CAMEL - Basics

By - Anusha P Shanbhag

Tech Forum

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 Agenda

 Why CAMEL?

 What is CAMEL?

 Phases of CAMEL

 Applicability of CAMEL procedures.

 Intelligent Network

 Service Switching Function/Service Control Function/BCSM

 Call Flow

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 Why CAMEL?

 GSM networks used INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) for fixed
line networks.

 However, problem was that INAP did not support mobility.

 Hence, GSM networks used CAMEL (CUSTOMIZED APPLICATIONS FOR

MOBILE ENHANCED LOGIC)

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 What is CAMEL?

 Customized applications for mobile enhanced logic (CAMEL) were

introduced by ETSI (Europe telecommunications standard institute) to
incorporate intelligent network functionalities in GSM networks.

 The capabilities offered by CAMEL, enable GSM operators to implement

operator-specific services based on IN service logic that are seamlessly
available to subscribers even if they are roaming in a foreign network.

 Unlike USSD, CAMEL is not a supplementary service but is a network

feature.

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 Phases of CAMEL

Camel Phase –I Phase-II Phase-III

Phase
Difference Applicable to MO and MT calls Voice online charging GPRS charging
operations

No charging operations SMS ,GPRS - Offline charging ·SMS-Online charging

-offline charging

No announcements Announcements Announcements

and tones and tones

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 Applicability of CAMEL procedures

 The CAMEL feature is applicable to Mobile Originated and Mobile

Terminated Call Related Activities.

 The CAMEL feature is applicable to Supplementary Services Invocation.

 CAMEL procedures are applicable to GPRS sessions and PDP contexts.

 CAMEL procedures are applicable to Mobile Originating/Terminating short

message service through both circuit switched and packet switched serving
network entities.

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 Intelligent networks (IN)

 Intelligent network are used by tele operators for creation and management
of value added services in telecom networks.
 A value-added service (VAS) is a popular telecommunications term for
all services beyond standard voice calls and fax transmissions.
Some of the value added services are as mentioned below.
Major value-added services
 Contests and voting
 Live streaming
 Location-based services
 Missed call alerts and voicemail box
 Mobile advertising

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 Service Switching Function

 The IN control protocol at the exchange is handled by the service switching

function (SSF).

 The SSF passes call control from the exchange to the SCP and relays
instructions from the SCP back to the exchange.

 All IN protocol aspects are handled by the SSF.

 When the SSF receives instruction from SCP, it copies information received
from the SCP on to the call control protocol.

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 Service Control Function

 The service control function (SCF) is the functional entity residing in the
SCP. It forms an application in the SCP that facilitates the execution of IN
services.

 Once the SCF has gained control over a call, it may decide how the call
shall continue.

 The SCF supports the IN protocol (e.g. INAP), but the behavior of the
service logic is operator-specific.

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 Basic Call State Model (BCSM)

 A fundamental concept for IN control is the basic call state model (BCSM).
When a call is processed by an exchange, the call goes through a number of
pre-defined phases.
 These phases of the call are described in the BCSM. The BCSM generally
follows the ISUP signaling of a call.
 ISUP messages received by the exchange result in the transition from one
BCSM state to another.

 Types of BCSM:
 O-BCSM (Originating BCSM)
 T-BCSM (Terminating BCSM)

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 Messages in Call Flow

 Initial Detection Point (IDP)

 RRB (Request Report BCSM)
 Event Report BCSM (ERB)
 Connect (CONN)
 Continue (CONT)
 Send Charging Information (SCI)
 ACH (Apply Charging)
 ACR (Apply Charging Report)

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 CAMEL Call flow

SSF/VLR SCP/HLR
MS
IDP (Initial Detection Point)
Call Setup Calling No/ Called No./ Camel Phase/ OCSI/ Service Key

RRBCSM
Connect / Continue

Event Report Answer BCSM

Answer/ Disconnect/Interrupt

Apply Charging

Release Call

Apply Charging Report

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Questions?

Thank You

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