[Asterisk-Dev] Asterisk Embedded?

[Daniel Pocock]

>
>While thinking about it, it seems to me that it might be a step
>backward. Asterisk as is, unifies all the different codecs, protocols,
>hardware, etc. and so isolating it as a library, etc. could conceivably
>be backward momentum. Which is why I am suggesting an "embedded"
>application, or at least a significantly stripped down model.
>
>  
>

I didn't mean to propose converting Asterisk to a library - Asterisk 
would continue to be an application, but some of the functionality (eg 
codecs and channels) would be separated into libraries in a format 
suitable for any multimedia/speech based application.

To be more precise, consider the case of G.729 licensing.  It would 
potentially be more convenient for an end user to have a standard G.729 
codec that can be invoked from any application.  Rather than paying a 
separate royalty each time they install a G.729 based application, they 
would pay the royalty once when they chose to install the library.  They 
could then use the codec from any application (provided only one 
application was actively using the codec at a given moment in time).

The Asterisk logic - extension processing, applications, etc - would 
still be core features of the Asterisk application.  I imagine many of 
these features are not needed in the majority of soft phones  (unless 
you are planning a PBX on an ipaq, which is quite feasible these days).

>Although the Asterisk Internals are setup to do this easily, it seems
>like a branch, sister project, or whatever, is necessary.
>
>-Ken Shaw...
>
>
>On Thu, 2004-09-23 at 10:20, Daniel Pocock wrote:
>  
>
>>I've been thinking it would be better to move some of the functionality, 
>>particularly the codecs, into the kernel, or possibly a generic codec 
>>API that would be portable across the whole UNIX platform, similar to 
>>non-kernel APIs such as PAM.
>>
>>The rational behind this is that many applications (eg GnomeMeeting, 
>>Asterisk, KPhone) would potentially share the same codec implementations. 
>>
>>In your case, you might find that the whole of Asterisk might be 
>>overkill on a handheld device, whereas all you really want is some of 
>>these essential multimedia functions that could be invoked from your 
>>(potentially bespoke) application.
>>
>>
>>Kenneth Shaw wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>I am toying with the idea of creating an "embedded" form of Asterisk for
>>>two purposes:
>>>
>>>1) Deployment on Handhelds and Wireless devices
>>>2) Deployment on Kiosk terminals
>>>
>>>For Handhelds & portable devices -- the idea would be to deploy next
>>>generation systems that have WiFi/Cellular capabilities as well as
>>>Video, etc.
>>>
>>>For Kiosk terminals -- either in deployment for sales terminals, or next
>>>generation phone booths, etc.
>>>
>>>Why Asterisk? 
>>>1) Supports most major Codecs
>>>2) Supports most signaling protocols
>>>3) Streamlined patches to accommodate bugs/quirks/etc. in other
>>>implementations
>>>4) Nothing like this currently exists
>>>(but you knew this already, didn't you?)
>>>
>>>Other reasons:
>>>1) Cross platform VoIP softphone
>>>2) Greater compatibility in telephony applications
>>>3) Embedded Hardphones running Asterisk on all types of interesting
>>>hardware (can you say WiFi enabled video cellphone?)
>>>
>>>Any angry comments, suggestions, reference to a project already like
>>>this in the works, or just plain advice, are all greatly appreciated.
>>>-Ken Shaw...
>>>
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>>>      
>>>
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