Since usage measurements (or accounting metrics, whichever term you choose to use)
is dependent on the type of network element, the type of billing data captured will differ
from one element to the next. A video service will provide information about the video
being ordered, or the video that is being streamed to the subscriber device. An MGC, on
the other hand, will send minutes of use for a voice call, as well as the dialed number. It
may also send the calling number for proper jurisdictional rating. Its principle function
is measuring the consumption of services at that element in real time.
Here is how it works. When a call is generated at a telephone switch, the CTF collects
the data elements needed to determine usage. For a call, this would be the number dialed,
the duration of the call, and possibly even the time of day. These usage measurements are
then forwarded by the CTF using DIAMETER to the online charging system (OCS).
The front end of the OCS is the online collection function, or OCF. The OCF interfaces
to the various CTFs throughout the network, and processes collected measurements in
real-time. The OCF can be distributed throughout the network, interfacing to the CTFs
within a specific region, for example. This provides a more distributed approach to the
charging architecture, rather than a centralized-only approach.
The OCF has two different functions: an event-based charging function and a sessionbased
charging function.
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