1. Policy and Charging Application User Guide
  2. Configuration
  3. PCA Configuration
  4. Online Charging DRA Configuration
  5. Access Point Names

Access Point Names

An Access Point Name (APN) is a unique Packet Data network identifier. The PCA uses configured Access Point Names to validate APN entries received in Diameter signaling, and to apply appropriate Stale Session Timeout values during database audits.

PCRF pool selection allows the APN used by the UE to connect to the network is used to determine the PCRF pool. This allows multiple bindings to exist for a single IMSI, one for each PCRF pool. The Origin-Host of the PCEF sending the CCR-I can then be used to select a PCRF sub-pool. Each APN is mapped to a PCRF Pool designated to manage policy bindings originated from that APN. In addition, a stale session timeout is assigned to the APN to control how long a session from the APN can remain idle before being subject to audit.

When an APN entry is added, new bindings from that APN are routed to a PCRF in the specified PCRF Pool (or a Sub-Pool if a matching PCRF Sub-Pool Selection Rule also exists). When an APN is mapped to a PCRF Pool using the Access Point Names screen, a check is performed to determine if the selected PCRF Pool is configured with a PRT mapping at each site. If at least one site does not have a mapping for the selected PCRF Pool, a confirmation dialog displays a warning as follows:
  • If a PCRF Pool is not mapped to a PRT table for a site, a confirmation dialog is displayed on the APN GUI warning that Site X does not have a mapping defined for this PCRF Pool. You can choose to continue, but with the knowledge that a call might fail at that site if a binding-capable session initiation request arrives with an APN that is mapped to that PCRF Pool.
  • If a site cannot be reached due to network errors, a confirmation dialog is displayed on the APN GUI warning that it cannot be determined whether Site X has a mapping defined for this PCRF Pool. You can choose to continue, but with the knowledge that a call might fail at that site if a binding-capable session initiation request arrives with an APN that is mapped to that PCRF Pool.

Single PCRF pool support is achieved by using the default pool, with all APNs mapped to that pool. This results in all bindings pointing to a single PCRF Pool.

If an APN is successfully deleted from the NOAMP GUI, the entry is internally marked as retired. Retired entries are not displayed on the GUI, but cannot be removed from the internal tables because that APN could still be referenced by any number of bindings. If you add a new APN with the same name as one that has been retired, the record comes out of retirement, but with the PCRF Pool and Stale Session Lifetime configured when the record was re-added.

The fields are described in Access Point Names elements.

On the Policy and Charging, and then Configuration, and then Access Point Names screen on the Active NOAM, you can perform a variety of actions:
  • Filter the list of Access Point Names, to display only the desired Access Point Names.
  • Sort the list entries in ascending or descending order by Access Point Names or by Stale Session Timeout, by clicking the column heading. By default, the list is sorted by Access Point Names in ascending numerical order.
  • Work with PCRF Pool Names and Sub-Pools for PDRA APNs.
  • Configure settings for Per IMSI Session Limiting.
  • Click Insert.

    You can add a new Access Point Name. See Inserting Access Point Names. If the maximum number of Access Point Names (2500) already exists in the system, the Policy and Charging, and then Configuration, and then Access Point Names [Insert] screen will not open, and an error message is displayed.

  • Select an Access Point Name in the list, and click Edit.

    You can edit the selected Access Point Name. See Editing Access Point Names.

  • Select an Access Point Name in the list, and click Delete to remove the selected Access Point Name. See Deleting an Access Point Name.
On the Policy and Charging, and then Configuration, and then Access Point Names screen on the SOAM, you can view the configured Access Point Names, and perform the several actions:
  • Filter the list of Access Point Names, to display only the desired Access Point Names.
  • Sort the list entries in ascending or descending order by Access Point Names or by Stale Session Timeout, by clicking the column heading. By default, the list is sorted by Access Point Names in ascending numerical order.