Chapter 1 Planning for Personal Assistant

Understanding Personal Assistant

Cisco IP Telephony Terminology

Personal Assistant and other components of the IP telephony network, such as Cisco CallManager, use terminology and concepts that might not be familiar to you. The following sections explain these concepts and how Personal Assistant uses them:

Personal Assistant Interceptor Ports, page 1-3

CTI Route Points and Media Ports, page 1-3

Partitions and Calling Search Spaces, page 1-4

Cisco CallManager Clusters, page 1-4

How Personal Assistant Uses Directories, page 1-5

Personal Assistant Interceptor Ports

The Personal Assistant interceptor ports identify the phone extensions that Personal Assistant will intercept from Cisco CallManager. You configure these ports in Cisco CallManager as CTI route points and identify them in the Personal Assistant server configuration. The route points configuration allows Personal Assistant to intercept the calls.

You can use wildcards when creating the route points so that one route point covers many extensions. For example, the route point 1XXX covers all extensions from 1000 to 1999.

When you configure the interceptor ports, you should also set up the call forwarding configuration for interceptor port error handling to allow calls to go through to the extension if the Personal Assistant server is unavailable. The way you configure interceptor port error handling will differ depending on the version of Cisco CallManager that the system uses (see the “Why You Need Interceptor Port Error Handling” section on page 1-23for additional information on interceptor port error handling).

CTI Route Points and Media Ports

When you assign a phone number to a Personal Assistant server, you must define the extension as a Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) route point in Cisco CallManager (see the “Setting Up the Personal Assistant Number” section on page 3-8). The number you assign as the CTI route point is the phone number your users use to access Personal Assistant.

A CTI route point is a virtual device that lets the Personal Assistant server receive multiple calls simultaneously.

When a user calls the Personal Assistant server phone number that is defined as a CTI route point, Personal Assistant assigns the call to an available media port on the server. In Cisco CallManager, you add one media port for each simultaneous Personal Assistant session you require (see the “Adding Media Ports for Personal Assistant” section on page 3-10). For example, if you need 24 simultaneous sessions, add 24 ports. Then, in the Personal Assistant server configuration, you enter 24 as the number of media ports (see the “Server Configuration” section on page A-16).

If all media ports on a Personal Assistant server are in use, subsequent callers receive a busy signal unless you have set up load balancing (see the “Setting Up Personal Assistant Server Load Balancing” section on page 1-13).

Note If you use Personal Assistant to create an automated attendant, you also create a route point for the attendant phone number. The attendant uses media ports in the same manner as Personal Assistant.

Cisco Personal Assistant 1.4 Installation and Administration Guide

 

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Cisco Systems 1.4 manual Cisco IP Telephony Terminology, Personal Assistant Interceptor Ports

1.4 specifications

Cisco Systems 1.4 represents a notable advancement in the company's portfolio of networking solutions, emphasizing enhanced performance, security, and scalability. This version is designed to cater to the changing landscape of networking demands, particularly in hybrid and cloud environments.

One of the standout features of Cisco Systems 1.4 is its enhanced security protocols. With cyber threats on the rise, Cisco has integrated advanced security measures, including end-to-end encryption and improved threat detection measures. These features help organizations safeguard their data against breaches and unauthorized access, a critical concern in today’s digital age.

Another significant characteristic of Cisco Systems 1.4 is its support for advanced network automation. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), this version automates routine networking tasks, such as configuring and monitoring network devices. This not only streamlines operations but also reduces human error, thereby enhancing overall network reliability and efficiency.

The addition of new collaboration tools is another highlight. Cisco's commitment to facilitating seamless communications is evident, with improved features that enable better integration of voice, video, and messaging services. The unified communications experience allows businesses to foster teamwork, regardless of location.

Moreover, Cisco Systems 1.4 supports the latest networking technologies, including Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). These technologies enable greater flexibility in network management, allowing organizations to adapt quickly to changing requirements and optimize their resources effectively.

Scalability is a key feature in Cisco Systems 1.4, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. The architecture allows for easy expansion and integration with existing systems, ensuring a smooth transition as organizations grow.

In addition to these technological advancements, Cisco Systems 1.4 boasts a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for IT professionals and enhancing productivity. The intuitive controls and dashboards facilitate quick troubleshooting and management.

In summary, Cisco Systems 1.4 stands out with its robust security features, advanced automation capabilities, seamless collaboration tools, support for modern networking technologies, and superior scalability. Collectively, these characteristics position this version as a formidable solution for modern networking challenges, fostering innovation and efficiency in various industries.