8 Creating Policy Charging and Control Profiles

This chapter explains how to create Oracle Communications Service Broker Policy Controller (Policy Controller) Policy Charging and Control (PCC) profiles that specify Quality of Service (QoS) limits and charging information for services.

This chapter assumes that you know the names of any predefined (PCEF-based) PCC rules that you must reference, including the Charging-Rule-Name AVPs to use.

About PCC Profiles

PCC profiles set the QoS limits and specify charging information for your subscribers. You must create PCC and ADC profiles first, then create rules that select them based on the criteria in those rules.

PCC and ADC profiles are the Policy Controller implementations of PCC rules as defined in the 3GPP TS 23.203 v9.9.0 specification. The PCC and ADC profiles can be either dynamic profiles that you create, configure, and store using Policy Designer, or predefined profiles that are created and stored in your PCEF. See your PCEF documentation for details any static PCC profiles it contains.

PCC profiles specify specific QoS limit details, and charging information, but not charging information details. You specify the Rating Group and Service IDs in PCC profiles that correspond to billing and charging details in your charging engine and other Policy Controller implementation entities.

There are two types of PCC profiles:

Dynamic PCC profiles that your create and store in Policy Controller. The "Creating a Dynamic PCC Profile" section explains the process of creating these PCC profiles.
Predefined PCC profiles that already exist and are stored in your PCEF.

Each PCC profile contains:

A precedence level that specifies the order in which each PCC profile is interpreted.

Precedence levels are positive integers with lower integers having higher priority. Profiles with the same priority are evaluated in a random order so it is best to avoid creating profiles with overlapping criteria.

You can only set precedence levels for dynamic PCC profiles. The Policy Controller tools do not show, or allow you to set precedence levels for predefined profiles. You must use your PCEF tools and product documentation to find, and if necessary change the precedence level of predefined profiles.

Consequently, you must create a precedence strategy that works for both dynamic and predefined profiles and keep it synchronized manually.

The default PCC profile has a precedence level of 1000 because you will probably give all other PCC profiles a higher precedence (lower integer). The default profile should always be evaluated last so it can specify bandwidth settings if no other profiles apply.
Activation/deactivation dates and times that specify how long the PCC profile is in force.
QoS limits, including:
- A QoS Class Identifier (QCI) that specifies the type of traffic. There are nine specified options, or you can create your own.
- The actual upper and lower bandwidth limits in bps, kpbs, Mbps, or Gbps.
- And uplink status that controls whether uplink or downlink or both are allowed.
Charging information, including:
- The Rating Group ID
- The Service ID
- A metering method (duration, volume or both).
- Options for enabling online charging, offline charging or both.

None of these options are required for a PCC profile to function; you can select the set of options that best suit your implementation. You create PCC profiles using the Policy Designer Policy Charging and Control Profile tab.

You also use the Policy and Charging Control Profiles tab to manage PCC profiles. Figure 8-1 shows the Policy Designer with the Policy and Charging Control Profiles tab selected. The Policy and Charging Control Profiles tab shows the PCC profiles listed (by default) in the order in which they were created in the PCC Profile Name column on the left. You can also list them alphabetically. The columns to the right of PCC Profile Name list the Precedence level, Profile/Rule Relationships status, Active Time limits, and whether QoS, Charging, or Flow Description profiles exit. An additional column (not shown) indicates whether the PCC profile is dynamic (created in Policy Designer) or predefined (stored in your PCEF).

Figure 8-1 also shows a cursor hovering over the Profile/Rule Relationships column, which displays a list of the rulesets and rules that contain the selected PCC profile. In this case Bronze_Plan_1 PCC profile is selected, and it is used in the InstallBronze rule of the SelectTierProfile ruleset.

Figure 8-1 Policy Designer Profiles Tab

Policy Designer requires that you always have exactly one default (fallback) profile to charge subscribers if no other profiles apply. The default plan, DEFAULT_PLAN is provided for this purpose. You must define charging and Quality of Service details for the DEFAULT_PLAN to actually charge subscribers.

You cannot delete the default profile. However you can open another PCC profile and set it as the default plan. Whatever PCC profile you select as the default plan always has a precedence level of 1000 to ensure that it always has the lowest priority of all profiles. Remember that when you set a new PCC profile as the default plan, the old default plan keeps its status (probably active) and its precedence level of 1000. You will probably want to change these details so that it's activity does not collide with the new default plan's activities.

You may also use any PCC profiles stored in your PCEF with the Policy Designer (predefined PCC rules). To use a predefined PCC Rule in Policy Designer, simply create a new PCC profile with just the predefined PCC rule's name as it appears in the PCEF and select Predefined Profile from the Predefined Profile/Dynamic Profile menu box. Predefined PCC profiles are marked with a check mark in the Predefined Profiles column of the Policy Charging and Control tab.

Figure 8-2 shows the Policy Charging and Control Profile tab with details for a new PCC profile displayed. You use this window to specify the details of your PCC profiles:

Charging details. This section references billing and charging details specified in your charging engine and your other Policy Congress implementation entities. Policy Controller does not actually rate or charge for service data flow. Instead, your OCS does the rating and charging based on its configuration and the values it receives from PCEF messages.
A flow description (if any) to limit the service data flow by protocol and source (the Flow-Description AVP from 3GPP 29.214).

Figure 8-2 PCC Profile Details Window

Planning Your PCC Profiles

The procedures in "Creating a Dynamic PCC Profile" assume that you already know the details of the PCC profiles you will create, including:

The bandwidth limits to set.
A precedence level for each profile.
Knowing the rating group IDs that your PCC profiles require, and adding them to Policy Controller. Follow the instructions in "Creating Rating Group IDs to Use in PCC Profiles" to add these rating group IDs to Policy Controller to use in PCC profiles.
Knowing the service IDs that your PCC profiles require and adding them to Policy Controller. Follow the instructions in "Creating Service IDs to Use in PCC Profiles" to add these service IDs to Policy controller for use in PCC profiles.
Deciding whether to use the PCC profile to filter service data flow by using the Flow-Description AVP parameters. For details on these parameters see the 3GPP TX 29.214 v9.x specification. A Flow Description dialog box gives you graphical interface access to these fields from the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.

Creating Rating Group IDs to Use in PCC Profiles

No rating group IDS are defined by default because each Online Charging System (OCS) uses a different list (also called “charging keys”). Obtain a list of the rating group IDs from your OCS documentation and follow the instructions in this section to add them to Policy Controller to use in PCC profiles.

To create rating group IDs:

Start Policy Designer.
Click the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.
Click Create.
Click the pencil icon next to the Rating Group ID box.

The Rating Group window appears.
Click the Create New (paper and plus) icon.

The Rating Group ID and Rating Description fields appear.
Enter the integer that represents the rating group ID in the Rating Group ID field.
Enter an informal description in the Rating Description field.
Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each rating group you will use.
Click OK to save the changes and return to the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.

Creating Service IDs to Use in PCC Profiles

Obtain a list of these IDs from your OCS documentation and follow the instructions in this section to add them to Policy Controller to use in PCC profiles. No service IDs are defined in Policy Controller by default because each Online Charging System (OCS) uses a different set of integers to identify services or service components.

To create service IDs:

Start Policy Designer.
Click the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.
Click Create.
Click the pencil icon next to the Service ID box.

The Service window appears.
Click the Create New (paper and plus) icon.

The Service ID and Service Description fields appear.
Enter the integer that represents the rating group ID in the Service ID field.
Enter an informal description in the Service Description field.
Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each rating group you will use.
Click OK to save the changes and return to the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.

Creating a Dynamic PCC Profile

This section explains how to create dynamic PCC profiles that are called by your rules to specify quality of service levels and charging information.

To create a dynamic PCC Profile:

Start Policy Designer.
Navigate to Policy Charging and Control Profiles.
Click Create.

The PCC profile detail fields appear.
Enter a unique name in the PCC Profile Name box.
Enter an integer in the Precedence box (mandatory for dynamic profiles; not included in predefined profiles) to set the PCC profile evaluation order. See "Planning Your PCC Profiles" for details on the precedence levels.
Confirm that Dynamic Profile is selected in the dialog box.
Set a time limit for the PCC profile to be active:
- To make the new PCC profile effective immediately and indefinitely, leave the Always Active check box checked.
- To limit the PCC profile to a specific time period deselect the Always Active check box and enter start and stop dates and times:
  - Activation Time: Select the CEST time zone icon and select a time zone from the Select a Time Zone list. Then select the calendar/cloak icon to display the Select Date and Time date editor. Select a date and time for the ADC profile to activate. Click OK to make your choice take effect.
  - Deactivation Time: The time zone you set for the Activation Time is automatically also applied to the Deactivation Time. However, you can set a different time zone for Deactivation Time if your implementation requires it.

Specify the QoS parameters:

QCI - QoS Class Identifier type as defined in the Policy Charging and Control Architecture 3GPP TS 23.203 v9.90 (2011-06) specification.

Can be one of the default (specified) QCI values listed in Table 8-1, or a new one that you create.

Table 8-1 Default QCI Values

QCI Value	Priority	Guaranteed Bit Rate?	Typical Service
1	2	Yes	Conversational voice.
2	4	Yes	Live video streaming.
3	3	Yes	Real time gaming.
4	5	Yes	Buffered video streaming.
5	1	No	IMS Signalling.
6	6	No	Buffered video streaming, TCP-based services (for example, email, chat, FTP, p2p file sharing, progressive video).
7	7	No	Voice, live video streaming, interactive gaming.
8	8	No	Buffered video streaming, TCP-based services (for example, email, chat, FTP, p2p file sharing, progressive video).
9	9	No	Buffered video streaming, TCP-based services (for example, email, chat, FTP, p2p file sharing, progressive video).

Specify a gate status from the Gate Status menu.

The gate status specifies the PCEF action (gate open or closed) when service data flow traffic arrives from Policy Controller. Can be one of the following:
- Uplink Enabled - Allows data uploading.
- Downlink Enabled - Allows data downloading.
- Both Enabled - Allows both data uploading and downloading.
- Both Disabled - Disallows both data uploading and downloading.
- Removed - This option is reserved for Oracle use.
Set the Maximum Bandwidth options:
- Maximum Bandwidth - Upload - Set a maximum upload data rate allowed by entering an integer in the dialog box and selecting a bit rate from the bit rate list.
- Maximum Bandwidth - Download - Set a maximum download data rate allowed by entering an integer in the dialog box and selecting a bit rate from the bit rate list.
Set the Guaranteed Bandwidth options:
- Guaranteed Bandwidth - Upload - Set a minimum download data rate to use by entering an integer in the dialog box and selecting a bit rate from the bit rate list.
- Guaranteed Bandwidth- Download - Set a minimum download data rate to use by entering an integer in the dialog box and selecting a bit rate from the bit rate list.

Specify Charging information:
1. Select a Rating Group ID from the list.
  
  See "Creating Rating Group IDs to Use in PCC Profiles" for instructions on how to add rating group IDs if necessary.
2. Select a Service ID from the list.
  
  See "Creating Service IDs to Use in PCC Profiles" for instructions on how to add service IDs if necessary.
3. Select a Metering Method - Can be one of the following
  - Duration - Charges based on the amount of connect time (session-based).
  - Volume - Charges based on the amount of data transferred.
  - Duration and Volume - Charges for both the connect time and amount of data transferred.
4. Select an Online Charging option - Yes specifies service data flow using on-line charging; No ignores service data flow using online charging.
5. Select an Offline Charging option - Yes specifies service data flow using offline charging; No ignores service data flow using offline charging.
Specify a Flow Description:
1. Click the Flow Description Add button to display the Flow Description dialog box shown in Figure 8-3:
  
  Figure 8-3 Flow Description Dialog Box
2. Direction - IN or OUT. Applies the profile to service data flow coming in to, or being sent out from Policy Controller.
3. Protocol - (Mandatory) Filters the service data flow by protocol. Applies the profile to service data flow matching the protocols you specify.
4. Source Port(s) - A comma-separated list of integers that specify ports on the Source Address. Applies the profile to service data flow from the ports specified from the Source address. Dash-separated ranges are also allowed. For example:
```
2000,2002,4010-4020
```
5. Destination Address - (Mandatory) IP/mask number. Applies the profile to service data flow destined for entities specified by an IP address/subnet mask.
6. Destination Port(s) - A comma-separated list of integers specify ports on the Accentuation Address. Applies the profile to service data flow destined for the ports you list at the Destination Address. Dash-separated ranges are also allowed.
Click OK.

The new PCC profile appears in the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.

Creating a Predefined PCC Profile

This section explains how to create predefined PCC profiles that reference PCC rules that are already defined and stored in your PCEF.

This section assumes that you have obtained the names and Charging-Rule-Name AVP name(s) of any predefined PCC rules that you are using.

Follow these steps to create a predefined PCC Profile:

Start Policy Designer.
Navigate to Policy Charging and Control Profiles.
Click Create.

The PCC profile detail fields appear.
Enter the name of the PCC rule stored in your PCEF in the PCC Profile Name box.
Select the Predefined Profile setting in the dialog box.
Select either Rule Name or Rule Group Name from the dialog box depending on whether the PCC profile is a base rule or contains a group of PCC profiles.
Enter the name of the PCC profile in the dialog box.
Set a time limit for the PCC profile to be active:
- To make the new PCC profile effective immediately and indefinitely, leave the Always Active check box checked.
- To limit the PCC profile to a specific time period deselect the Always Active check box and enter start and stop dates and times:
  - Activation Time: Select the CEST time zone icon and select a time zone from the Select a Time Zone list. Then select the calendar/cloak icon to display the Select Date and Time dialog box. Select a date and time for the ADC profile to activate. Click OK to make your choice take effect.
  - Deactivation Time: Select the CEST time zone icon and select a time zone from the Select a Time Zone list. Select the calendar/clock icon to display the Select Date and Time dialog box. Select a date and time for the PCC profile to deactivate. Click OK to make your choice take effect.
Click OK.

The new PCC profile appears in the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.

Changing the PCC Profile Table Display

You can change the list of PCC profiles columns or rearrange them using the View menu on the upper left of the Policy and Charging Control Profiles tab.

To change how PCC profiles are displayed:

Start the Policy Designer.
Create PCC Profiles or import a deployment that includes PCC profiles.
Select an item from the View list:
- The Columns item displays a list of all columns. Select or deselect individual columns to display/hide them.
- The Reorder Columns item displays the Reorder Columns box. Select columns and move them up or down using the arrows on the right side of the box. Then click OK to make your changes take effect.

Filtering PCC Profiles by Text, Bandwidth, or Date

You can limit the list of PCC profiles displayed in the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab by entering parameters in the Filter field at the upper left side of the Policy and Charging Control tab.

At any time you can select the eraser icon to remove your filtering parameters and return to the default PCC profile display.

Start the Policy Designer.
Create PCC Profiles or import a deployment that includes PCC profiles.
Select Text, Bandwidth, or Date from the Filter list.
Enter parameters for the filter:
- Text - As you type the list of PCC profiles is filtered by the text you enter.
- Bandwidth - When you select Bandwidth, bandwidth dialog boxes appear. As you enter bandwidth limits, the list of PCC profiles is filtered by those parameters.
- Date - When you select Date, the calendar/clock icons appear. As you select dates and times, the list of PCC profiles is filtered by the dates you choose.

Deleting PCC Profiles

You cannot delete a PCC profile until you have removed that profile from any rules that reference it. Ensure that the Profile/Rule Relationships column is empty for a PCC profile before you attempt to delete it Hover your cursor over that column to find the names of rules that reference the PCC profile.

To delete a PCC profile:

(If necessary) Start Policy Designer.
(If necessary) Import the deployment containing the PCC profile to delete.
Navigate to the Policy Charging and Control Profiles tab.
Ensure that the Profile/Rule Relationships column for the PCC profile is empty.

Hover your cursor over a table cell in this column to find the names of the rules that reference the PCC profile. Remove any remaining rule references.
Select the PCC profile.
Click Delete.