Data Sheet

Diameter
Signaling
Terms
Introduction
In the Diameter Signaling area of the telecommunications
industry, terminology and its usage is an ever-increasing
bone of contention. Since there are hundreds of special
acronyms and terms (with subtle differences), they can
actually have a major impact on people and networks.
Most people think that these terms and acronyms are
shorthand to make it easier to converse about the
network, its elements and their functionality; however
it is my firm belief that these terms and acronyms are
protectionist – they are meant to place an extra level
of difficulty for outsiders to enter our industry.
The following should help clarify commonly used terms
in the LTE/EPC/Diameter signaling environment.
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Diameter Base Protocol Terms
AAA
Authentication, Authorization and Accounting
IKE
Internet Exchange Key
ACA
Accounting Answer
IPv4
Internet Protocol Version 4
ACR
Accounting Request
IPv6
Internet Protocol Version 6
ASA
Abort Session Answer
NAI
Network Access Identifier
ASR
Abort Session Request
NAPTR
Name Authority Pointer
AVP
Attribute Value Pair
NAS
Network Access Server
CCF
Command Code Format
NASREQ Network Access Server Requirements
CEA
Capabilities Exchange Answer
OID
Object Identifier
CER
Capabilities Exchange Request
POP
Point of Presence
DNS
Domain Name System
PPID
Payload Protocol Id.
DPA
Disconnect Peer Answer
RAA
Re-Auth Answer
DPR
Disconnect Peer Request
RAR
Re-Auth Request
DWA
Device Watchdog Answer
RFC
Request for Comment
DWR
Device Watchdog Request
STA
Session Termination Answer
FA
Foreign Agent
STR
Session Termination Request
FQDN
Fully Qualified Domain Name
TLA
Translation Agent
HMAC
keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code
TTL
Time to Live
HOL
Head-of-Line-Blocking
URI
Uniform Resource Identifier
IANA
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
IDN
International Domain Name
IETF
Internet Engineering Task Force
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Diameter Interfaces
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Bi
Between CCF and BS
MM10
Multimedia Messaging Service
Cx
Between CSCF and HSS
Mz
Dh
Between AS and SLF
Roaming version of Gmb, Between GGSN and
BM-SC
Dw
Between AAA Proxy and AAA Server
Pr
Between AAA Server and PNA
Dx
Between CSCF and SLF
Re
Between RCEF and RACS
Dz
Between BSF and SLF
Rf
Between AS Server and OFCS
E2
Between AF and NASS
Ro
Between AS Server and OSC
E4
Between NASS and RACS
Rr
X-RACF
E5
Between UAAF and UAAF
Rx
Between AF Server and PCRF
Gi
Between Packet Domain and External Packet
Network
S13
Between EIR Server and MME/SGSN
S13’
Between EIR Server and MME/SGSN
Gmb
Between GGSN and BM-SC
S6a
Between MME Server and HSS
Gq
Between P-CSCF and PDF
S6b
Between AAA Server / Proxy and PDN-GW
Gq’
Between AF and RACS
S6d
Between SGSN and HSS
Gx
Between PCEF and PCRF
S7c
Between PCRF and S-GW
Gxa
Between PCRF and BBERF
Sd
Between PCRF Server and TDF
Gxb
Between ePDG and V-PCRF
Sgi
Gxc
Between BPCRF and BBERF
Between EPC based PLMN and Packet Data
Network
Gy
Between OCS and PCEF
Sh
Between AS and HSS
Gz
Between PCEF and OFCS
Sp
Between PCRF and SPR
H2
Between AAA Server and HA
Sta
Between a trusted non-3GPP IP access and
the 3GPP AAA Server/Proxy
Diameter Interfaces
SWa
Between an un-trusted non-3GPP IP access
and the 3GPP AAA Server/Proxy
SWd
Between AAA Server and AAA Proxy
SWm
Between AAA Server / Proxy and ePDG
SWn
Between Untrusted Non-3GPP IP Access and
ePDG
SWx
Between AAA Server and HSS
Sy
Between PCRF Server and OCS / OFCS
Tx
Between AF Server and PCRF
Wa
Between WLAN Server and AAA Proxy
Wd
Between AAA Proxy and AAA Server
Wg
Between AAA Server / Proxy and WAG
Wm
Between AAA Server and PDG
Wx
Between AAA Server and HSS
Zn
Between BSF Server and NAF
Zn’
Between BSF Server and Zn Proxy
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Miscellaneous Network Terms
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AAA
Authentication, Authorization and Accounting
GSM
Global System for Mobile communications
AF
Application Function
GSMA
GSM Association
AFM
Advanced Firewall Manager
GTP
GPRS Tunneling Protocol
BBERF
Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function
GW
Gateway
BGCF
Breakout Gateway Control Function
HA
Home Agent
BS
Base Station
H-PCRF Home-Policy Charging and Rules Function
BSC
Base Station Controller
HPLM
Home Public Land Mobile Network
BSF
Boot Strapping Server Functionality
IMS
IP Multimedia Subsystem
CCF
Call Control Function
IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity
CDF
Charging Data Function
IP-CAN
CS
Circuit-Switched
Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access
Network
CSFB
Circuit Switch Fall Back
IPSec
Internet Protocol Security
DEA
Diameter Edge Agent
IPX
Internet Protocol Packet Exchange
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
ITU
International Telecommunications Union
DNS
Domain Name System
IWF
Interworking Function
DRA
Diameter Routing Agent
LTE
Long Term Evolution
DSC
Diameter Signaling Controller
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service
DTLS
Datagram Transport Layer Security
MRFC
Media Resource Control Function
EAP
Extensible Authentication Protocol
MRFP
Media Resource Function Processor
EPC
Evolved Packet Core
MS
Mobile Station
FDD
Frequency Division Duplex
MSC
Mobile Switching Center
FQDN
Fully Qualified Domain Names
MSIN
Mobile Subscription Identity Number
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service
NAF
Network Application Functionality
Miscellaneous Network Terms
NAI
Network Access Identifier
SLF
Subscription Locator Function
NAPTR
Name Authority Pointer
SMS
Short Message Service
NASS
Network Access Signaling System
SMS-C
Short Message Service - Center
NAT
Network Access Translator
SPR
Subscription Profile Repository
NB
NodeB
SS7
Signaling System 7
OCF
Online Charging Function
TCP
Transmission Control Protocol
PCC
Policy and Charging Control
TDF
Traffic Detection Function
PDF
Policy Decision Function
TDM
Time Division Multiplex
PCEF
Policy and Charging Enforcement Function
TDMA
Time-Division Multiple Access
TLS
Transport Layer Security
PDN-GW Packet Data Network - Gateway
PLMN
Public Land Mobile Network
UAAF
User Access Authorization Function
PNA
Presence Network Agent
UDP
User Datagram Protocol
PS
Packet Switched
UE
User Equipment
QoS
Quality of Service
UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
RACS
Resource and Admission Control System
UTRAN
Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network
VPLMN
Visited Public Land Mobile Network
Virtual Private Network
RADIUS Remote Authentication Dial In User Service
RAN
Radio Access Network
VPN
RNC
Radio Network Controller
WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
RTSP
Real Time Streaming Protocol
WiMAX
SBC
Session Boarder Controller
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave
Access
SCTP
Stream Control Transmission Control Protocol
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network
SDP
Session Description Protocol
SIP
Session Initiation Protocol
X-RACF Radio Access Control Function
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Network Elements
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OFCS
Offline Charging System
PCRF
Policy and Charging Rules Function
P-CSCF
Proxy-Call Session Control Function
Application Server
PDF
Policy Decision Function
BGCF
Breakout Gateway Control Function
PDN-GW
Packet Data Network Gateway
CBC
Cell Broadcast Center
S-CSCF
Serving-Call Session Control Function
EIR
Equipment Identity Register
SGSN
Serving GPRS Support Node
eNB
E-UTRAN NodeB
S-GW
Serving Gateway
ePDG
Evolved Packet Data Gateway
GGSN
Gateway GPRS Support Node
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service
HLR
Home Location Register
HSS
Home Subscriber Server
I-CSCF
Interrogating Call Session Control Function
IMS-MGW
IP Multimedia Subsystem-Media Gateway
Function
MGCF
Media Gateway Control Function
MME
Mobility Management Entity
MRFC
Media Resource Control Function
MRFP
Media Resource Function Processor
OCS
Online Charging System
AAA-S
Authentication, Authorization and
Accounting Server
ANDSF
Access Network Discovery and Selection
Function
AS
About Sonus
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over 50 countries across the globe and over a decade of
experience in transforming networks to IP, Sonus has
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Networks without notice. While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation of this
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