Glossary

A

ADC

Application Detection and Control

Policy rules that enable detection and control of application traffic and associated enforcement action.

ADS

Analytics Data Stream

A data feed containing real-time analytic data generated from one or more MPE devices by events that occur in the Policy Management system.

AM

Application Manager

A server within a network that is responsible for establishing and managing subscriber sessions associated with a specific application.

AMID

Application Manager ID

B

BIOS

Basic Input-Output System

Firmware on the CPU blade that is executed prior to executing an OS.

BNG

Broadband Network Gateway is an example of a BNG device is a broadband remote access server (B-RAS).

BoD

Bandwidth on Demand

An application that provides dynamic allocation of bandwidth; for example, a broadband speed promotion.

B-RAS BRAS

Broadband Remote Access Server

Routes traffic to and from broadband remote access devices such as DSL multiplexers. The locations where policy management and DQoS functions occur. Also see BNG.

C

CAC

Carrier access code

CMOS

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor

CMOS semiconductors use both NMOS (negative polarity) and PMOS (positive polarity) circuits. Since only one of the circuit types is on at any given time, CMOS chips require less power than chips using just one type of transistor.

CMP

Configuration Management Platform

A centralized management interface to create policies, maintain policy libraries, configure, provision, and manage multiple distributed MPE policy server devices, and deploy policy rules to MPE devices. The CMP has a web-based interface.

CMS

Central Management Server

Central repository that holds a list of managed servers.

CMTS

Cable Modem Termination System

An edge device connecting to subscribers' cable modems in a broadband network. A CMTS device can function as a PCEF device; see PCEF.

Equipment used by cable companies to provide high speed data services to cable subscribers.

COPS-PR

Common open policy servers protocol for support of policy provisioning

CPE

Customer Premise Equipment

D

DB

Database

DC

Data Collection

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

A protocol used by computers to obtain unique IP address, default router, subnet mask, and IP addresses for DNS servers from a DHCP server. DHCP allows devices to be added to the network with little or no manual configuration.

Diameter

Diameter can also be used as a signaling protocol for mobility management which is typically associated with an IMS or wireless type of environment. Diameter is the successor to the RADIUS protocol. The MPE device supports a range of Diameter interfaces, including Rx, Gx, Gy, and Ty.

Protocol that provides an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) framework for applications such as network access or IP mobility. Diameter works in both local and roaming AAA situations. Diameter can also be used as a signaling protocol for mobility management which is typically associated with an IMS or wireless type of environment.

DNS

Domain Name System

A system for converting Internet host and domain names into IP addresses.

DQoS

Dynamic Quality of Service

A COPS-based protocol that is part of the Packet Cable standards used to communicate between a CMS and a CMTS for setting up voice calls. An MPE device can be inserted between these two entities to apply additional policy rules as sessions are established.

DRA

Diameter Routing Agent

A functional element in a 3G or 4G (such as LTE) wireless network that provides real-time routing capabilities to ensure that messages are routed among the correct elements in a network.

F

FABR

Full Address Based Resolution

Provides an enhanced DSR routing capability to enable network operators to resolve the designated Diameter server addresses based on individual user identity addresses in the incoming Diameter request messages.

FIPS

Federal Information Processing Standard

Full Address Based Resolution

See FABR.

G

GUI

Graphical User Interface

The term given to that set of items and facilities which provides you with a graphic means for manipulating screen data rather than being limited to character based commands.

H

HA

High Availability

High Availability refers to a system or component that operates on a continuous basis by utilizing redundant connectivity, thereby circumventing unplanned outages.

HIDS

Host Intrusion Detection System

HP

Hewlett-Packard

I

IP

Internet Protocol - IP specifies the format of packets, also called datagrams, and the addressing scheme. The network layer for the TCP/IP protocol suite widely used on Ethernet networks, defined in STD 5, RFC 791. IP is a connectionless, best-effort packet switching protocol. It provides packet routing, fragmentation and re-assembly through the data link layer.

L

LDAP

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

A protocol for providing and receiving directory information in a TCP/IP network.

M

MA

Management Agent

MAC

Media Access Control Address

The unique serial number burned into the Ethernet adapter that identifies that network card from all others.

MF

Mediation Function

A function that routes or acts on information passing between network elements and network operations.

MGPI

Multiple Grants Per Interval

The ability to map multiple application flows using identical UGS (Unsolicited Grant Service) traffic profiles destined for the same subscriber into a single flow at the DOCSIS (service flow) level. Supports applications interacting with an MPE device over a Diameter-based Rx interface. See also Diameter, DOCSIS

MGW

Mediation Gateway. A standalone hardware system, situated between a carrier’s proprietary subscriber profile repository and a Policy Management network, that converts the interfaces and data schemas embedded in the carrier’s systems to the interfaces and data schemas required by Policy Management.

MPE

Multimedia Policy Engine

A high-performance, high-availability platform for operators to deliver and manage differentiated services over high-speed data networks. The MPE includes a protocol-independent policy rules engine that provides authorization for services based on policy conditions such as subscriber information, application information, time of day, and edge resource utilization.

MPS

Messages Per Second

A measure of a message processor’s performance capacity. A message is any Diameter message (Request or Answer) which is received and processed by a message processor.

MRA

Multi-Protocol Routing Agent - Scales the Policy Management infrastructure by distributing the PCRF load across multiple Policy Server devices.

MSC

Mobile Switching Center

An intelligent switching system in GSM networks. This system establishes connections between mobile communications subscribers.

The primary service delivery node for GSM/CDMA, responsible for routing voice calls and SMS as well as other services (such as conference calls, FAX and circuit switched data).

MTA

Mail Transfer Agent (or Message Transfer Agent)

Email server software that transfers electronic mail messages from one computer to another.

Multimedia Policy Engine

See MPE.

Multiprotocol Routing Agent

See MRA.

N

NAC

Network Admission Control

NE

Network Element

An independent and identifiable piece of equipment closely associated with at least one processor, and within a single location.

In a 2-Tiered DSR OAM system, this includes the NOAM and all MPs underneath it. In a 3-Tiered DSR OAM system, this includes the NOAM, the SOAM, and all MPs associated with the SOAM.

The devices, servers, or functions within a wireless network with which Policy Management systems interact.

Network Entity

NTP

Network Time Protocol

NTP daemon

Network Time Protocol daemon – NTP process that runs in the background.

NW-CMP

Network Configuration Management Platform

The NW-CMP server configures Network tier objects. Examples of Network tier objects are policies, network elements, and configuration templates.

O

OID

Object Identifier

An identifier for a managed object in a Management Information Base (MIB) hierarchy. This can be depicted as a tree, the levels of which are assigned by different organizations. Top level MIB OIDs belong to different standard organizations. Vendors define private branches that include managed objects for their own products.

OM

Operational Measurement

OSS

Operations Support System

Computer systems used by telecommunications service providers, supporting processes such as maintaining network inventory, provisioning services, configuring network components, and managing faults.

OSSI

Operation Support System Interface

An interface to a “back-end” (office) system. The Configuration Management Platform includes an OSSI XML interface.

P

PCC

Policy and Charging Control

Policy rules that define the conditions and actions used by a carrier network to control how subscribers and applications are treated and how network resources are allocated and used.

PCEF

Policy and Charging Enforcement Function

Maintains rules regarding a subscriber’s use of network resources. Responds to CCR and AAR messages. Periodically sends RAR messages. All policy sessions for a given subscriber, originating anywhere in the network, must be processed by the same PCRF.

PCMM

PacketCable MultiMedia

PCRF

Policy and Charging Rules Function

The ability to dynamically control access, services, network capacity, and charges in a network.

Software node designated in real-time to determine policy rules in a multimedia network.

PDN

Packet Data Network

A digital network technology that divides a message into packets for transmission.

Perl

An object-oriented, event-driven programming language.

PUA

Profile-Update-Answer

Command sent by a client in response to the Profile-Update-Request command.

Q

QBus Platform

See QP.

QP

QBus Platform

Software that provides an execution environment for Java-based applications, providing common interfaces into databases, event logging, SNMP, and cluster state.

R

RADIUS

Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service

A client/server protocol and associated software that enables remote access servers to communicate with a central server to authorize their access to the requested service. The MPE device functions with RADIUS servers to authenticate messages received from remote gateways. See also Diameter.

RBAR

Range Based Address Resolution

A DSR enhanced routing application which allows you to route Diameter end-to-end transactions based on Application ID, Command Code, Routing Entity Type, and Routing Entity address ranges.

RDR

Resource Data Record

realm

A fundamental element in Diameter is the realm, which is loosely referred to as domain. Realm IDs are owned by service providers and are used by Diameter nodes for message routing.

RKS

Record Keeping Server

S

SCE

Service Control Engine

A deep-packet inspection product.

S-CMP

System Configuration Management Platform

The S-CMP servers configure System tier objects. System tier objects are MPE and MRA devices.

SCTP

The transport layer for all standard IETF-SIGTRAN protocols.

SCTP is a reliable transport protocol that operates on top of a connectionless packet network such as IP and is functionally equivalent to TCP. It establishes a connection between two endpoints (called an association; in TCP, these are sockets) for transmission of user messages.

Session ID

Each Diameter session includes a Session-Id in every Diameter message that is part of the session. The Diameter Session Id is used to look up session information in the session database.

SMSR

SMS Relay Application

An interface between the MPE and SMSC or other specific SMS web service(s).

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol.

An industry-wide standard protocol used for network management. The SNMP agent maintains data variables that represent aspects of the network. These variables are called managed objects and are stored in a management information base (MIB). The SNMP protocol arranges managed objects into groups.

SOAP

Simple Object Access Protocol

SPC

Service Provisioning over COPS (Common Open Policy Service protocol)

split brain

Event where multiple active servers have been detected in the same cluster.

SW

Software

Switch

T

TCP

Transmission Control Protocol

A connection-oriented protocol used by applications on networked hosts to connect to one another and to exchange streams of data in a reliable and in-order manner.

TDF

Traffic Detection Function

V

VIP

Virtual IP Address

Virtual IP is a layer-3 concept employed to provide HA at a host level. A VIP enables two or more IP hosts to operate in an active/standby HA manner. From the perspective of the IP network, these IP hosts appear as a single host.

VoD

Video on Demand

X

XML

eXtensible Markup Language

A version of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) that allows Web developers to create customized tags for additional functionality.