The integration process between PortaBilling and 2.5/3G networks includes the following major aspects:
Online charging
Real-time authorization and rating is an important requirement for providing prepaid mobile services. PortaBilling fully supports this, allowing real-time charging for services such as voice calls, SMS messages or Internet use.
In 2.5 and 3G networks, the CAMEL protocol is the de-facto standard for online charging. Therefore, PortaBilling interoperates with mobile operator networks via a CAMEL gateway (GW) that converts the CAMEL protocol to the Diameter protocol and vice versa.
The mobile network component that PortaBilling interoperates with for real-time authorization and rating is the MSC (Mobile Switching Center).
When a subscriber makes a call, MSC performs call authorization in PortaBilling to verify that the subscriber has a sufficient balance and is permitted to call that destination. Since MSC uses the CAMEL protocol, its call authorization request is first converted to Diameter Ro and then delivered to PortaBilling. PortaBilling locks funds to cover the initial period of the call and sends confirmation to MSC. When that period is over, MSC sends a request to lock funds for the subsequent period, etc. Once the call is over, MSC produces a CDR record and sends it to PortaBilling.
In the message exchange between MSC and PortaBilling, all of the protocol conversions – from CAMEL to Diameter and from Diameter to CAMEL – are done using the CAMEL GW.
A similar procedure is followed when a customer sends an SMS. In this case, PortaBilling interoperates with the SMSC (Short Message Service Center) – a mobile network component that is responsible for delivering SMS messages.
