Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Wed, 01 May 1991 22:27:41 GMT From: Vance Shipley Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: 'Dumb PBX' Wanted Message-ID: Organization: SwitchView Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 327, Message 6 of 6 Lines: 34 In article Lou Kates writes: > Does "open" mean that you can use the usual switchhook flash and DTMF > tones to command the PBX from extensions or does it mean there are > proprietary protocols which you have access to in some manner? What is meant by "open architecture" is the ability to allow computers to become involved in the processing of calls. This is accomplished over an interface between the computer and the PBX that has been given the generic term "Request and Status Link" (RSL). The computer sends requests to the PBX such as "connect phone A to trunk B" and the PBX sends status messages such as "trunk C is ringing set B". In some cases the PBX may make requests of the computer such as "which phone can take a call now?". > Does anyone have a list of "open architecture" PBX's? For other PBX's > are there vendor specific methods that would still let anyone control > them from a computer? Some of the vendors I am aware of are: Northern Telecom AT&T Rolm NEC There will be an ANSI Draft standard soon under the term SCAI (Switch Computer Apllication Interface). Vance Shipley vances@ltg ..uunet!watmath!xenitec!ltg!vances