I am looking for common practice ideas on how to handle multiple line phones. Is it common with asterisk to have the lines appear as programmable buttons? Or to just have itcm like buttons and use the dial 9 approach? What I am specifically interested in, is to have my line one appear on the first button (sip polycom phones) line two appear on the second button, and use the third as an intercom (internal extension) button. I have managed to get the line 1 to ring on the line 1 button and the same for line two. I have even managed to get extension transfers to happen on the itcm button. The trouble I have is that I don't know if someone else is on the particular line, and when I dial, it picks up the first available button (line) so even if I dial an extension, it looks like I am dialing from line 1 to the extension. How do I make it pick the third button, etc... Confusing? I have read the "handbook" and countless searches through wiki and Google, but cannot find practical examples of multi-line use with asterisk. Thanks a ton. I have been testing asterisk and on the mailing list for about a month now... I would be happy to send all my config files for perusal. Sean Garland - Siskiyou Technology Consultants
On Sun, 2004-01-04 at 18:18, Sean Garland wrote:> I am looking for common practice ideas on how to handle multiple line > phones. Is it common with asterisk to have the lines appear as > programmable buttons? Or to just have itcm like buttons and use the dial > 9 approach? What I am specifically interested in, is to have my line > one appear on the first button (sip polycom phones) line two appear on > the second button, and use the third as an intercom (internal extension) > button. I have managed to get the line 1 to ring on the line 1 button > and the same for line two. I have even managed to get extension > transfers to happen on the itcm button. > > The trouble I have is that I don't know if someone else is on the > particular line, and when I dial, it picks up the first available button > (line) so even if I dial an extension, it looks like I am dialing from > line 1 to the extension. How do I make it pick the third button, etc... > > Confusing? I have read the "handbook" and countless searches through > wiki and Google, but cannot find practical examples of multi-line use > with asterisk.The reason you didn't find anything is because the multiline approach doesn't scale beyond a small handful of lines. It shouldn't matter what line a call is on if you are supposed to answer it. If you have hunt or rollover on your lines, it doesn't matter what line you dial out on. In the long, the only thing that your phone should know is how to get you to the PBX, the pbx will take care of the rest. -- Steven Critchfield <critch@basesys.com>
Could you explain in a little more detail about what you are trying to do with the multi-lines? Maybe a more in depth example would help. In my (limited) experience, I have seen two types of multi-line uses 1. The phone has a number of lines (usually) two. If the first line is busy, the call rings on the second and so the user has the option of putting the first on hold and answering the new incoming call or letting it ring out. Normally the user has only one advertised extension number (and the second line may not even have its own unique extension #). The second line is often used for inquiry calls or if the primary line is busy. Usually the phone selects the first available line when making a new call. 2. The second type of multi-line use I have seen is where one phone has lines for multiple extensions and those extensions may be represented on multiple phones (shared line). For example, the phone of a personal assistant may have a line for them and their boss. The multi-line button in this case may often shows the status (ie: busy) of the extension as it is 'shared' among multiple phones. Depending on the configuration, if the extension is called, it may ring on one or more of the phone lines that support that extension. Even in this case, the phone often has a default line to use when the handset is picked-up to make a call. Asterisk will support the type 1. above as long as the handset support multiple lines (which in your case it does,) However, case 2, I do not believe is supported by Asterisk at the moment - you can make the line ring, but you will not be able to show the status of the line on other phones. In addition, with a SIP phone, the phone will also have to have a way of receiving the notification for the status of the line (busy, not busy.) - not all SIP phones support this, but looking through the Polycomm manual, it seems they do. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean Garland" <sean@siskiyoutech.com> To: <asterisk-users@lists.digium.com> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 7:18 PM Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help I am looking for common practice ideas on how to handle multiple line phones. Is it common with asterisk to have the lines appear as programmable buttons? Or to just have itcm like buttons and use the dial 9 approach? What I am specifically interested in, is to have my line one appear on the first button (sip polycom phones) line two appear on the second button, and use the third as an intercom (internal extension) button. I have managed to get the line 1 to ring on the line 1 button and the same for line two. I have even managed to get extension transfers to happen on the itcm button. The trouble I have is that I don't know if someone else is on the particular line, and when I dial, it picks up the first available button (line) so even if I dial an extension, it looks like I am dialing from line 1 to the extension. How do I make it pick the third button, etc... Confusing? I have read the "handbook" and countless searches through wiki and Google, but cannot find practical examples of multi-line use with asterisk. Thanks a ton. I have been testing asterisk and on the mailing list for about a month now... I would be happy to send all my config files for perusal. Sean Garland - Siskiyou Technology Consultants _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Basically I guess I am thinking of the traditional key systems approach which is to have the CO lines appear on the phone. The problem it appears with SIP (not really *) and the particular phones, is to have the reporting. I guess what I was looking for was to have the buttons not only represent the incoming lines, but to also show their status (busy, hold, etc...). On that note, what (typically with SIP/*) are the multiple line phone buttons used for? I know you have to have at least one for access to the asterisk system, but what is the point of the multiple registrations? Thank you to all..... Sean Garland Siskiyou Technology Consultants -----Original Message----- From: Nicholas Comanos [mailto:nickyc@stolen-technology.com] Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 8:17 PM To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help Could you explain in a little more detail about what you are trying to do with the multi-lines? Maybe a more in depth example would help. In my (limited) experience, I have seen two types of multi-line uses 1. The phone has a number of lines (usually) two. If the first line is busy, the call rings on the second and so the user has the option of putting the first on hold and answering the new incoming call or letting it ring out. Normally the user has only one advertised extension number (and the second line may not even have its own unique extension #). The second line is often used for inquiry calls or if the primary line is busy. Usually the phone selects the first available line when making a new call. 2. The second type of multi-line use I have seen is where one phone has lines for multiple extensions and those extensions may be represented on multiple phones (shared line). For example, the phone of a personal assistant may have a line for them and their boss. The multi-line button in this case may often shows the status (ie: busy) of the extension as it is 'shared' among multiple phones. Depending on the configuration, if the extension is called, it may ring on one or more of the phone lines that support that extension. Even in this case, the phone often has a default line to use when the handset is picked-up to make a call. Asterisk will support the type 1. above as long as the handset support multiple lines (which in your case it does,) However, case 2, I do not believe is supported by Asterisk at the moment - you can make the line ring, but you will not be able to show the status of the line on other phones. In addition, with a SIP phone, the phone will also have to have a way of receiving the notification for the status of the line (busy, not busy.) - not all SIP phones support this, but looking through the Polycomm manual, it seems they do. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean Garland" <sean@siskiyoutech.com> To: <asterisk-users@lists.digium.com> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 7:18 PM Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help I am looking for common practice ideas on how to handle multiple line phones. Is it common with asterisk to have the lines appear as programmable buttons? Or to just have itcm like buttons and use the dial 9 approach? What I am specifically interested in, is to have my line one appear on the first button (sip polycom phones) line two appear on the second button, and use the third as an intercom (internal extension) button. I have managed to get the line 1 to ring on the line 1 button and the same for line two. I have even managed to get extension transfers to happen on the itcm button. The trouble I have is that I don't know if someone else is on the particular line, and when I dial, it picks up the first available button (line) so even if I dial an extension, it looks like I am dialing from line 1 to the extension. How do I make it pick the third button, etc... Confusing? I have read the "handbook" and countless searches through wiki and Google, but cannot find practical examples of multi-line use with asterisk. Thanks a ton. I have been testing asterisk and on the mailing list for about a month now... I would be happy to send all my config files for perusal. Sean Garland - Siskiyou Technology Consultants _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
*** I am resending this because something is wrong with the reply function *** Basically I guess I am thinking of the traditional key systems approach which is to have the CO lines appear on the phone. The problem it appears with SIP (not really *) and the particular phones, is to have the reporting. I guess what I was looking for was to have the buttons not only represent the incoming lines, but to also show their status (busy, hold, etc...). On that note, what (typically with SIP/*) are the multiple line phone buttons used for? I know you have to have at least one for access to the asterisk system, but what is the point of the multiple registrations? Thank you to all..... Sean Garland Siskiyou Technology Consultants -----Original Message----- From: Nicholas Comanos [mailto:nickyc@stolen-technology.com] Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 8:17 PM To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help Could you explain in a little more detail about what you are trying to do with the multi-lines? Maybe a more in depth example would help. In my (limited) experience, I have seen two types of multi-line uses 1. The phone has a number of lines (usually) two. If the first line is busy, the call rings on the second and so the user has the option of putting the first on hold and answering the new incoming call or letting it ring out. Normally the user has only one advertised extension number (and the second line may not even have its own unique extension #). The second line is often used for inquiry calls or if the primary line is busy. Usually the phone selects the first available line when making a new call. 2. The second type of multi-line use I have seen is where one phone has lines for multiple extensions and those extensions may be represented on multiple phones (shared line). For example, the phone of a personal assistant may have a line for them and their boss. The multi-line button in this case may often shows the status (ie: busy) of the extension as it is 'shared' among multiple phones. Depending on the configuration, if the extension is called, it may ring on one or more of the phone lines that support that extension. Even in this case, the phone often has a default line to use when the handset is picked-up to make a call. Asterisk will support the type 1. above as long as the handset support multiple lines (which in your case it does,) However, case 2, I do not believe is supported by Asterisk at the moment - you can make the line ring, but you will not be able to show the status of the line on other phones. In addition, with a SIP phone, the phone will also have to have a way of receiving the notification for the status of the line (busy, not busy.) - not all SIP phones support this, but looking through the Polycomm manual, it seems they do. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean Garland" <sean@siskiyoutech.com> To: <asterisk-users@lists.digium.com> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 7:18 PM Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help I am looking for common practice ideas on how to handle multiple line phones. Is it common with asterisk to have the lines appear as programmable buttons? Or to just have itcm like buttons and use the dial 9 approach? What I am specifically interested in, is to have my line one appear on the first button (sip polycom phones) line two appear on the second button, and use the third as an intercom (internal extension) button. I have managed to get the line 1 to ring on the line 1 button and the same for line two. I have even managed to get extension transfers to happen on the itcm button. The trouble I have is that I don't know if someone else is on the particular line, and when I dial, it picks up the first available button (line) so even if I dial an extension, it looks like I am dialing from line 1 to the extension. How do I make it pick the third button, etc... Confusing? I have read the "handbook" and countless searches through wiki and Google, but cannot find practical examples of multi-line use with asterisk. Thanks a ton. I have been testing asterisk and on the mailing list for about a month now... I would be happy to send all my config files for perusal. Sean Garland - Siskiyou Technology Consultants _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/attachments/20040105/fc51d741/attachment.htm
Thank you all for your responses. Since I was a phone installer (previous life) and installed Lucent Partner and Merlin systems, I was on the key system mode of thinking. On the Polycom phones each line button is a registration, so I wonder how I could program a SIP registration to speed dial a number? Would that be done through exten.conf like: [button2] Exten => 1,dial(zap/g1/5551212) ??? So then, carrying over to key system terms, I would basically be setting up line pool buttons... Basically with my small office (2 phones, and one * box with 2 x100p cards) I would just use the first button (or whatever) for my registration with my * and call it good... I am thinking of proposing this system to my partner corp which would entail around 13 extensions and 6 lines... How would I give someone upstairs the ability to view if each user was on the phone or not? <-- should probably be a new thread.... Currently they have 18 button phones that are programmed with the incomming lines, then the users (LED's glow when user is on). This is so much fun! (no really!) Sean -----Original Message----- From: Rich Adamson [mailto:radamson@routers.com] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 6:55 PM To: asterisk-users@lists.digium.com Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help Sean,> Basically I guess I am thinking of the traditional key systems > approach which is to have the CO lines appear on the phone. The > problem it appears with SIP (not really *) and the particular phones, > is to have the reporting. I guess what I was looking for was to have > the buttons not only represent the incoming lines, but to also show > their status (busy, hold, etc...).As you've already mentioned, what you've described is a key system, and not a pbx. (There might be an open source key system out there somewhere.)> On that note, what (typically with SIP/*) are the multiple line phone > buttons used for? I know you have to have at least one for access to > the asterisk system, but what is the point of the multiple > registrations?Several reasons depending upon the actual requirements... 1. Small office, Customer Service appears on line 1, President on line 2. Answering line 2 with an appropriate messages (when he's not around) is different then answering line 1 as a Customer Service person. 2. Shared tenant service: five different businesses in the same small complex. The receptionist has all five lines on her phone, and answers with an appropriate message for each business when their lines are unanswered. 3. Home-boy (no asterisk) subscribes to two different VoIP providers with two different rate plans. Line 1 registers with provider 1, and line 2 with provider 2. You choose which service you want based on your knowledge of what your trying to accomplish (not necessarily programmable if an * system was included). 4. On the Cisco 7960, I have one of the line buttons programmed as a speed dial to a certain extn as I'm calling it often. 5. Remote intercom: place a speaker phone by the front door and configure it for auto answer. When the doorbell rings, push one of your preprogrammed buttons to speak to who's at the door. 6. You could probably program * to open the garage door with one of the buttons. ;) As Steve pointed out earlier today, there are many ways to accompish the same function within asterisk, therefore some of the items listed above might be done a different way. That's fine. Rich _______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list Asterisk-Users@lists.digium.com http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users