Online Mediation Controller - Basic Admin 2 - 1...R-IM-OCF Ro, represented in the diagram: Mediates to charging network elements Acts as standard service IMS Online Charging Function

Online Mediation Controller - Basic Admin 2 - 1



TerminologyAAA - Authentication Authorization AccountingAVP - Attribute Value PairAVP Attribute Value PairCCA - Credit Control AnswerCCR - Credit Control ResponseDM - Degraded ModeIN - Intelligent NetworkOCF (S) - Online Charging Function (System)OFCF (S) Offline Charging Function (System)OFCF (S) - Offline Charging Function (System)WS - Web ServicesSMS - Short Message ServiceSCP - Service Control Point


Online Mediation Controller complementary applications serve mainly as an example for how applications can be implemented to expand BRM functionality with services:

• Announcement Player - Plays an announcement at the beginning of a call to a calling tparty.

• Home Zones – Applies rates or service access conditions based on location of subscriber.

• Threshold Notification - A Diameter Attribute-Value Pair (AVP) threshold value triggers Service Broker to generate an event. The event can be subscribed to by other applications.

Portal Communication Protocol (PCP) is a native interface to Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management (BRM). 3rd party Online Charging Systems (OCS) are accessed g ( ) p y g g y ( )through the Diameter Ro interface. Integration with Service Controller allows access to many more networks and applications.Application facing Interworking Modules:

• IM-OCF - Online Charging Function interworking module• IM-OFCF - Offline Charging Function interworking module• IM-WS – Web Services interworking module

Network facing Interworking Modules:• R –IM-OCF – Reverse Online Charging Function interworking module• R –IM-OCF – Reverse Online Charging Function interworking module• R –IM-OFCF – Reverse Offline Charging Function interworking module

Network domain components:• CTF - Charging Trigger Function • NAS - Network Access Server


R-IM-OCF Ro, represented in the diagram:Mediates to charging network elements Acts as standard service IMS Online Charging Function (OCF) [3GPP TS 32.296]Acts as standard service IMS Online Charging Function (OCF) [3GPP TS 32.296]Uses Diameter Ro to connect to IMS Charging Trigger Function (CTF)Support s SCUR, ECUR and IEC, [3GPP TS 32.299]Provides protocol state machines and prebuilt translation of Diameter Ro to an internal abstraction layer protocol.IM-OCF PCP represented in the diagram:Mediates to BRM for online charging over PCPg gUses BRM native interface (PCP) and translates it to an internal abstraction layer protocolSupports SCUR, ECUR and IECIs agnostic to the network where the session is ongoing: GSM, AIN, or NGN, IMS Can be invoked any time in the service composition (or multiple times, when conditions change)


In the diagram R-IM-OFCF uses RADIUS to connect to Network Access Server (NAS), acting as a standard RADIUS Accounting Server as defined in RFC 2866. IM-OFCF PCP mediates to BRM for accounting over PCP. IM-OFCF PCP translates between PCP and an internal abstraction layer protocol.


Mediation Controller provides functions enriching OCS/OCBRM features beyond pure rating and balance management:

• Degraded ModeCh i / i ti it h OCS b il bl- Charging/service continuity when OCS becomes unavailable

- Available for all network charging interfaces and scenarios- Makes use of a locally stored OCF and Subscriber Store to manage degraded

requests.• Events Notification

- Expose charging applications events towards external systems for advanced business logic execution

• Web Service Integration• Web Service Integration- To enable integration with any WS supported system for charging, events

exposure, queries and other purposes. • Parameter Manipulation Engine

- XML based configuration of parameter manipulation and transformation• Top-Up and Balance Enquiry

The diagram illustrates how these features are part of the Onlline Mediation Controller product.



In the diagram SSUs and deployed in the Signaling Tier to communicate between the components of the Processing Tier and the network , clients and servers.Signaling Server Unit (SSU)A is a Service Broker component that enables Online Mediation Server to connect to IMS-based signaling networks through standard software and hardware interfaces. There is a specific SSU implementation to support connection to each network domain.Processing TierComponents running on processing servers are stateful. State information is maintained and distributed across the Processing Tier. Components retrieve and store session state in an in-memory storage. When one processing server fails, functioning processing servers continue tomemory storage. When one processing server fails, functioning processing servers continue to retrieve and process all messages, including those stored in the in-memory state of the failing processing server.


Orchestration Engine (OE)The OE resides at the center of the Service Broker architecture. The OE invokes applications in a specific order, according to conditions that determine which application to invoke and in which order. You specify the applications that the OE invokes, the order in which the OE invokes the applications, and the conditions that determine whether to invoke an application or not, using an orchestration logic. Session Abstraction Layer (SAL)Communication between the OE and IMs is normalized, based on the SAL protocol. In the diagram the OE communicates with IMs using the Service Broker internal SAL protocol. IMs communicate with the network and applications by configuration of SSUs.IMs communicate with the network and applications by configuration of SSUs.Supplementary Modules (SM)SMs are optional on-board modules, each facilitating Service Broker solutions in a different manner. The most often used SM by Online Mediation Controller is SM-PME, which is a flexible XML-based engine that manipulates parameters in the headers and body of internal Service Broker SAL messages.


Connection to BRM is implemented using a Connection Pool (on the client side) that connects to the BRM Connection Manager (on the server side). A connection is assigned from a pool to execute an operation. If an operation is received and no connection is available it is queued.OCSB SSU PCP:OCSB SSU PCP:

• Definition of multiple Connection Pools toward BRM Connection Managers• Assignment of an OCSB alias to an BRM Connection Pool

IM-OCF-PCP• Extended IM-OCF (online charging function) that support translation of RO onto

BRM PCPIM-OFCF-PCP

IM OFCF ( ffli h i f ti ) d f Di t A ti t (Rf)• IM-OFCF (offline charging function) used for Diameter Accounting support (Rf) • Implements stateless client• Extension that support translation of Rf onto BRM PCP

R-IMOFCF-RADIUS• Reverse Interworking Module-Offline Charging Function - Used for Diameter Accounting

support (Rf) • Implements stateless server• Extension that supports translation of radius onto Rf


This sample flow implies an integration between Online Mediation Controller and Service Controller to allow access to Intelligent Networks (IN). IM-SCF supports tunnelling of IN messages and parameters in an XER (XML representation of ASN.1) or a BER (binary

t ti f ASN 1) t ti f IN tirepresentation of ASN.1) representation of IN operations.


A RADIUS accounting flow has a variety of packets:Accounting Start - When network access is granted to the user by the NAS, an Accounting Start (a RADIUS Accounting Request packet containing an Acct-Status-Type attribute with the value "start") is sent by the NAS to the RADIUS server to signal the start of the user's network access. "Start" records typically contain the user's identification, network address, point of attachment and a unique session identifier.Accounting Response - Typically, the client sends Accounting-Request packets until it receives an Accounting-Response acknowledgement, using some retry interval.Accounting Update – Periodically, Interim Update records (a RADIUS Accounting Request packet containing an Acct-Status-Type attribute with the value "interim-update") may be sent by the NAS to the RADIUS server, to update it on the status of an active session. "Interim" records typically convey the current session duration and information on current data usage.Accounting Stop – When the user's network access is closed, the NAS issues a final Accounting Stop record (a RADIUS Accounting Request packet containing an Acct-Status-Type attribute with the value "stop") to the RADIUS server, providing information on the final usage in terms of time, packets transferred, data transferred, reason for disconnect and other information related to the user's network access.


CCR - Credit Control RequestCCA - Credit Control AnswerThe flow diagram might illustrate a use case where a request for an increase in bandwidthThe flow diagram might illustrate a use case where a request for an increase in bandwidth quota is negotiated between GGSN and BRM:

CCR Initial - contains quota request for increase in bandwidth including parameters like- mobile number, - time, - quota request

CCA Initial - approve/deny based on credit. A quota response of 5 megabits is offeredpp y q p gCCR Update - Update request asking for 10 megabitsCCA Update - Response of quota increase request.

<Course name> <Lesson number> - 115


To deliver subscriber-specific services, the Online Mediation Controller maintains its own subscriber profiles. Subscriber profiles include:

• The service profile.• An orchestration logic that defines how to route subscriber sessions through applications. • An extensible subscriber lifecycle that can define subscriber states and state transitions.

Each state implies a certain set of privileges and prohibitions. For example, you can configure the Online Mediation Controller to charge Active subscribers, or redirect Suspended subscribers to top up their accounts.

Degraded Mode interrogates the Subscriber Store for session level Degraded ModeDegraded Mode interrogates the Subscriber Store for session level Degraded Mode.The Threshold Notification application stores threshold rules in the Subscriber Store. The Orchestration Engine (OE) communicates with the Subscriber Store to retrieve threshold rules from the subscriber profile. Service Broker includes a web services Subscriber Provisioning API that you use to manage subscriber data in the Subscriber Store.


In the diagram Online Mediation Controller processes charging requests in degraded mode using a Local OCF as a primary OCS. The Local-OCF consults the Subscriber Store for predefined set of states the user may be in to determine CDR replay.Online Mediation Controller generates per-session CDRs. CDRs are replayed during low activity.DM is service and protocol agnostic, available for all network charging interfaces and scenarios.System level DM: Triggered when there’s no response from OCS to heartbeatAll active sessions switch AND new sessions are processed in DMAll active sessions switch AND new sessions are processed in DM

Session level DM:Triggered when OCS fails to respond during active sessionOnly the affected session is processed in DMNew sessions are passed to primary OCSDegraded Mode Activation:

A t ti I f OCS t t ti it h t ‘d d d d ’ f ti• Automatic – In case of OCS outage, automatic switch to ‘degraded mode’ of operation• Manual – Planned outage for OCS maintenance operations


Counters are reset in each Degraded Mode window:• Degraded Mode information is fetched once in a session to check if the user is in the

same Degraded Mode window.• If this is the first session in the Degraded Mode window counters will be reset according

to global or Subscriber Store information.Subscriber Store information includes:

• user-ID, • user-profile, • service-ID,

TOD• TOD, • prefixes, • network entity address• counter information


The flow diagram illustrates a use case similar to a previous sample where a request for an increase in bandwidth quota is negotiated between GGSN and BRM. In this example the Local OCF takes over for BRM when Online Mediation Controller goes into Degraded Mode.Instructor Note:Compare this slide to the non-degraded mode example (Sample flow for RO-PCP) in previous section.


The Balance Manager provides a way to enable prepaid subscribers to check their account balances and replenish ("top up") their accounts either from stored payment account information or by redeeming a voucher.There are three user interaction channels to top up and check balance:

• Voice call (IVR) - Top up and check balance through IVR sample applications are provided.

• SMS – Top up and check balance through SMS is enabled through service providers specific code.

• WS – Top up and check balance PCP operations are exposed through a SOAP interface. The interface can be used by service provider’s self service or customer care portal.y

The Balance Manager applications perform four activities, encapsulated in the four methods in the Balance Manager API:

• authenticate: Authenticates subscribers who want to check their balances or add funds to their accounts using payment resources stored on BRM.

• check balance: Checks the balance in a subscriber account.• top up: Adds funds to ("tops up") an account using the subscriber’s payment resources

stored on BRM


stored on BRM.• voucher top up: Adds funds to an account by redeeming a voucher.

In the sample flow a Media Resource Function (MRF) and Application Server (AS) interact to manage an IVR request for TopUp:

• HTTP_Get: MRF asking for IVR logic. • HTTP_Ok VXML: xml file containing IVR interaction for recharge of balance.• HTTP_Get: AS receives instruction to increase balance and sends message toward

Online Mediation Controller to do TopUp.


IM-WS is a network-facing module that enables Online Mediation Controller to receive messages from, and send messages to, web services using Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) or Representative State Transfer (REST) protocol.

IM-WS sends message to a web service by sending an event notification submitted by an application in the SAL Format. It translates this message into a SOAP or REST message and sends it to a web service through the Web Services SSU.


WS integration examples:• Diameter API may not be supported by a SMSC network device. In this case WS SOAP

API can be used between the SMSC and Online Mediation Controller instead of Diameter Ro.

• A legacy SCP network element may do rating, not charging. WS SOAP API may then be used toward IM-WS to get a balance. IM-WS Network and application facing module provides Out-Of-The-Box support for WS APIs:

• Top-up and Balance enquiry WS APIs - Interface for service providers portal • User data provisioning


The diagram illustrates:• The firing application specific events over WS interface• Events being processed by:

- Online Mediation Controller’s Event Processor- External processor (e.g. SOA BUS)- Interworking Module-Application Server Function for SAL (IM-ASF-SAL) connects

Service Broker with SAL applications, that is either out-of-the-box Service Broker applications, or applications that you implement using the SAL API.

Types of applications that may make use of the Event Notification Framework include:

• Advice of Charge (AoC) Application – fires events that are used to trigger user notification on service costs

• Bill Shock application – fires events that are used to trigger user notification on consumption thresholds

• Credit card recharge – fires events that are used to trigger automatic recharge from user’s credit account to prepaid account

• Parental control applications – to send reports to parents on consumption and which services accessedservices accessed


In the diagram an application invokes Online Mediation Controller interfaces that interact with:• Voice media resources like a MRF on an IMS network• SMSCs sending and receiving short messages over SMPPg g g

Roaming conditions - Entering and leaving home and visited networks.R-IM-ASF – Reverse - Interworking Module - Application Server Function


Voice user interaction:The interface is network agnostic and supports user interaction through IMS – using MRF through Media Server Control Markup Language (MSCML). MSCML is a separate license. g p g g ( ) p

SMS user interaction:Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) is used by clients to connected to a SMSC (Short Message Service Center). In SMPP terms, the client is called an Extended Short Message Entity (ESME). Online Mediation Controller interfaces:

• Act as an ESME for two way messaging over SMPP v3.4- Receive Short message from a user (e.g. for top up through SMS)- Send SMS to user (e.g. To notify user on certain event)

• Support these SMPP messages:- Submit_sm – send message towards SMSC- Deliver_sm – receive message from SMSC and receive delivery receipts/ACKs


Supplementary Module-Parameter Mapping Engine (SM-PME) is a flexible XML-based engine that manipulates parameters in the headers and body of internal Service Broker SAL messages. SM-PME complements generic solutions with specific requirements and allows fine t i f t di ti f t d d d t d d t l t OEtuning of parameter mediation for standard and non-standard protocol parameters. OE can chain SM-PME at any point of the service orchestration in the same way that it chains Interworking Modules.




BRM – Oracle Communications Billing & Revenue Management


SCP - Service Control Point



DCCA - Diameter Credit-Control Application


PCEF – Policy and Charging Enforcement Function is part of a 3G/4G network. The PCEF detects an event which triggers notification to the PCRF to download policy rulesPCRF - Policy and Charging Rules Function is the node designated in real-time to determine policy rules in a multimedia network:

• Provides the PCEF with Policy Rules:- Network flow detection information- QOS, Gating, Charging information- Binding of AF sessions

AF - Application Function. Applications that require control or influence over:P li i- Policies

- QosRx – Diameter interface is used to communicate between the AF and PCRFGx – Diameter interface is used to communicate between the PCEF and PCRF


Answer: c


Answer: b


Answer: a




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Online Mediation Controller - Basic Admin 2 - 1...R-IM-OCF Ro, represented in the diagram: Mediates to charging network elements Acts as standard service IMS Online Charging Function