[Asterisk-Users] generate dial tone

[Michael George]

On May 27, 2004, at 11:01 PM, Aaron J. Angel wrote:
> Michael George wrote:
>> But, this isn't a big deal, we can live without it.  I just
>> thought there might be a way.  If I could do a
>> Backtround(Playtone()), that would do what I want...
>
> There's no need for that.  The playtone application continues to the 
> next
> priority as it plays the tone, and keeps playing the tone until you 
> call
> stoptone[s?].  Playtone(dial) should be what you're looking for then, 
> and at
> the extension t (if you want a timeout), just call stoptone (or 
> stoptones, I
> don't remember).  Check out www.voip-info.org.

Yes, I see what you are saying.  And I tried this.  Here's what happens:
I get the 9 and start PlayTones().
I go to the next context (with the tones playing).

In the next context (tones still playing) my matches are all several 
digits long, so the tone is playing as the digits are pressed.  That is 
disorienting because that usually happens on a broken line.

However, if you notice how Background() works, it will play the sound 
file and still accept input.  Once it gets the first input key it will 
stop playing and begin its matching.

That is exactly the behavior I want.

Now, I thought I could do playtones() and then match the just first 
input number (0, 1, or N).  On 0, 1 or N (in separate extensions, of 
course), I would stopplaytones() and then goto() the next context 
(international, long distance, local -- respectively).

The int and ld contexts are straightforward, but the new local context 
needs to know which extension was dialed (the 'N') to complete the 
calling.  I tried that yesterday and got frustrated at the resulting 
complexity of trying to do such a simple and inconsequential thing.  I 
figured that the cost outweighed the benefit and I need to get this 
prototype going so that we can move into full launch.

This dialtone issue needs to become a tier 2 or tier 3 feature.

-Michael