Coral SMDI Converter What is it?

[broswell]

I'm trying to connect my Coral III phone system running 10.20 programmer interface to a new voice mail system. I believe the Coral is sending proprietary signaling over the RS-232 port instead of using SMDI signalling. I have seen references to a Coral SMDI converter, but my telephone provider can't find any details. Does anyone have any tips?

 

[disturbedone]

This is done via an APA/APDL port. There are a few ways to get this. An APA also includes a PEX (used to connected the 40B DSS module) in it.

1) On the old DKT model phones the APA was available built in to some phones eg DKT-2320 (I think). I also think you could purchase an APA separately and install it but only onto certain model phones.
2) On the newer FlexSet phones the APA was a module that you could purchased an add to the FlexSet 280S (the PEX could go on the 280D/280S).
3) I believe a standalone APA module in either range is available in both the DKT and FlexSe ranges although I've never seen one and haven't installed on. This is essentially a phone with an APA but without the phone part ie no keypad, no screen etc. You plug it into a phone port and program the APA side of things exactly the same.

In short, it's probably just easiest to get a phone with an APA installed. The APA has a serial port that you take into your voicemail system (plus you get a phone in the comms room to use too). The DKT APA was a 25pin D connector and the FlexSet APA is an RJ45.

Then there's the programming to enable data to be sent out the APA. Plus you need to know that the voicemail system will know what to do with the data.

 

[broswell]

I have the hardware. (An APDL and phones with the RS-232 port. My question is how do I get the output in SMDI format? Is it a software converter, or a feature on the phone that I can't figure out how to access.

 

[disturbedone]

What voicemail sstem do you have? Do they definitely support integration with the Coral?

For Tadiran voicemail cards ie iCMC, uCMC, WiCMC which have the APDL port in-built there are specific settings to enable the integration to work. These same settings should get it to work with an external voicemail but the voicemail will need to know what the Coral is saying for it to work.

Do you have a programming manual?

Check in DBUS and make sure the APA is seen by the Coral. It should appear on the 7th part(?) of the port. There are several settings in KEY to make it send the information out the APA/APDL but I can't remember the exact settings - ATT is one and I think PC-ACD is the other. I'll need to check the manual later.

But can you advise of the model of the voicemail and also confirm that it definitely supports integration with the Coral. If it hasn't had a driver written then it won't understand anything the Coral sends.

 

[broswell]

I am trying to use an Asterisk Voice Mail. The Voice Mail does not understand what the Coral sends since it appears to be propriatery. Asterisk will integrate with any PBX that supports the SMDI interface. I have seen numerous references to the CSC or Coral SMDI converter which apparently translates from the Coral specific codes to SMDI.

 

[disturbedone]

Just done some Googling and found that this is Asterisk IP PBX software you're talking about. I wasn't sure if it was or not. I personally can't see how it would integrate but if it says it can then go for it.

Some more Googling lead me to this site (

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/unity/5x/integration/voice_card/guide/ecsecu5x.html)

which speaks of this CSC. I personally have never heard of it and never used it. In 10yrs of working on Corals I've never put a voicemail on using an external APDL - I've always used Tadiran iCMC, uCMC, WiCMC, Simplicity etc voicemails or external voicemails just using DTMF signalling on SLS ports.

So unfortunately I can't help any further. What country you in? I can point you to companies who can help in most. Or contact a Tadiran reseller/distributor to find out more info. I know people in Tadiran so I'll ask them and see if I can find out more info for you.

 

[disturbedone]

Ok, an extract from a document about the CSC from Tadiran dated Dec 97.

"Tadiran has developed a PC - based OS/2 program to convert the APA protocol coming out of the RS-232 port of an APDL to Bellcore SMDI messages. The product is called the Coral to SMDI Converter (CSC). SMDI is an acronym for Simplified Message Desk Interface. SMDI is a Bellcore defined protocol for a digital link between a switch and an external applications processor, such as a voice mail. The protocol was defined in 1985 and is used throughout the telecommunications industry. This protocol allows a telephone switch (CO, PBX, etc.) to communicate call activity to the attached processor in a standard format. The CSC is based on the latest Bellcore specifications for SMDI (TR-NWT-000283, Issue 2, May 1991)."

With this being an extremely old protocol and the requirement for it running on an OS/2 platform I'd suggest flagging the whole idea. Go with SIP integration from the Coral to Asterisk. You've got problems either way - try and obtain an OS/2 PC and the CSC software to try and convert it, I doubt you'll be able to get hold of this anyway; or enable SIP on the Coral - but that means upgrading from the current v10.20 to v15.8x which means replacing the MEX with an MCP-IP2 processor, more than likely moving the database from floppy to flash using ASCII, and buying SIP licences.

Depending on the requirements of the customer you could look at migrating from the Coral 3 (FlexiCom 5000/6000) to the Coral Sea Softswitch. You can use all the existing Coral hardware, the Coral 3 becomes a gateway, the Sea has inbuilt SIP voicemail. But again it's going to cost.

Those are the options. If you decide to try and obtain the CSC then you'll need to speak with a Tadiran reseller in your country and see if it's possible.

I just thought of another option which is much cheaper - buy a Tadiran uCMC voicemail card and be done with it. That's by far the cheapest and quickest option.