1 Introduction

Zero Balance Application (ZBA) allows network operators to reduce the load (offload) sent to the Online Charging Servers (OCS) by blocking those subscribers whose accounts have exceeded their credit limit, that is, Zero Balance. To achieve this, the ZBA detects the Credit Control Request (CCR) and Credit Control Answer (CCA) exchanged with the OCS and prevents subscribers whose account balance have gone down to zero from repeatedly querying the OCS. ZBA maintains records of subscribers, identified by their Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), whose account balance have gone down to zero.

This document provides information about ZBA and its functionalities. The ZBA menu options allow you to work with:

• Custom MEALS
• General Options
• Trial MPs Assignment
• Application Control
• System Options (SO only)

ZBA is available as a Diameter Custom Application (DCA) framework application. Like other DCA framework applications, you can use ZBA to work with the DCA framework functions. If ZBA is in the DCA framework GUI menu, the application has already been activated.

The document provides the following types of information:

• ZBA tasks
• ZBA application logic
• Procedures to configure and manage ZBA components including configuration parameters and ZBA profile tables
• ZBA components and GUI elements