[asterisk-dev] Channel support for GSM devices

[Odicha]

Hello

Firstly apologies for my English  
I have a project idea. The aim is to provide a single asterisk channel 
services to all GSM hardware that can connect to the system
 
Needs to be met.
1) It will provide voice capabilities
2) It will bring instant messaging services
3) It will provide a layer signaling over states of the GSM network and 
the hardware itself
 
Hardware capable of being used.
 
Any device with GSM capabilities. We can distinguish 3 main groups:
1) GSM Modems. Usually USB or PCMCIA PCEXPRESS.
2) MultiModem Devices (eg. Junghanns Openvox quadGSM or OpenVox G400P)
3) External FXS Gateways (Nokia Premicell type, Xacom Celline, etc) with 
a serial or usb port usually we can use for receive and send sms
** Supported buetooth devices be left out but are covered by another 
module that has a different philosophy to that proposed here, they could 
be ported without much complexity in the future
 
If we look we see first of all we have to divide, first between devices 
with voice and data devices that operate alone, and secondly, between 
devices that must be added hardware management (as multiport cards) and 
those with maintain contact with only AT (like any traditional modem)
 
My proposal goes through using a model similar to chan_dahdi with a 
common interface towards Asterisk and connect with specific modules for 
each class of hardware device, simplifying management tasks. For 
example, to send an sms through any supported device to follow the 
protocol to asterisk would face exactly the same.
 
On the operating philosophy, we might speak of a largely redundant with 
the structure of chan_dahdi (or adding some code to it). In principle we 
would have from the point of view of a pool of channels Asterisk so 
discretionary associate in groups, with the exception of alarm signaling 
that was to be rethought from the standpoint of GSM. Two situations that 
come to mind are a priori "out of coverage area" and "at-roaming" 
network level, and all those inherent in CUSD in the case of prepaid SIM 
cards. It is a place where you will carefully apply the standards of the 
3GPP consortium or trying to deviate as little as possible of the 
standard protocol, to reconcile the most of the code that is created 
with any possible future platform hardware level.
 
Let's say a level of communications with the hardware itself, we have 
two different layers.
First, distinguishing the type of device connected to it we will enable 
your communications ports. Just keep in mind that unless someone stated 
otherwise, all the hardware I've seen for communications based on GSM AT 
commands, as it has been doing for many years with any modem.
Thus we have two layers themselves. The less that is responsible for 
maintaining the connection to the modem at a lower step (eg usbserial is 
said in the case of GSM modems USB port or multiport controllers OpenVox 
O Junghanns to which serial ports enable you to communicate with modems)
On this we have the AT communication layer with which all maintain 
operational communications.
A voice support level, then discuss each case is different but which 
generally receive two-way channel digital audio with a standard format 
that will flow between the hardware and Asterisk.
 
So after this brief explanation, It could be something like this (code):
 
1) A library standardized by the 3GPP communication (much as like 
libpri) (AT translation mainly...)
2) A channel for device management at asterisk, with its functions, 
applications, monitoring, etc.. or some additional layers to chan_dahdi
3) Modules for each of the hardware devices that support them (with 
corresponding additions to the library gsm to cover non-standard 
implementations of manufacturers, because the standard is not always used)

I have some gsm hardware for develop and test, so I can work on it. 
(Siemens tc35i & mc35i, Huawei voice modems, OpenVox multiports 3g 
cards, Telecom & Nokia Premicells..)  
Any ideas will be welcome

Best Regards,

Odicha