Robo call integration using .net

Posted on October 6, 2008 | By Voicent News

I am seeking an API to integrate with our application built in .Net. The API provides features to convert text message to voice and to be able to dial the phone number. The recipient of the call or the voice mail can respond to the calling software and interactively accepts or reject the content of the offer either via voice or by pressing a key for yes and another key for no.

Yes, you should be able to do that with Voicent Software. Any you can do so at two different levels.

Integrate with Voicent Applications Using Command Line Interface

You can use Voicent Broadcast By Phone AutoDialer, or Voicent AutoReminder for your interactive phone application, and use .net to start the application using the command line interface. Your .net application can simply invoke the command line, the rest can be done easily using the Voicent Application.

For more details of the command line interface, please select Help > Help Topics from the program main menu, then take a look at topics related to program integration.

Integration with Voicent Gateway

The phone interactive application should be developped in VoiceXML, which is a W3C standard. With VoiceXML, you can easily control the call interaction, such as receiving a Yes/No answer or key press. The text-to-speech is automatically converted to voice by the VoiceXML gateway (Voicent Gateway). This VoiceXML application (vxml files) does not have to be static, they can be dynamically created using your .net or other programming languages.

If you do not want to programming in the VoiceXML level, you can choose to use Voicent IVR Studio to design your interactive applications. Voicent IVR Studio is a high level GUI tool for creating interactive phone applications. You do not need to know VoiceXML to create such application.

Once the application is created, you can simply submit your call request to Voicent Gateway using .net.

For tutorials, samples, and more details of Voicent Gateway integration, please see the Developer under Voicent website.

Posted in Developer |

Appointment Reminder Web Interface

Posted on October 3, 2008 | By Voicent News

I am testing out your Appointment Reminder software and the web interface. I have a couple questions:

Issue #1. Frequency of Calls

I see that under the Appointment Reminder “Customize Appointment” lets you specify a max call retry. How often does Voicent AutoReminder call back if it does not get an answer the first time? I’m assuming that after the designated max call attempts it “gives up?”. Will it always leave a message if it gets an answering machine or does it retry until it gets a human voice? Is there a way to prevent it from calling very late at night or early in the morning?

When the call is answered, either by a human or answering machine, the call is considered completed. No retry will be made.

If the line is busy, no answer, or the call does not go out (line occupied), the call is considered incomplete and will be retried after 15 minutes. For Auto Reminder calls, the default is keep trying till the appointment start time. If you set the max retry, it will stop retry if the max retry is tried and the call will be marked “failed”.

Issue #2 – Leave a message option

When answering the phone – choosing option 4 – “leave a message” – records a .wav file. Is there a way to access/download this wav file through the web command interface? If not, is there a way to remove option #4 so it is no longer an option when a person answers the phone.

It is possible to get the audio file through HTTP, AutoReminder client is using that method to play the wave file on remote client. But that will be a lot more work on your end, you basically have to re-produce the work of AutoReminder Client.

To disable the option, you can use the Message Designer to create a message template any way you want. Then specify that message template (message ID) when creating your appointment.

Issue #3 – Confusion about parameters. When checking the status of the appointment through the web interface the parameters returned are: “STATUS=status CONFIRM=confirm INFO=infostring”

According to the documentation: “The possible values for call status are: pending, retry, made, failed, mixed.”

What does “mixed” mean?

“The possible values for call confirmation are: Confirmed, Confirmed (No), Maybe, Cancel, Reschedule, Message, and [Customized String].”

However, when answering the phone the user only has three choices: “press 1 to confirm, press 2 to cancel, press 3 to leave a message, or press 4 to replay the message”

So what does “Confirmed (No)”, “maybe”, and “reschedule” mean?

I can’t find the documentation about what the “INFO” parameters are – could you let me know what values are possible here?

You will not get “mixed” status if your appointment has only one phone number. You could have a group calling appointment that multiple calls are made to different people. And if the call status are not the same, the return status for group calling is “mixed”.

“Confirmed (No)” is when the person called does press a key to comfirm. But instead of a “yes” answer (confirmed), it is a “no” answer (confirmed No). You will see the full range of options when you use the Message Designer. The system provided message does not use all of the confirmation options.

INFO values are not necessary fixed. It will change from release to release. Do not try to parse the result and write your program based on that. They are for information display only.

Posted in Appointment Reminder, Developer |

License key and network card MAC address

Posted on September 26, 2008 | By Voicent News

If I find the computer too old, can I move the software to another computer?

Yes, but please make sure you have your license key tied to a moveable network adapter, such as a USB network card. For more information about Voicent license scheme, please see License FAQ, and KB article Move software to another machine

I spoke with a tech guy at a computer store and we are unsure what I am buying. He suggested that a “network card” is typically something that is hard wired into a slot on a desktop and isnt usually USB. I just want to be sure I get the right product. In the desk top I intend to use there is a Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter 2.4GHz. Is this what’s needed?

They can be both PCI based or USB based. Some have wireless features and other don’t. For Voicent, as long as it is a network adapter, it should have a physical unique address (MAC address). This address is used to identify the computer.

You can use the Linksys adapter. It has a wireless feature and it is a card you plug into the PCI slot. However, this is usually hard to move than a USB based card. A lot of new computers, especially the slim version, do not offer PCI slot any more.

I guess what I am unsure about is how the Network Adaptor is used with the Voicent program. So… I plug this USB Network Adaptor into the port… Then what? Just install the program on the computer? Does something from the Adaptor (unique ID #) get read by the Voicent program allowing it to operate on the computer that has this plugged into it? Is it that simple?

Then, if I upgrade to a newer computer in the future, I just unplug the USB Network adaptor from the old machine, plug it into a new machine, install the Voicent program with the License Key and I’m operating on the new computer?

When Voicent program starts, it first checks the license key, which has the information about the network card. If the program finds the network card present in the computer, it verifies the software license. So, actually, you do not even need to connect the USB network adapter to the internet. As long as it is recognized by Windows OS, the license key should be valid.

When you move the software to another computer, just make sure you have the network adapter plugged in to the new machine. The software will prompt you to request a new license key. Our server will automatically re-issue you a new license key for the new machine.

but… the existing network card that is hardwired on the back of the computer, (Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter) do I remove it to be sure the new USB adapter one is identified by Voicent?

No, you can have multiple network adapters on the same computer. As long as the USB adapter is recognized by Windows, Voicent software will recognize it.

One further thing… just making sure… how do you insure the software registers to the right network card? If I leave the old one in the port and get a USB one, is there a way or prompt to direct Voicent to register with the USB Network Adaptor?

Yes, when you request your license key, if there are multiple network adapters there, it will ask you to pick a network card to register for your license key.

Posted in Installation |