message, the OCS of the access network forwards the credit control request message to the home network online charging system according to the identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the credit control request message , that is, the OCS of the visited network obtains the identification information of the OCS of the home network from the CCR message and fills in the field of the message sending peer, and sends the subsequent CCR message as destination information.

Wherein, the home network is deployed with one or more OCSs, and the identification information of the OCSs of the home network carried in the credit control request message refers to the identification information of at least one OCS deployed in the home network.

Among them, since multiple OCSs can be deployed in a PLMN for load balancing, and an OCS manager can be deployed to address OCSs within the jurisdiction, in this case, the V-PCEF sent from the access network to the access network The identification information of the OCS of the home network carried in the OCS credit control request message may be the identification information of the OCS manager. The OCS of the visited network acquires the identification information of the OCS manager from the CCR message, and sends a subsequent CCR message to the OCS manager of the home network as destination information.

Among them, the online credit control request message transmitted on the interface between the OCS of the visiting network and the OCS of the home network adopts the Diameter protocol. The conversion capability of other protocols described above.

The charging method of the present invention will be described below in two cases where only one OCS is deployed in a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) and when multiple OCSs are deployed, an OCS manager is included to address the OCS within the jurisdiction.

Embodiment one:

As shown in Figure 4, only one active OCS and one standby OCS are deployed in a PLMN for active/standby switchover, and the V-PCEF is located at the gateway (GW) of the access network.

Step 401: The gateway (GW) located in the access network receives a request to establish an IP-CAN bearer, and the gateway accepts the request and assigns an IP address to the UE;

Step 402: The gateway sends a policy and charging rule request to the PCRF also located in the visited network; the request contains enough information so that the V-PCRF can determine that the UE is a roaming user and the UE's home network;

Step 403: The V-PCRF determines the PCC rules required by the UE;

Step 404: The V-PCRF requests the H-PCRF for the allowed service and PCC rule authorization, wherein the V-PCRF obtains the H-PCRF identifier from the UE's home network identifier;

Step 405: If the H-PCRF does not have the subscription information of the UE, send a subscription feature request to the SPR;

Step 406: The subscription characteristic response returned by the SPR to the H-PCRF includes information such as allowed services, PCC rules, and whether online charging is necessary;

Step 407: H-PCRF performs authorization and policy decision. If the visited network does not support the online charging of the roaming user, this step may also reject the request of the online charging service user to establish an IP-CAN bearer;

Step 408: The H-PCRF sends the PCC decision to the V-PCRF, which includes the charging key and optionally the Service Identifier corresponding to the charging rule. If the access network supports online charging, the PCC decision should also include including the identifier of the OCS of the home network;

Step 409: The V-PCRF ensures that the PCC decision received from the H-PCRF satisfies the local policy of the visited network. If it is found that the roaming agreement between the visited network and the user's home network is violated, the V-PCRF may also refuse the PCC decision received from the H-PCRF. The local policy is adopted for the QoS received;

Step 410: The V-PCRF sends the PCC decision to the GW. If the PCC decision sent by the H-PCRF in the previous step 408 includes the identifier of the OCS of the home network, it also needs to be included here, and the GW strengthens this decision;

Step 411: If online charging can be used and at least one PCC rule is activated, GW/V-PCEF activates the online charging session with Proxy OCS and sends a credit control request message to Proxy OCS. The request message carries the OCS identification information of the home network, such as: the address information of a primary OCS and the address information of the standby OCS of the home network, and the specific definition method of the identification information is not limited here;

Step 412: The Proxy OCS activates the online charging session with the OCS of the home network, and sends a credit control request message with the OCS identification information of the home network transmitted from the GW as the destination party information, that is, sends a credit control request message to the identification OCS of the home network indicated by the information;

Steps 413-414: The OCS returns a credit control response message to the GW/V-PCEF; specifically includes: the OCS of the home network returns a credit control response message to the Proxy OCS, and the Proxy OCS returns a credit control response message to the GW/V-PCEF;

Step 415: If at least one PCC rule and one charging key are activated, the GW confirms that the IP-CAN bearer is established.

In subsequent charging, it is the same as step 411-step 414.

Embodiment two

This is a billing method process in which a PLMN deploys multiple OCSs for load balancing, and an OCS manager is also deployed for OCS addressing within the jurisdiction. V-PCEF is located at the gateway (GW) of the access network. The process and diagram 4 is similar, including the following steps:

Step 501: The gateway (GW) located in the access network receives a request to establish an IP-CAN bearer, and the gateway accepts the request and assigns an IP address to the UE;

Step 502: The gateway sends a policy and charging rule request to the PCRF also located in the visited network; the request contains enough information so that the V-PCRF can determine that the UE is a roaming user and the UE's home network;

Step 503: The V-PCRF determines the PCC rules required by the UE;

Step 504: The V-PCRF requests the H-PCRF for the allowed service and PCC rule authorization, wherein the V-PCRF obtains the H-PCRF identifier from the UE's home network identifier;

Step 505: If the H-PCRF does not have the subscription information of the UE, send a subscription feature request to the SPR;

Step 506: The subscription characteristic response returned by the SPR to the H-PCRF includes information such as allowed services, PCC rules, and whether online charging is necessary;

Step 507: H-PCRF performs authorization and policy decision, if the visited network does not support the online charging of the roaming user, this step may also reject the request of the online charging service user to establish an IP-CAN bearer;

Step 508: The H-PCRF sends the PCC decision to the V-PCRF, which includes the charging key and optionally the Service Identifier corresponding to the charging rule. If the access network supports online charging, the PCC decision should also include including the identifier of the OCS of the home network;

Step 509: The V-PCRF ensures that the PCC decision received from the H-PCRF satisfies the local policy of the visited network. If it is found that the roaming agreement between the visited network and the user's home network is violated, the V-PCRF may also refuse the decision received from the H-PCRF. The local policy is adopted for the QoS received;

Step 510: The V-PCRF sends the PCC decision to the GW. If the PCC decision sent by the H-PCRF in the previous step 508 contains the identifier of the OCS of the home network, it also needs to be included here, and the GW strengthens this decision;

Step 511: If online charging can be used and at least one PCC rule is activated, GW/V-PCEF activates the online charging session with Proxy OCS and sends a credit control request message to Proxy OCS. The request message carries the identification information of the OCS manager of the home network, such as: the address information of the OCS manager of the home network, and the specific definition method of the identification information is not limited here;

Step 512: The Proxy OCS activates the online charging session with the OCS of the home network, and sends the credit control request message with the identification information of the OCS manager of the home network transmitted from the GW as the destination party information, that is, sends the credit control request message to The OCS manager of the home network indicated by the identification information;

Wherein, after receiving the credit control request, the OCS manager selects an OCS according to the purpose of load balancing according to a preset addressing rule, and forwards the credit control request to the selected OCS. At the same time, the OCS manager must ensure that the services of the same user must be processed by the same OCS.

Steps 513-514: OCS returns a credit control response message to GW/V-PCEF, specifically including:

The OCS selected by the OCS manager returns a credit control response message to the OCS manager; the OCS manager returns a credit control response message to the Proxy OCS; and the Proxy OCS returns a credit control response message to the GW/V-PCEF.

Step 515: If at least one PCC rule and one charging key are activated, the GW confirms that the IP-CAN bearer is established.

Through the above process and the subsequent online charging credit control process, the online charging in the LBO roaming scenario can be completed.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and changes. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. An evolved packet domain local grooming and charging method, characterized in that it comprises: in the evolved packet domain local grooming roaming scenario, the policy control enhancement function V-PCEF of the access network sends a credit control request message to the access network An online charging system, wherein the credit control request message carries identification information of the online charging system of the home network; multiple online charging systems are deployed in the home network, and the home network information carried in the credit control request message The identification information of the online charging system refers to the identification information of at least one online charging system deployed in the home network; the online charging system manager is deployed in the home network to address the online charging system in the jurisdiction, and the credit control The identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the request message is the identification information of the online charging system manager; the identification information of the online charging system is the address information of the active online charging system and the backup The address information of the online charging system, the identification information of the online charging system manager is the address information of the online charging system manager; After receiving the credit control request message, the online charging system of the visited network sends a credit control request message to the home network online charging system according to the identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the credit control request message system. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a diameter protocol. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a non-diameter protocol, and the interface has a Diameter protocol to the non-diameter protocol. The conversion capability of the diameter protocol. 4. An evolved packet domain local grooming and charging system, characterized in that it includes an access network and a home network, and the access network includes a policy control enhanced function V-PCEF and an online charging system, wherein: The V-PCEF is used to send a credit control request message to the online charging system of the visited network in the evolved packet domain local grooming roaming scenario, and the credit control request message carries the information of the online charging system of the home network Identification information: multiple online charging systems are deployed in the home network, and the identification information of the online charging systems of the home network carried in the credit control request message sent by the V-PCEF refers to the online charging systems deployed in the home network Identification information of at least one online charging system; the home network deploys an online charging system manager to address the online charging system in the jurisdiction, and the online charging system of the home network carried in the credit control request message The identification information is the identification information of the online charging system manager; the identification information of the online charging system is the address information of the active online charging system and the address information of the standby online charging system, and the online charging system The identification information of the manager is the address information of the online charging system manager; The online charging system of the visited network is configured to, after receiving the credit control request message, send a credit control request message to the home network according to the identification information of the home network online charging system carried in the credit control request message online billing system. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a diameter protocol. 6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the interface between the online charging system of the visited network and the online charging system of the home network adopts a non-diameter protocol, and the interface has a Diameter protocol to the non-diameter protocol. The conversion capability of the diameter protocol.