HPE 5G Core Charging Function Partner Validated

HPE CHF provides several out-of-the-box charging capabilities, allowing the operator to develop multiple use cases for 5G charging models. All charging and rating use cases can be configured in a web-based GUI (HPE CHF Studio) that includes several product configuration examples. * New 5G charging models * Slice-based charging * QoS-based charging * Location-based charging * Flat/Tiered Usage/Calendar * Context (device, location, time, identity, subscriber profile, subscription level, network state, application, content type, protocol, and URL) * Shared with subscriber hierarchy (Family, Shared Wallets, and Corporate) * Reverse charged/Subsidized services * Charging scheme (Subscription-based, and On-demand) * Service bundle (data, voice, and content) * Bill-shock prevention/Roam-like-Home HPE CHF also allows 5G (PCF) policy integration in the same HPE CHF Studio.

New convergent charging system (CCS) demands new 5G capabilities and the need to keep legacy systems integration during the migration. The following features are necessary: * Online and offline charging support: support to offline aggregation between 4G and 5G * Support multiple interfaces: * Diameter Ro/Gy/Sy interfaces * Nchf service-based interface (SBI) * Convergent share data layer: 4G/5G mixed SPR data model * CHF shared Rating Engine allows multiple network products * Multiple CDR formatting (5G and legacy) * Simple HA and scalability based in stateless microservice * Policy integration (PCRF and PCF): Simple policy control for data and VoLTE * Notification integration (4G/5G)

The Converged Charging Function (CHF) provides the functionality for online and offline charging. These charging functions together with the reference points and service-based interface are used to transfer charging information between charging and billing systems. HPE CHF handles session and event-based online charging requests in real-time and performs a flexible and extensible workflow based on its contents and the provided charging configuration. * CHF interacts with the stateless rating engine to perform rating based on charging results. * CHF interacts with the subscriber profile repository to retrieve or update required subscriber data. HPE CHF also provides a hybrid charging function. In this case both real-time and offline charging is performed by CHF. It handles the Nchf online and offline requests. CHF is exposed through the Nchf interface. The underlying platform enables CHF to receive messages sent through standard Nchf-compliant or Nchf-based extension.

The NF PCF interacts with HPE CHF using the Nchf interface for Spending Limit Control and PCRF integration is done using Diameter Sy interface. Nchf_SpendingLimitControl and Sy service enables the PCF-PCRF to retrieve policy counter status information per UE from the HPE CHF by subscribing to spending limit reporting (for example, notifications of policy counter status changes). If the spending limit reporting is not required anymore, the Nchf_SpendingLimitControl service enables the NF service consumer to unsubscribe from the reporting. The Nchf_SpendingLimitControl and Sy services are provided by HPE CHF and consumed by the PCF-PCRF.

The lifecycle of the SPR entity (including Subscriber, Device, Subscription, Usage Counter, and Subscription Quota) can be configured. The current state of the SPR entity and an event type can be used to determine the target state. The relationship among the current state of the SPR entity, an event type, and the target state is specified in a Finite State Machine. Subscriber-related entities renew periodically via a subscriber billing cycle. The following SPR entities can have the same billing cycle with one subscriber:

• Subscriber-level counter (uses Parent Cycle)
• Device-level counter (uses Parent Cycle)
• Subscription (uses Subscriber Billing Cycle)
• Subscription-level counter (uses Parent Cycle)
• Subscription quota (uses Parent Cycle)