Understanding Open Source
Standards
By John Drolet
VP of Sales Aastra Telecom
(w) jdrolet@aastra.com
(p) droletvoip@gmail.com
This session abstract
“Understanding Open Source Standards”
• In order to ensure interoperability among disparate
applications and solutions, it’s important to
leverage standards such as SIP. This session will
explore several standards (namely XML and Open
SER) and how they interoperate with SIP and how
they help push the advantages of that standard.
Attendees will glean a better understanding of what
it will take to ensure standards-based
interoperability with SIP in an open source
environment.
Definitions
• Open Standards
– SIP, VoIP, HTML, etc
• Open Source
– Free stuff, Free Code.
• Open API’s
– Free stuff
– Works in concert with SIP
– Aastra’s XML API (and tool kit)
Open Source / Standards - Reference Point
• Linux
• Firefox
• Wikipedia
• XML
• What do these products
have in common?
– They are all FREE.
– Each challenge the status
quo with innovation…
– …Instead of relying on
individual brilliance, open
source relies on a network
of brilliance around the
world.
• So the “open source and
standards concepts are
not new…just new in
Telephony.
eXtensible Markup Language
• The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose
specification for creating custom markup languages.
– [1] It is classified as an extensible language because it allows its users to
define their own elements. Its primary purpose is to help information
systems share structured data, particularly via the Internet,
– [2] and it is used both to encode documents and to serialize data.
• XML is recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
• It is a fee-free open standard. The recommendation specifies both the
lexical grammar and the requirements for parsing.
The old way of accessing data from a Handset
• 1 way to access core data from PBX the PBX
phone
1
PBX
Server
IP Handsets open multiple points of data flow
• Up to three ways to address the IP phone.
3a
1
3
SIP based IP PBX
Server running XML ap.
Telco
Hosted
VOIP
2
xml
All Aastra phone have a built in XML browser
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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Using XML to enhance or develop applications
• Customized, revenue producing and differentiating
services are delivered.
• Free Download the Aastra XML developer kit
– Documentation, Sample source code, Object oriented PHP SDK
– http://www.aastratelecom.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-3D8CCB73572942E2/03/hs.xsl/18301.htm
• Resellers and Carriers can;
– Build XML applications.
– Buy XML applications off the shelf from the Aastra XML community.
– Use Aastra as a resource for all the above.
© 2006 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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AASTRA CONFIDENTIAL
Aastra XML
• The Aastra IP phones support two types of
applications:
1. The phone issues an HTTP (or HTTPS) GET command
to the Web server, this works like a PC Browser
(Microsoft Internet Explorer)
2. Server-initiated. An XML server can push info to the
telephone.
XML in the Telephony World
•
XML is a markup language much like HTML. Any site displaying XML
or RSS can be adapted to access via an IP phone browser
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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General Public Access to Media
• Media: No investment or work necessary to get set
up:
– Aastra maintained sites.
Using Media applications; example
Select the button
CNN
Using XML to build applications
• Enhance the ip PBX call control.
• Build vertical applications not available on the ip
PBX.
• Differentiate your IP phone delivery from the
competition.
• To follow;
– Taking attendance
– Open source solutions (visual voice mail, enhanced call
conferencing)
– Reseller profile; Call Center application
– Emergency Response
Aastra XML Application: Taking Attendance
• Teacher arrives in the class room
• She signs in, using the Aastra IP telephone
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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Aastra XML Application: Taking Attendance
• Teacher takes attendance.
• Marking the status of Students as she goes.
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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Aastra XML Application: Taking Attendance
• Once complete the Report is summarized (note
38/0/1) then submitted to the Administration office.
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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XML in the open source community
XML
Applications using XML – Visual Voice Mail
• VoIP PBX or Hosted VoIP System has a unified messaging (UM) feature.
(Email and Voice mail in one in box)
• Visual XML VM provides UM control from Aastra IP Telephone (PC is off!)
XML access to voice mail
server in place
See 2 msgs in your mail box from
(John & Stephane), outside callers
would display Call ID
Message PLAYS
with LIVE Voice Mail
controls on the Aastra
IP Telephone
© 2006 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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AASTRA CONFIDENTIAL
Aastra XML Application:
Integration with a Conferencing Tool
• Easy integration with the conference bridge
• Features for the conference master
–
–
–
–
Invite someone
Mute
Kick
Lock
© 2006 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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AASTRA CONFIDENTIAL
Aastra Reseller; VoIPnet Technologies
• Profile on VoIPnet;
– VoIPnet is a Hosted VoIP
service provider
headquartered in Portland,
Maine.
– They use a Broadsoft;
BroadWorks SIP based call
control.
– They market to businesses
from small to large throughout
New England.
– They use Aastra IP
telephones exclusively.
VoIPnet Technologies….
…using Aastra XML tools
• The Customer:
– TriCorp is a credit unions, credit union. TriCorp sells money to
credit unions all over the US.
– Customers call TriCorp daily to get updated information from a live
group of Agents.
• The Problem:
– Prior to the Aastra XML tools being put in place, customer service
agents would require a PC, and would need to create multiple
web searches to accommodate customer requests for rate quotes.
• The Challenge:
– With limited staff and customers holding in queue, the objective
was to make the Agents as efficient as possible.
22
How does it work?
• The solution; Customer services agents receive calls
from clients needing two types of quotations from
TriCorp.
– Overnight Share Prices
• Shown in batches of “Under $500k” and “Over $500k”.
• As the Agents talks to the client they use the
preprogrammed buttons on the their Aastra IP phone
to receive current rate information.
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Overnight Shares Look up
• From the phones
main menu the
“Shares” key is
selected.
• First quote;
– “Over 5 Million
Rate” is selected
– The rate appears
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Emergency Response System using XML
Emergency Notification
Regular idle Screen
Emergency Mode
Centrally Activated
• When an emergency occurs the “Control Center”
takes over the option of the Telephone using XML.
When the user presses “CONFIRM” an email is sent
to a central server for tracking purpose hurricane
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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Phone now in Emergency Mode!
Monitored 911
Coupled w/ email
RSS Feed
Severe Weather
Local Emergency
Numbers
Personal
Speed Dial List
Call Site
Coordinator
Link to
Standard Softkeys
© 2008 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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EMERGENCY Mode
WHAT’S NEXT
myAastra.com;
Portal for XML innovation and delivery of XML aps
• iGoogle allows you to customize your web
applications
• myAastra allows you to customize your XML
applications on the myAastra web portal AND at the
IP phone.
myAastra.com;
Portal for XML innovation and delivery of XML aps
• iGoogle allows you to customize your web
applications
• myAastra allows you to customize your XML
applications on the myAastra web portal AND at the
IP phone.
myAastra.com; Adding Web Apps
• Add web media at the portal, view it on your phone or
your PC.
MSNBC
© 2006 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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myAastra.com; Contacts widget
• Easily tie PC applications to your phone.
– Makes your Outlook contacts available from your
IP phone and from the web
– Click on the phone number to dial immediately or
click on the dial icon to present dialing dialogue
box
© 2006 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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myAastra.com
• Making the connection between content and the
intelligent end point.
• Expanding a community of XML development
worldwide.
• Delivering applications across multiple media.
Questions
© 2006 Aastra Technologies, LTD.
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AASTRA CONFIDENTIAL