SipXconfig Intercom
From SIPfoundry sipx, The Open Source SIP PBX for Linux - Calivia
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[edit] Intercom
You can use sipXconfig to configure phones to answer calls automatically (without user intervention). This functionality is refered to in sipXconfig as Intercom feature. At the moment only Polycom phones support it fully.
[edit] Configuration
To configure intercom create a group that contains all the phones for which you want intercom enabled. You can use the usuall methods of adding phones to the group (Manage Phones screen action drop-down, Edit Phone screen).
Once you have all the phones selected for to Intercom configuration screen (Features->Intercom).
[edit] Groups
You need to explicitly enable intercom feature. The only parameter that you have to configure is the name of the group that you want intercom functionality enabled for. If you have more than one such group use spaces to separate multiple group names. Group edit box has autocomplete functionality enabled - you only need to type the first character of the group name and select the name from the drop-down list.
[edit] Intercom prefix
You can leave default prefic (*76) or configure a different prefix for intercom. Prefix is the way of distinguishing between a standard call and an intercom call. If you want to reach extension 200 and dial just 200 - the phone will ring normally. If you dial *76200 instead your call will be automatically picked up by the phone.
[edit] Ring time
You can decide how much time the phone should ring before the call is picked up automatically by modifying Ring Time variable. By default intercom phones will ring for 5 seconds before the call is picked up automatically. Even if you configure 0 seconds Ring time, the phone will usually have an audible and visible signal that the call has been picked up automatically. In case of Polycom phones you can configure that using sipXconfig in the Advanced section of Sound Effects screen in phone configuration.
[edit] Applying configuration
Once the Intercom configuration is applied you need to activate Dialing Plan and generate profiles for all the affected phones. Use Quick links on the Intercom screen allow you to navigate to required pages. The easiest way to reprovision the intercom phones is selecting intercom group name from the filter on Manage Phones screens and using "select all" checkbox before pressing the Generate Profiles button.
[edit] Advanced
- Intercom is a phone feature and not a user feature. If user has accounts (lines) on more than one phones dialing intercom prefix and user's extension will fork the call to all those phones. However only the phones in intercom enabled group will attempt automatic pick-up and of course only one of those phones will ultimately establish connection.
- You can manually configure other phones types as Intercom phones if they support Alert-info header. Press Advanced Settings to display and optionally change the value of Alert-info parameter. sipXconfig will use that value when generating dial rule corresponding to configured Intercom prefix.
