Meet-me with a host code. Works for 6-party and EMMC.
Tested on version 5.1. Should work with any system that has VDN variables. (Basically 3.1 and up.)
Essentially, I'm making use of vdn variable V1 as the host code. Build a standard meet-me vdn, and add a host code in the field of V1.
Unlike other methods described, this one doesn't need to reset a variable. Once the conference ends, and everyone disconnects, callers can't restart the conference without a host dialing in as well.
I set the host code to be 4 digits, but it can be as many as 16.
As the host, you don't acquire any special "host" features. You can't "mute all participants" or anything similar. The host ID is only used to start the call. For call control of the conference, check out the conf-dsp, drop, and fe-mute station buttons. The host can disconnect without ending the conference.
Callers connect directly if the conference is already in progress (host has connected) but will wait hearing music until the host arrives. Within 5 seconds of the host's arrival, all waiting callers are connected.
If the host does not arrive callers will wait indefinitely. (Sorry, but you can't set variables in meet-me conference vectors, so you can't limit the time.)
You can use this vector as a common vector for all of your meet-me conference vdns. You don't need to have a different vector for each meet-me vdn.
Options:
You can leave off the passcode, (and the passcode checking steps 1-6 below) and just use the meet-me vdn, and the host code. I left it in so users can change the passcode if they need to. (To keep any particular conference call private.)
You can increase the "collect digits" in lines 2,4, 27, and 29 to 10 instead of 6 and 4. Then record the associated announcements to say "...followed by the pound sign." Most people will expect to enter a # at the end of the passcode and host code anyway. This will keep system hackers from knowing the length of the codes you use, and will probably be a more familiar way of entering digits by users.
If you don't want to use a common access line, route all vdns to the main conference bridge vector. Record the announcement described as 4640 below to have a system greeting. (i.e. You have reached the conference bridge, please enter your conference passcode.) You'll need to use DID numbers as meet-me vdns.
Conference bridge control vector CALL VECTOR
Number: 1000 Name: Conf Bridge Multimedia? n Attendant Vectoring? n Meet-me Conf? y Lock? y Basic? y EAS? y G3V4 Enhanced? y ANI/II-Digits? y ASAI Routing? y Prompting? y LAI? y G3V4 Adv Route? y CINFO? y BSR? y Holidays? y Variables? y 3.0 Enhanced? y 01 # Collect conf passcode from all callers 02 collect 6 digits after announcement 4640 03 goto step 8 if digits = meet-me-access 04 collect 6 digits after announcement 4641 05 goto step 8 if digits = meet-me-access 06 disconnect after announcement 4642 07 # Check to see if meet me is idle, and join if not 08 goto step 14 if meet-me-idle 09 announcement 4645 10 route-to meetme 11 disconnect after announcement 4646 12 stop 13 # Check to see if the caller is the host 14 collect 1 digits after announcement 4648 15 goto step 27 if digits = 1 16 # Wait here if you're not the host and the host hasn't arrived 17 # Waiting callers will connect within 5 secs of the host arrival 18 goto step 23 if meet-me-idle 19 announcement 4652 20 route-to meetme 21 disconnect after announcement 4646 22 stop 23 wait-time 5 secs hearing music 24 goto step 18 if unconditionally 25 stop 26 # Collect and verify host code 27 collect 4 digits after announcement 4649 28 goto step 19 if digits = V1 29 collect 4 digits after announcement 4650 30 goto step 19 if digits = V1 31 disconnect after announcement 4651 32 stop
Announcements:
4640 Please enter your conference passcode. 4641 Your passcode was not valid. Please re-enter your conference passcode. 4642 Your passcode was not valid. Please contact your conference host. 4645 Your conference is already in progress. To mute or unmute your line press star six at any time. 4646 Your call cannot be connected at this time. Please try your call again later. 4648 Your host has not yet arrived. Please standby. If you are the conference host, please press one. 4649 Please enter your conference host code. 4650 The host code you entered was not valid. Please re-enter your host code. 4651 The host code you entered was not valid. Please contact your administrator. 4652 Your conference will now begin. To mute or unmute your line press star six at any time.
*NOTE* The instructions above to mute and unmute your line only apply to an EMMC bridge. If you don't have one, leave that off the announcement.
Common access line vector CALL VECTOR
Number: 1001 Name: Conf Bridge Multimedia? n Attendant Vectoring? n Meet-me Conf? n Lock? n Basic? y EAS? y G3V4 Enhanced? y ANI/II-Digits? y ASAI Routing? y Prompting? y LAI? y G3V4 Adv Route? y CINFO? y BSR? y Holidays? y Variables? y 3.0 Enhanced? y 01 collect 4 digits after announcement 4647 for none 02 route-to digits with coverage y 03 stop 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
Announcement:
4647 You have reached the conference bridge. Please enter your conference number.
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