ETSI TS 132 296 is part of a series of Technical Specifications (TSs) that specify charging functionality and charging management in 3GPP networks. The GSM/UMTS core network charging architecture and principles are specified in TS 32.240 [1], which provides an umbrella for other charging management documents that specify:

• the content of the CDRs per domain and subsystem (offline charging);
• the content of real-time charging messages per domain / subsystem (online charging);
• the functionality of online and offline charging for those domains and subsystems;
• the interfaces that are used in the charging framework to transfer the charging information (i.e. CDRs or charging events).

The complete document structure of the charging management TSs is defined in TS 32.240 [1].

The present document covers all internal aspects of the Online Charging System (OCS). The document contains the architecture and functions of the OCS logical components and thereby derives the functionality of the OCS interfaces.

A detailed specification of interfaces between the logical OCS components is also included. The functionality of the OCS, as described in the present document, applies to all charging domains (bearer, session and service).

The interfaces connecting to the OCS (e.g. Ro, CAP) are out of the scope of the present document.

NOTE: In the current release the present document is limited to the interface between the charging function and the Rating Function(RF), namely Re.

All terms, definitions and abbreviations used in the present document, that are common across 3GPP TSs, are defined in TR 21.905 [100]. Those that are common across charging management in 3GPP domains, services, or subsystems are provided in the umbrella document TS 32.240 [1]. Finally, those items that are specific to the present document are defined exclusively in the present document.

Furthermore, requirements that govern the charging work are specified in TS 22.115 [101].