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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+) (GSM);
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS);
LTE;
Policy and Charging Control (PCC) over S9 reference point;
Stage 3
(3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8)
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 1 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
Reference
RTS/TSGC-0329215v8g0
Keywords
GSM,LTE,UMTS
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 2 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
Intellectual Property Rights
Essential patents
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Foreword
This Technical Specification (TS) has been produced by ETSI 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
The present document may refer to technical specifications or reports using their 3GPP identities, UMTS identities or
GSM identities. These should be interpreted as being references to the corresponding ETSI deliverables.
The cross reference between GSM, UMTS, 3GPP and ETSI identities can be found under
.
Modal verbs terminology
In the present document "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "may", "need not", "will", "will not", "can" and
"cannot" are to be interpreted as described in clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules (Verbal forms for the expression of
provisions).
"must" and "must not" are NOT allowed in ETSI deliverables except when used in direct citation.
ETSI
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 3 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 2
Foreword . 2
Modal verbs terminology . 2
Foreword . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 References . 6
3 Definitions and abbreviations . 6
3.1 Definitions . 6
3.2 Abbreviations . 7
4. S9 Reference Point . 7
4.1 Overview . 7
4.2 Reference model . 7
4.3 Functional elements . 9
4.3.1 H-PCRF . 9
4.3.1.1 Home routed access . 10
4.3.1.2 Visited Access . 10
4.3.2 V-PCRF . 10
4.3.2.1 Home routed access. 11
4.3.2.2 Visited access . 11
4.4 PCC Rules and QoS Rules . 11
4.4.1 PCC Rule definition . 11
4.4.2 QoS Rule definition . 11
4.4.3 Operations on PCC rules . 11
4.4.4 Operations on QoS Rules . 12
4.5 PCC procedures over S9 Reference Point . 12
4.5.1 General . 12
4.5.1.1 S9 Session Establishment . 12
4.5.1.2 S9 Session Termination . 12
4.5.1.3 Event Triggers . 13
4.5.1.3.1 Provisioning of Event Triggers . 13
4.5.1.3.2 Reporting of deployed Event Triggers . 14
4.5.1.4 Multiple BBERF scenarios . 14
4.5.1.5 Provisioning and validation of Default EPS Bearer authorized QoS . 14
4.5.1.6 Provisioning of Authorized QoS per APN . 15
4.5.1.7 Bearer Control Mode Selection . 15
4.5.2 Home-Routed access. 15
4.5.2.1 S9 Session/Subsession establishment/modification . 15
4.5.2.2 Provision of QoS Rules by the H-PCRF . 17
4.5.2.3 S9 Session/Subsession Termination Initiated by the V-PCRF . 18
4.5.2.4 S9 Session/Subsession Termination Initiated by the H-PCRF . 18
4.5.2.5 Multiple BBERF Handling . 19
4.5.2.6 Deferred Session Linking Handling . 20
4.5.3 Visited Access . 20
4.5.3.1 Request PCC and QoS Rules . 20
4.5.3.2 PCC and QoS Rules Provisioning . 23
4.5.3.3 S9 Session/Subsession Termination Initiated by V-PCRF. . 24
4.5.3.4 S9 Session/Subsession Termination Initiated by the H-PCRF. . 24
4.5.3.5 Multiple BBERF Handling . 25
4.5.3.6 Rx Over S9 . 25
4.5.3.6.1 General . 25
4.5.3.6.2 Event Handling . 25
4.5.3.6.2.1 V-AF Subscription to Notification of Signalling Path Status . 25
4.5.3.6.2.2 Reporting of Signalling Path Status . 26
4.5.3.6.2.3 Reporting IP-CAN Type Change Notification . 26
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 4 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
4.5.3.7 Deferred Session Linking Handling . 26
5. S9 Protocol . 26
5.1 Protocol Support . 26
5.2 Initialization, maintenance and termination of connection and session. 27
5.3 S9 specific AVPs . 27
5.3.1 Subsession-Decision-Info . 28
5.3.2 Subsession-Enforcement-Info . 28
5.3.3 Subsession-Id . 29
5.3.4 Subsession-Operation . 29
5.3.5 Void . 29
5.3.6 Multiple-BBERF-Action . 29
5.4 S9 re-used AVPs . 29
5.4.1 Use of the Supported-Features AVP on the S9 reference point . 30
5.5 S9 Messages . 30
5.5.1 S9 Application . 30
5.5.2 CC-Request (CCR) Command . 31
5.5.3 CC-Answer (CCA) Command . 31
5.5.4 Re-Auth-Request (RAR) Command . 32
5.5.5 Re-Auth-Answer (RAA) Command . 32
5.6 S9 specific Experimental-Result-Code AVP values . 33
5.6.1 General . 33
5.6.2 Success . 33
5.6.3 Permanent Failures . 33
Annex A (informative): Change history . 34
History . 37
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Foreword
rd
This Technical Specification has been produced by the 3 Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
The contents of the present document are subject to continuing work within the TSG and may change following formal
TSG approval. Should the TSG modify the contents of the present document, it will be re-released by the TSG with an
identifying change of release date and an increase in version number as follows:
Version x.y.z
where:
x the first digit:
1 presented to TSG for information;
2 presented to TSG for approval;
3 or greater indicates TSG approved document under change control.
y the second digit is incremented for all changes of substance, i.e. technical enhancements, corrections,
updates, etc.
z the third digit is incremented when editorial only changes have been incorporated in the document.
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 6 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
1 Scope
The present document provides the stage 3 specification of the S9 reference point for the present release. The functional
requirements of stage 2 specification for the S9 reference point are contained in 3GPP TS 23.203 [2]. The S9 reference
point lies between the PCRF in the home PLMN (also known as H-PCRF) and the PCRF in the visited PLMN (also
known as V-PCRF).
Whenever it is possible the present document specifies the requirements for the protocols by reference to specifications
produced by the IETF within the scope of Diameter. Where this is not possible extensions to Diameter are defined
within the present document.
2 References
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present
document.
• References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or
non-specific.
• For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
• For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including
a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same
Release as the present document.
[1] 3GPP TR 21.905: "Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications".
[2] 3GPP TS 23.203: "Policy and Charging Control Architecture".
[3] 3GPP TS 29.212: "Policy and charging control over Gx reference point".
[4] 3GPP TS 29.213: "Policy and charging control signalling flows and Quality of Service (QoS)
parameter mapping".
[5] 3GPP TS 29.214: "Policy and charging control over Rx reference point".
[6] IETF RFC 3588: "Diameter Base Protocol".
[7] 3GPP TS 29.229: "Cx and Dx interfaces based on the Diameter protocol; Protocol details".
[8] IETF RFC 4960: "Stream Control Transmission Protocol".
[9] 3GPP TS23.003: "Numbering, addressing and identification".
3 Definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. A
term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in TR 21.905 [1].
Home Routed Access: Roaming scenario where the PCEF is located in the HPLMN. In a Home Routed roaming
scenario, the UE obtains access to the packet data network from the HPLMN.
Visited Access (also known as local breakout): Roaming scenario where the PCEF is located in the VPLMN. In a
Visited Access Roaming scenario, the UE obtains access to the packet data network from the VPLMN.
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3.2 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. An
abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in
TR 21.905 [1].
AF Application Function
AN-Gateway Access Network Gateway
AVP Attribute-Value Pair
BBERF Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function
H-AF Home AF
H-PCRF Home PCRF
HPLMN Home PLMN
HR Home-Routed
OCS Online charging system
OFCS Offline charging system
PCC Policy and Charging Control
PCEF Policy and Charging Enforcement Function
PCRF Policy and Charging Rule Function
S-GW Serving Gateway
VA Visited Access
V-AF Visited AF
V-PCRF Visited PCRF
VPLMN Visited PLMN
4. S9 Reference Point
4.1 Overview
The S9 reference point is used in roaming scenarios involving a HPLMN and a VPLMN. Two main roaming scenarios
are considered: visited access (PCEF in VPLMN and AF in VPLMN or HPLMN) and home-routed access (PCEF in
HPLMN and AF in the HPLMN).
Two Diameter applications are used over the S9 reference point: S9 and Rx. The purpose of the S9 Diameter
application is to install PCC rules or QoS rules generated in the HPLMN into the VPLMN and transport the events that
may occur in the VPLMN to the HPLMN. When the AF is in the VPLMN, Rx is used over the S9 reference point to
exchange service session information from the V-PCRF to the H-PCRF.
The AF exchanges session information with the H-PCRF or V-PCRF as specified in 3GPP TS 29.214[5]. The PCRF
(H-PCRF and/or V-PCRF) exchanges PCC rules and QoS rules with the PCEF and BBERF respectively as specified in
3GPP TS 29.212[3].
Signalling flows related to all the PCC reference points (Gx, Gxx, Rx and S9) are specified in 3GPP TS 29.213[4].
Diameter messages over the S9 reference point shall make use of SCTP [8].
4.2 Reference model
The S9 reference point is defined between the V-PCRF and the H-PCRF for home routed access and visited access.
NOTE 1: AN-Gateway refers to the S-GW when the Gxc applies and to a trusted non-3GPP access gateway when
Gxa applies. Refer to Annexes A.5 and H.2 of 3GPP TS 23.203[9] for application of AN-Gateways.
The relationships between the different functional entities involved in the home routed access are depicted in figure
4.2.1.
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 8 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
VPLMN
HPLMN
Application
Function
(AF)
Rx
Subscription
Sp
Profile
Policy and S9 Policy and
Repository
Charging Rules Charging Rules
Function Function (SPR)
(V-PCRF) (H-PCRF)
Online Ch arging
System
Gxx Gx
(OCS)
Gy
Service Data Flow
Bearer Binding Policy and
Based Credit
and Event Charging
Control
Reporting
Enforcement
Function Function
(BBERF)
(PCEF)
AN-Gateway Gateway
Offline
Charging
System
Gz
(OFCS)
Figure 4.2.1: S9 reference point at the PCC architecture for roaming with home routed access
The relationships between the different functional entities involved in the visited access are depicted in figure 4.2.2.
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3GPP TS 29.215 version 8.16.0 Release 8 9 ETSI TS 129 215 V8.16.0 (2019-01)
VPLMN
HPLMN
Application Application
Function Function
(AF) (AF)
Rx Rx
Subscription
Sp
Profile
Policy and Policy and
S9
Repository
Charging Rules Charging Rules
Function Function (SPR)
(V-PCRF) (H-PCRF)
Online Ch arging
Gxx System
Gx
(OCS)
Gy
Service Data Flow
Bearer Binding Policy and
Based Credit
and Event
Charging
Control
Reporting
Enforcement
Function Function
(BBERF) (PCEF)
AN-Gateway Gateway
Offline
Charging
System
Gz
(OFCS)
Figure 4.2.2: S9 reference point at the PCC architecture for roaming with visited access
NOTE 2: AF can be located in both VPLMN and HPLMN for the visited access.
For a visited access, the VPLMN may use an OCS proxy between the PCEF and the OCS.
NOTE 3: The H-PCRF can optionally send the addresses of the proxy/OCS to the V-PCRF.
NOTE 4: PCEF is located in the Gateway node implementing the IP access to the PDN. Refer to Annexes of 3GPP
TS 23.203[9] for application to specific IP-CAN types.
4.3 Functional elements
4.3.1 H-PCRF
The H-PCRF (Home Policy and Charging Rules Function) is a functional element that encompasses policy control
decision and flow based charging control functionalities in the HPLMN.
The H-PCRF provides functions for both home routed access and visited access.
The H-PCRF selects the bearer control mode applicable for the user or IP-CAN session. Policy decisions based on the
bearer control mode are made in the H-PCRF.
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The H-PCRF shall check whether PCC Rules or QoS Rules have to be provided based on the information received from
the V-PCRF.
NOTE: The H-PCRF can use the Called-Station-Id AVP for that purpose. When this AVP is absent, the H-PCRF
provides QoS rules that are not related to any IP-CAN session. When it is present, if it identifies a Visited
Network, the PCC rules will be provided. If it is present and identifies a Home Network, the QoS rules
will be provided.
When provisioning PCC/QoS rules over the S9 reference point, the H-PCRF is responsible for assigning packet filter
identifiers for rules provisioned as a result of UE initiated resource modification. For E-UTRAN access with UE
initiated resource modification procedure, the H-PCRF shall either authorize the same QoS as requested or reject the
request if the requested QoS cannot be authorized.
4.3.1.1 Home routed access
The H-PCRF shall provision QoS Rules to the V-PCRF via the S9 reference point and PCC Rules to the PCEF via the
Gx reference point. The H-PCRF ensures that the QoS Rules provisioned are aligned with the PCC Rules.
The H-PCRF PCC Rule decisions may be based on one or more of the following:
- Information obtained from the AF via the Rx reference point.
- Information obtained from the V-PCRF via the S9 reference point.
NOTE: The above may include information obtained from the BBERF via the Gxx reference point.
- Information obtained from the PCEF via the Gx reference point.
- Information obtained from the SPR via the Sp reference point.
- PCRF pre-configured information.
The H-PCRF provisions event triggers to the V-PCRF and PCEF.
4.3.1.2 Visited Access
The H-PCRF shall provision PCC Rules to the V-PCRF via the S9 reference point.
The H-PCRF may provision QoS Rules to the V-PCRF via the S9 reference point for case 2a when the available QoS
Rules are not related to any IP-CAN session.
The H-PCRF PCC/QoS Rule decisions may be based on one or more of the following:
- Information obtained from the AF when located in the home network.
- Information obtained from the V-PCRF via the S9 reference point.
NOTE 1: The above may include information obtained from the AF when the AF is located in the VPLMN and
information obtained from the PCEF or BBERF.
NOTE 2: Information obtained from the AF only applies for PCC Rule decisions.
- Information obtained from the SPR via the Sp reference point.
- PCRF pre-configured information.
The H-PCRF provisions event triggers to the V-PCRF.
4.3.2 V-PCRF
The V-PCRF (Visited Policy and Charging Rules Function) is a functional element that encompasses policy control
decision and flow based charging control functionalities in the VPLMN.
The V-PCRF provides functions for both home routed access and visited access.
For E-UTRAN access with UE initiated resource modification procedure, the V-PCRF may validate the QoS based on
operator policies in the request from the BBERF/PCEF before interacting with the H-PCRF.
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4.3.2.1 Home routed access
The V-PCRF shall request QoS Rules and report events to the H-PCRF via the S9 interface.
The V-PCRF validates the QoS parameters received within the QoS Rules based on operator policies. The V-PCRF
informs the H-PCRF if the QoS validation failed.
The V-PCRF shall provision QoS Rules to the BBERF via the Gxx reference point.
4.3.2.2 Visited access
The V-PCRF shall request PCC Rules from and report events to the H-PCRF using the S9 reference point.
The V-PCRF may request QoS Rules from the H-P
...