Check if a call is listened to through API

we are writing a C# program using you voicent class. I am using your CallStatus function to get call information. The program obtains a phone # (one at a time) from a call to our DB and then calls it and plays the text using “text to speech”.

string urlstr = “/ocall/callstatusHandler.jsp”;
string poststr = “reqid=” + reqID;
// Send Call Request
String rcstr = PostToGateway(urlstr, poststr);

I would like to know (when the call is completed) if the call went to voice mail or was picked up by a person. I would also like to know if the complete call was listened to or if they hung up. Can those types of values come back through the CallStatus function? If so, what would i be looking for in the returned string to indicate a person picked up or went to a recording. If that function does not do that; do you have exampls of what i can program in C#; what other of your functions I can call to get me that inforamtion

You can tell from the returning information string if the call is answered by an answering machine or voice mail system. Just look for “answering machine” in the returning status. You may need to change the Voicent C# class to accomplish that.

It is hard to tell whether a call is being “listened to” or delivered. A call maybe answered by a little kid and there is no way the system will know. One sure way is to ask for a touch tone confirmation after a message is played.

If this is not feasible, then you may try to judge it by how much time it takes for a call. The API is not explicit but the call start time, and call made time are there in the returning call status. One drawback is that the format of the status string is not part of a public API. Though it is stable but is subject to change.

I really like the idea of having them press a button on the phone. But does that return string (from the CallStatus function) also tell me if they DID press a button, and which one was pressed?

To collect touch tone responses, you must send out an outbound call message that is designed to do so. The tool to use is Voicent IVR Studio. For details, please see Using Simple Call Interface with IVR Studio.