The Need for Convergent Charging Fulfilled with Online Charging System

A logical base is required for service convergence as OCS allows for both event-based charging and session-based charging. Hence, it meets the criteria for both data and voice services, along with bearing, subsystem and application layers. The charging network is transforming from postpaid B/OSS or prepaid IN to the modern-day convergent billing. The OCS rating engine forms the pillar of this process and at the same time serves as a re-reference point that improves rating engine deployment and meets the new service development needs.

The convergent billing system has a major role in the organization of data and coordination, and forms a major part of the customer database. The OCS performs its best work with respect to collating the billing data of all services, which is crucial because online charging data describes intricate data streams. A multitude of charging modes and their different combinations are possible, consisting almost real-time charging for prepaid or prepaid services, along with charging for prepaid services.

Online charging that is based on CAP and Ro interfaces and offline charging that is based on the Rf interface describe the communication between charging systems and network elements. Postpaid and prepaid, they both indicate the interactions that take place between account balance and user payment. Hence, as a consequence the user experience-based concepts that are postpaid, prepaid, close to real-time and true real-time – can be mirrored to network-based paradigms like online and offline charging.

OCS offers flexible configuration and maintenance via a web-based portal and support for different interfaces to outside systems like CRM and Billing. The postpaid B/OSS, bill-based and the independent prepaid IN charging systems are transforming into a convergent billing system.

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