[Asterisk-Users] SIP phone as intercom

Wed Dec 31 14:03:14 MST 2003

Sure, here's my extension for paging on the intercom:

[ext-intercom-one];
exten => _87XXX,1,SetVar(ALERT_INFO="Ring Answer")
exten => _87XXX,2,Dial(SIP/${EXTEN:1},20,r)
exten => _87XXX,103,Congestion
exten => _87XXX,104,Congestion
exten => t,1,Hangup

Internally, I use a four digit extension here, starting with 7.  When I
preface it with 8, it calls this extension, which sets the ALERT_INFO
variable and makes the phone work its auto-answer magic.  If I dial my
partner with 7002, for example, it'll ring normally, go to voicemail,
etc.  If I dial him with 87002, it beeps his office and his phone
automatically answers.

There's probably a better way to do this, but I've only had these phones
for a couple of weeks.

In answer to your other question about the bootrom, I think you need at
least the 2.4.0 bootrom to run the latest SIP software with these
features.  I'm running 2.4.1.  The SIP software version you must have to
do this is 1.1.0.  

If you go to polycom's website and download the manual for these phones
and the 1.1.0 release notes, you can find out how to do all sorts of
tricks by manipulating the cfg files.  (Sadly, you can only get the
manuals from Polycom.  You have to get the bootrom and software from
your vendor)

John Baker

On Wed, 2003-12-31 at 08:24, mattf wrote:
> I've added it as a separate page:
> http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Polycom+auto-answer+config linked from the
> Polycom phones page.
> 
> Could you possibly send me a quick line or two(example code) on setting the
> ALERT_INFO variable in Asterisk?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> MATT---
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mattf [mailto:mattf at vicimarketing.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 7:57 AM
> To: 'asterisk-users at lists.digium.com'
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] SIP phone as intercom
> 
> 
> Cool, haven't looked that in depth into the new firmware(is that the 2.4.1
> firmware?) I'll have to try that.
> I'll post your instructions on the Wiki page later today.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> MATT---
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Baker [mailto:johnb at listbrokers.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 3:07 AM
> To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] SIP phone as intercom
> 
> 
> Hello, all
> 
> Sorry to correct you on this Matt, but I am currently doing this with
> the Polycom 600 phones.  You need the latest version of both the SIP
> software and bootrom to do it, (and that stuff ain't easy to get) but it
> is workable.
> 
> The latest version of software provides for distinctive ring tones just
> like the Cisco 7960's have.  It also provides for auto answer.  It's
> kind of tricky to do, but you can make your phones auto answer by
> setting the Alert-Info variable in asterisk and messing with the xml
> configuration files, sip.cfg and ipmid.cfg.
> 
> In the sip.cfg file, look for the line with these variables:
> 
> <alertInfo voIpProt.SIP.alertinfo.1.value="Sales"
> voIpProt.SIP.alertInfo.1.class="8"...>
> 
> In this real-world example, whenever I set ALERT_INFO to "Sales" in
> Asterisk, the Polycom matches on that word and calls up class 8 in
> ipmid.cfg.
> 
> In ipmid.cfg, my class 8 line looks like this:
> 
> <SALES se.rt.8.name="Sales" se.rt.8.type="ring" se.rt.8.ringer="11"
> se.rt.8.callWait="6" se.rt.8.mod="0">
> 
> se.rt.8.type="ring" tells the Polycom phone which type of ring to use -
> which in this case is a regular ring and se.rt.8.ringer="11" tells the
> phone to ring with ringtone 11 with is the Triplet.
> 
> I use this one for signaling a new incoming sales call to one of my
> three sales guys.  The secretary transfers it to the sales department
> and their lines ring with the Triplet.  I feel like Pavlov whenever I
> hear it.
> 
> The other ring types are visual, answer and ring-answer.  The one you
> want is ring-answer.
> 
> Here's how I do it:  Again in sip.cfg (actually part of the same line
> listed above)
> 
> ...voIpProt.SIP.alertinfo.2.value="Ring Answer"
> voIpProt.SIP.alertInfo.2.class="4"...>
> 
> and in ipmid.cfg (I just modified one of the existing ones to give me a
> High Double Trill ringtone)
> 
> <RING_ANSWER se.rt.4.name="Ring Answer" se.rt.4.type="ring-answer"
> se.rt.4.timeout="1000"... se.rt.4.ringer="7"...>
> 
> The se.rt.4.timeout="1000" tells the Polycom to ring for 1000
> milliseconds (one second) and then answer.
> 
> I call it in Asterisk by setting the ALERT_INFO variable to "Ring
> Answer" whenever anybody pushes 8 plus the extension.  It rings in to
> the extension and voila, I'm on speaker!
> 
> By the way, for all you BOFH out there, you could actually use this
> feature as a somewhat surreptitious eavesdropping device by using a
> silent ring and a visual type.  The phone would answer without any
> indication except on the console.  I haven't tried this myself and if
> you do this, I don't want to know about it...unless I'm in your office
> at the time.
> 
> Good Luck!  I was going to put this in the Wiki myself, but maybe
> somebody will give me a late Christmas present.
> 
> --John Baker
> 
> On Tue, 2003-12-30 at 19:08, mattf wrote:
> > Hello,
> > 
> > It's all dependant upon the firmware of the phone(nothing to do with the
> PBX
> > or SIP currently). The documentation of the Polycom VOIP phones shows no
> way
> > of doing this currently but it is really just a matter of Polycom adding
> > this feature to their firmware in the future which we are pushing for.
> > People have gotten this to work with Cisco and Snom phones.
> > 
> > MATT---
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Sean Adams [mailto:sadams at slimdevices.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 6:21 PM
> > To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> > Subject: [Asterisk-Users] SIP phone as intercom
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > (new asterisk user - currently setting up Polycom IP600 phones)
> > 
> > Does anyone know if it's possible to make a sip phone instantly pick up 
> > on speakerphone when a particular call comes in? Eg so that you can 
> > quickly bother someone across the office without making them reach for 
> > their phone?
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > 
> 
> 
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