[Asterisk-Users] PBX Console

[Bluedemon]

I think we are all going about this the wrong way.  Web interfaces are too
clunky, vnc isn't all that and gastman isn't good in a business setting.
Lets face it, in most call centers the average operater is an idiot.   What
we have done to currently fix the situation is use the same interface that
gastman uses(manager.c) with an idiot proof interface and added
functionality to the manager interface.

The best way to do this would be to add much flexibility and scalability
into manager.c.  We are using an older version of the manager.c.  In this
version there was an array of structures that contained the action name,
security level and a function pointer that pointed to the correct function
based on the action given to it by the client.  Its a bit more complicated
that that but thats the gist of it.  This made it easy for us to add in our
own functions into manager.c and set up a regristration model so that when
your app is loaded you can register any functions with the manager.

With that said it not all that difficult to make your own client that
communicates with the manager.  We are just using a perl tcl/tk client that
will work on both unix and windows machines.  Once you set up the socked
connection its as simple as sending "\r\n" terminated commands to the
manager.  For example here is what you would send to get a response from a
built in ping command.
"Action: Ping\r\n" and you should get back something like "Pong\r\n" "\r\n"
from the server.

So it would be really nice to have a more scalable version of manager.c and
proper/easier documentation that would help programmers or perl/python
scripters :-) to communicate with the manager.  What would make it even
better would be a group based security schema, a flexible regristration
interface for apps/modules  and possibly a built in scripting language so
that manager.c doesn't have to be changed an recompiled for custom apps.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Critchfield" <critch at basesys.com>
To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2003 4:42 AM
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] PBX Console


> On Wed, 2003-04-23 at 21:40, Adam Goryachev wrote:
> > Actually, AFAIK, gastman already provides a sort of text based interface
> > from the List View tab.
> > Also, there is nothing wrong with the graphical display, as long as you
can
> > use keyboard 'shortcuts' or input to effect what you want. ie, press 315
to
> > mean extension 315 is currently selected, press T to transfer the
extension,
> > press 317 to transfer 315 to 317 and press H to hangup your own
extension.
> >
> > Then you might press 254 and a to answer the ringing extension 254.
> > etc... You can create your own keyboard mappings as desired, this could
be
> > easily incorporated with gastman.
>
> With an operator, you would have calls coming in to a single location.
> If it is VoIP you get a quick answer button. As has been pointed out
> before this needs to be keyboard oriented to make for a fast operator.
> Potentially something that can be done completely from the keypad. This
> would allow a dedicated computer with just a keypad and display could
> become the console unit.
>
> > The real features I would like to see in gastman is to be able to have a
> > *single* icon for each extension, at the moment, I have defined one icon
> > like this:
> > Ext: 602
> > Name: Adam
> > Channels: Zap/3
> >
> > But whenever I make a call or receive a call, a second icon is created,
and
> > a line is drawn between all three icons as if there was three parties
> > present.
>
> For what gastman is, this is the way it should be. Your icon is there to
> define your destination. When you pick up the phone, you then have a
> channel up. When you dial somewhere you have another channel up. Of
> course there is the other side where you have 2 internal calls like when
> I call my boss on the phone. This points out also why there needs to be
> the extra icons in the way gastman works since arranging of the big
> destination icons would become impossible to make the connections lines
> non ambigous.
>
> The proposed new console app would not care about connections between
> channels, just status of channels.
>
> --
> Steven Critchfield <critch at basesys.com>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
>