asterisk users - Apr 2006 - CDR query

I'm using a macro such that if a call is forwarded to my mobile, I can 
choose to accept it or not. This is done with the following Dial command:

Dial(IAX2/voiptalk/44${ARG1:1},15,trM(screen)ow)

and the following macro:

[macro-screen] ; Allow called user to accept/reject the call

exten => s,1,Wait(0.2)
exten => s,2,Read(Accept|loho-support-choose|1)
exten => s,3,GotoIf($[a${Accept} = a1]?6:4) ; 1 = accept, anything else 
  = reject
exten => s,4,Set(MACRO_RESULT=ABORT)
exten => s,5,Playback(connection-timed-out)
exten => s,6,NoOp()


The problem I have, is that the 'billsec' field in the CDR records, only
starts ticking if I accept the call, so it isn't including the time that 
I have answered the call on my mobile, but not actually accepted the 
call, which means if I reject the call or whatever, then it doesn't log 
the fact that I have actually spent money making a PSTN phone call...

What I guess I'm looking for is some sort of command to put into my 
macro to start the 'billsec' counting, does anybody know if such a thing
exists, or if there is some other way of getting round this problem?

(I could just use the 'duration' field, but this would include time 
where it was merely ringing and I'm not actually being charged etc).

Thanks in advance,
Alex Brett
alex.brett@loho.co.uk
http://www.loho.co.uk/

Alex Brett wrote:
> 
> The problem I have, is that the 'billsec' field in the CDR records,
only
> starts ticking if I accept the call, so it isn't including the time
that
> I have answered the call on my mobile, but not actually accepted the 
> call, which means if I reject the call or whatever, then it doesn't log
> the fact that I have actually spent money making a PSTN phone call...
> 
> What I guess I'm looking for is some sort of command to put into my 
> macro to start the 'billsec' counting, does anybody know if such a
thing
> exists, or if there is some other way of getting round this problem?
> 
> (I could just use the 'duration' field, but this would include time
> where it was merely ringing and I'm not actually being charged etc).
> 
For anybody interested, I got round this by hacking at app_dial.c and 
adding an extra flag (b) that will set the CDR record as answered as 
soon as it starts the macro. Now billsec is accurate, only downside 
being that it shows all the calls as ANSWERED even if the callee 
rejected it or whatever - I'm looking at finding a way round that, then 
if I can make it nice enough I'll submit a patch etc - contact me 
off-list if you want it in it's present state...

Alex

-- 
Alex Brett
alex.brett@loho.co.uk
http://www.loho.co.uk/