DISA and Voice call (Auto Handsfree Answer) -- is it possible?

[kfife]

OBJECTIVE:
WE are trying to use DISA to enable an outside caller (from another office for example) to do 'voice call' [F]66 to a DN in this office. We're using a DISA DN on a PRI. It appears to be configured properly. For example we can do internal paging via DISA, and we can dial target lines (not local DN's as I expected), HOWEVER we can NOT dial any feature codes EXCEPT the paging feature code. AND YET, the MICS 7.1 manual explicitly states that 'feature codeS' (plural) can be entered once authenticated (successfully) by DISA/COS. Did they mean to say "You may dial feature CODE (singular)" ?

QUESTION 1:
Can anyone confirm or deny that our desired objective is in ANY way POSSIBLE?

QUESTION 2:
What are the feature CODES that DO work with DISA? Is there truly only one??


IDEAS:
We're NOT above "ugly" hacks.
Can anyone think of a way to HACK something together that would allow an external caller something like VOICE CALL? The only hack TOO ugly is using a fleet of Nortel Analog Terminal Adapters.

Could it be done via:

(1)
Are there other kinds of trunks that are more 'privileged' than PRI trunks? For example are there trunks which are intended for PRIVATE networks between phone systems in the same facility, AND THEREFORE would allow REAL system dial tone, REAL intercom access to local DN's (not their target lines) and some reasonable set of features codes?
(2)
Is there a way to create a special target line that could appear on a phone that would ALWAYS auto answer? I can’t think of one, but you’re smarter than I am.
(3)
Our Nortel door phone auto-answers in hands free mode when called. Is there a way to make a normal phone (i.e. M7310) "auto-answer in hands free mode" like a door phone?
(4) – ADVANCED -
We have the ability to intercept and manipulate the incoming ISDN signaling before it reaches the MICS. Is there special ISDN signaling (i.e. q.931 facilities messages for example) that we could use to instruct the Nortel MICS to Hands-free-auto-answer the next inbound call?

We need to solve this problem.

Thanks!
-Karl Fife

 

[MarvO1]

You have come to the right place. I hate to admit it, but I don't have a good answer for you. This forum has some very strong talent and if we toss it around a bit it just might be do-able. Your question might keep me awake tonight. Fun challenge.

MarvO said it

 

[RikRodgers]

I'll throw my 2 cents in-

First, there is no such thing is an ugly hack. Any time any of us comes up with a way to make a system perform beyond it's design, it just means we're more ingenious than the guys that designed the equipment, and it sounds like you have some pretty good ideas.

1) Out of curiosity, do you have MCDN codes installed on the system? You shouldn't need them for what you're trying to do, but good to know, anyway.

3) No.

For the other questions, I'll have to do some homework.

 

[kfife]

Thanks for your 2¢!

I agree with you 100%, particularly with respect to these systems. When I was learning I was constantly impressed with ideas from creative installer guys who could always seem to think of a workaround.

After some quick-and-dirty research into MCDN codes it appears that they are not installed. I will happily buy the license if it will help our situation.

>>>The Norstar MCDN Networking Code enables to MICS systems to be able to share voicemail and other networking features. This Code needs PRI and (2) T1 cartridges to work. Compatible with MICS 6.1 system.<<<

I suppose it needs 2 spans, one for Telco, the second for the private network? Am I understanding this right? While not exactly 'sharing' voicemail with another system, I'd be interested in a HYBRID voicemail solution, where I could integrate a foreign voicemail system if by querying VM status, manipulating MWI things like that. So if there's a voicemail 'interface' intended to be 'hooked' by outside systems it would be perfect. If it's an 'enabler' for two instances to talk using THEIR secret messaging protocol it may be harder/impossible/not worth it.

Please keep me posted if you get any ideas!
-Karl

 

[kfife]

Anybody have any ideas? What about something like a private or tandem netowrk links -
Would it be possible to do what we want over such links?
I hope this thread doesn't go dark.
-Karl