Can someone tell me what I'm missing in this equation?

[MalCarne]

I'm working on a new IVR system. The only telephony interface supported is a Quad T1 card.
Currently, I have 4 analog trunks coming off of my PBX, going to a channel bank and finally connecting to the IVR via T1. This is all fine and well for inbound traffic.
However, if I want to use any type of call transfer functionality (I know, who would want that in an IVR) the current setup will not work, presumably because it is the trunks providing tone. Clock on the T1 comes from channel bank.

Any suggestions as how to change this configuration so that I can hang the IVR off of an extension port and allow the T1 side to both receive and initiate calls?

 

[MalCarne]

To clarify, I guess what I need is to configure the channel bank to receive tone, rather than generate it.
I'm a bit at a loss as to how to do that.

 

[Lundah]

Unless your analog trunk ports on the PBX are DID trunks, I think you're hosed. Otherwise, I don't see how the IVR would be able to signal to the PBX where it is trying to initate a call to.

 

[aarenot]

what IVR, and what phone system?

What are your interface options for the IVR, and phone system? Other than what you mentioned.

 

[ISDNman]

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish. Are yu saying you want to do a PBX flash transfer? Probably no way to do that.

If you need to do transfer the best way to do this would be a "trombone" (AKA hairpin) transfer. In other words the IVR dials out on a second channel of the T1 and digitally bridges htem together.

It is unclear if you currently have the ability to dial out through the PBX using the IVR. If that is the problem let me know and I can post additional advice.

Good Luck

 

[MalCarne]

Thanks for the responses. Looking back through the docs on the channel bank, there really doesn't seem to be a way to make this happen the way that I'd like to.
I am trying to make a hookflash transfer to a local extension on the PBX from the IVR (Televantage and Websphere, respectively). There might be a little hope in the DID idea or possibly in tromboning. I'll give both a shot and see what happens.

Thanks again.

 

[ISDNman]

I don't see how DID will help you.

 

[SYQUEST]

Please provide more info on the hardware you are using, ie: channel bank, channel units, PBX station type, config, etc.

Your info is too vague.

....JIM....

 

[ISDNman]

Also clarify what you mean by receiving or sending tone. Are you talking about DTMF touchtones? These would be created by the IVR and passed through the channel bank.

What type of signaling are you using from the channel bank to the IVR? Loopstart has a number of problems, so ground start would be a better option.

 

[MalCarne]

The channel bank, a Premisys 240224, provides FXS supervision and dial tone. I'm pretty much stuck with that part.
Signalling from the channel bank to IVR is E&M Wink. The IVR just plays better that way.
The PBX is strictly analog trunks and stations and IVR is strictly T1.

The setup as it stands right now is

=======PBX Trunk Card
|
| analog trunks
|
===Channel bank FXS ports
===Channel bank T1 port
|
| T1 E&M Wink
|
======IVR T1 card

Does this help?

 

[Lundah]

Regardless of how you'd transfer the caller between the IVR and the PBX, the first thing you need to figure out is how to get the IVR to be able to dial a PBX extension over an analog trunk, which is where my DID comment came from. If the PBX trunk port you are connected to is not DID, how would the IVR be able to tell the PBX which extension it should ring? If you flipped the whole thing around and used analog LINE ports on the PBX into the IVR, this would be much easier to do.

 

[SYQUEST]

WHAT A MESS! It will never work with that config! DS1 channels coming from the IVR as E/M wink will never work with FXS channel units! The signalling is NOT compatable and the bits don't lineup. E/M is two-state signalling and FXO/FXS is three-state signalling. Next, there is NO hookflashing either! You can't hookflash into a PBX trunk port.

You still didn't say what the PBX is!

The PBX provides dialtone, not the Premisys.

For this to work you need to use the station side of the PBX to the channel bank with FXO channel units/config and setup the IVR channels as LOOPSTART, then you can hookflash and transfer to your heart's content...

....JIM....

 

[MalCarne]

The Premisys provides FXS supervision and tone, not the PBX. It also has no option for FXO.
I did mention that the IVR is Websphere, but that's not really either here nor there at this point. This is just another case of my boss buying crap off of eBay and saying "make this work", regardless of the fact that it's not suited for the purpose. Looks like I'm pretty much hosed in this situation and have to start from scratch. Thanks for the input.

 

[SYQUEST]

In lite of your response I downloaded the 240224 Reference Guide just to see what capabilities this unit has. Unfortunately, the only 2-wire channel unit connection is FXS due to design and the applications this product is aimed.

I would see if the seller will take it back, even though you bought it on eBay. Maybe they will "buy" your explanation.

In the future you need to be very careful about doing "due diligence" with stuff like this...

Good luck!

....JIM....

 

[aarenot]

Mal,
Just tell your boss that it wont work. I assume you did not spec the equipment needed, and you were not consulted. Therefore, you are not responsible for the fact that this puzzle is missing pieces, and has pieces which do not fit.

If you are tasked with designing a system which will accomplish a set group of features, connectivity, etc., then do so, otherwise, do not worry about it. If you are handed a microwave, a pickle, a soup spoon, a pack of cigarrettes, and a ball of twine, it is not your resoponsibility to make an airplane out of it.

Just do your job, and do not accept responsibility for the impossible. if he tries to make it a situation where you are hosed, or are being held responsible for the hosing, make sure you cover yourself with documentation of everything.

Tell him what you actually need, disregarding what you have, and wait for him to get you those things. Communicate it in a way that you can document, keep the docs, and cc: copy someone who cares.

 

[MalCarne]

Thanks all.
I'm not at all worried about taking any heat over this situation, just extremely frustrated at yet again having to take bootleg crap and try to make it into shiny bootleg crap.

Most of the time I love the guy, but the frustration level that comes from working for an ebay junkie who never really specs what he is looking for can be unbearable sometimes.

Thanks again.

 

[Lundah]

You must work for one of my old bosses... Don't tell you what they really want, and buy the cheapest crap out there and expect it to magically work... sounds pretty standard for this business