[Asterisk-Users] SIP Phones-Receptionist Setup

[Matt Riddell]

Gregory Junker wrote:
>> Most customers don't want to be in a new era. They want something they 
>> are
>> accustomed to. I don't need any more impediments to making money than 
>> I've
>> already got. So if the customer wants a busy lamp, I am going to do my
>> best to give it to them.
> 
> 
> I agree. This is why engineers do not make good salesmen.
> 
> What is the size of the current line panel on her desk? I am thinking it 
> might be worthwhile to produce an addon to Asterisk that drives a flat 
> touchpanel that does the same thing as the current solution. Baby steps. 
> If she can use the current mechanical switchboard then she can use this 
> with no real retraining...plus you get the additional benefit of 
> flexibility in configuration (if they end up needing more lines than the 
> current panel supports, this is just a software change).
> 
> Greg

Me and another guy are working on LCD drivers etc for Linux.  The thing 
is, the display would be run from your Asterisk Server. I.E. It will 
need to be run from either Parallel, Serial or USB port.  We will open 
source it once finished, and are not too far off, probably just a spare 
day would do it...the problem is finding a spare day.  I guess the other 
option would be to use one of the small PC's to run Asterisk and a panel 
on the receptionists desk.

Ideally someone would tell me how to make something either a) seamlessly 
convert serial/parallel/USB port to TCP and back at the other end, or b) 
point me to a resource on a simple chip with TCP support that will maybe 
print out 8-bit packets to an 8-bit pin out.

Ideas?

Also, someone did an interface for ShoutBox or something similar, if it 
was designed well, you may be able to just plug in a line status module. 
(you'd have to write it of course!).

-- 
Cheers,

Matt Riddell
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