home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Call Router v1.4
- Copyright (c) 1992-93 by RBK Software
- All rights reserved.
-
- User supported software.
-
-
- Support Notice
- --------------
-
- Call Router is user supported software. If you use this program beyond
- a two-week trial period, we ask you to register your copy.
-
- Benefits of registering Call Router:
-
- 1) You help fund the future development of this software.
-
- 2) You receive full program support.
-
- 3) You receive the next version through U.S. mail with several useful
- utilities to use with Call Router.
-
-
- Disclaimer
- ----------
-
- RBK Software specifically disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or
- implied, including fitness for a particular purpose. Use this product at
- your own risk.
-
-
- Distribution
- ------------
-
- This program may be copied and distributed to others to use on a trial
- basis so long as all files in the original archive are intact and
- unaltered. The two files RMDEMO.BAT and CRDEMO.BAT may be copied and
- then edited for personal use only.
-
-
- New features for version 1.4
- ----------------------------
-
- + Call Router now has a built-in screen saver. After a minute of no
- activity, your screen will clear preventing image "burn-in".
- When a keyboard press or a ring is detected, the screen is restored
- back to normal. The feature is only active when Call Router is
- running and is not a memory resident screen-saver.
-
- + The ability to control the DTR line is now possible with the 'dtron'
- command line argument. Call Router turns DTR off to prevent your modem
- from answering when in auto-answer. Use of 'dtron' will turn DTR on to
- restore your modem's ability to auto-answer.
-
- + Now you can register via Compuserve.
- While on-line type "GO SWREG" and follow the instructions which follow.
-
-
- System requirements
- --------------------
-
- - IBM PC or compatible.
-
- - Hayes compatible modem.
-
- - Voice grade telephone connection.
-
- - RS-232 Cable with pin 22 connected. (Ring Indicator)
-
- - MS-DOS version 2.1 or higher. (Has not been tested below 3.1)
-
-
- Description / Overview
- ----------------------
-
- Call Router is a communications utility designed to help you make the
- most out of a single phone line. Call Router waits for an incoming call
- and will determine if the call is a ringmate or standard call by measuring
- and counting the incoming ring pattern and duration. Call Router does
- NOT take the line off-hook and establish a connection but exits setting
- the appropriate DOS errorlevel so that your 'answering' program can be
- called to take over.
-
- Call Router should be started from a batch file so the errorlevel can be
- tested on exit. The effectiveness of this program is largely based on
- the setup of this batch file and your selection of software.
-
- Here are two examples how Call Router may be used:
-
- 1. Using Call Router with ringmate.
-
- RingMate is an add-on service offered through your local telephone
- company. The service adds an additional phone number to an existing
- line. When called, the new number sounds a distinctly different ring
- pattern. The original number retains its standard length ring. One can
- tell by the distinct ring that the ringmate number was dialed.
-
- Using Call Router with this service, you can use the additional number
- as a separate data number because Call Router can measure the difference
- between ringmate and standard rings. Call Router will direct which
- 'answering' program to start through the batch routine you create.
-
- 2. Using Call Router on a standard line (without ringmate).
-
- Call Router also has the ability to count incoming rings. This feature
- allows you to create a ringback function. If Call Router finds that the
- phone only rang once and the call was terminated, it would exit and set
- errorlevel to 2. The batch file that you created could then start an
- answering program. The caller could call back and get the data
- connection they requested. If the phone had continued to ring, you or
- your answering machine could have answered.
-
-
- Starting Call Router
- --------------------
-
- Usage: CALLROUT comport [speed s] [rings r] [rm] [ssoff] [dtron]
-
- comport - Specify COM port to be used: 1, 2, 3, or 4.
- This must be entered as the first argument whenever Call
- Router is started.
-
- Optional arguments:
-
- speed s - Baud rate specification. (up to 115200 baud)
- Initial setting of baud rate, similiar to mode command.
- Really not neccessary to change in most cases, for future use.
- Call Router's default is 2400 baud.
-
- rings r - Number of rings to count before program exit.
- Default setting is 2.
-
- rm - Indicates that RingMate service is active on the line.
- The minimum rings setting is 2 while RingMate is active.
- This argument is also optional.
- Call Router's default is RingMate inactive.
-
- ssoff - Screen saver OFF.
- This disables the screen saver which is active by default.
-
- dtron - Turns DTR ON at exit.
- DTR is turned off to prevent modem auto-answer while Call
- Router is active. This parameter will force DTR at exit.
-
- If you start Call Router without arguments, a help screen is displayed
- and an option to print a registration form is provided.
-
-
-
- Creating your batch file
- ------------------------
-
- This version of Call Router requires the use of and a good working
- knowledge of MS-DOS batch commands. Consult your DOS manual or an MS-DOS
- batch command tutorial for additional information.
-
- There are two sample batch files distributed with Call Router. You may
- use these as a rough guide or edit them to suit your purposes freely.
- Depending on how you are using Call Router, you may also consider
- putting Call Router in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and have your 'answering'
- program reboot after each call.
-
- (continued next page...)
-
-
- Call Router sets DOS errorlevel as follows:
-
- errorlevel 4 - Short ring detected (Ringmate rings)
- errorlevel 3 - Standard ring detected.
- errorlevel 2 - Timeout condition.
- errorlevel 1 - Program error upon startup or initialization.
- errorlevel 0 - Program ended normally.
-
- Short ring detected (errorlevel 4)
- This indicates 'ringmate rings' where detected and there were 'r'
- rings counted (or the default minimum of 2 rings).
- * Call Router can only exit with errorlevel 4 if the 'rm' argument
- was passed.
-
- Standard ring detected (errorlevel 3)
- This indicates standard rings where detected and there were 'r' rings
- counted. If the ringmate detect option was not used and you have
- ringmate service, those rings will be handled as standard rings.
-
- Timeout condition (errorlevel 2)
- This occurs when a caller hangs up before 'r' rings have been
- counted.
-
- Program error upon startup or initialization. (errorlevel 1)
- This indicates that the program did run normally.
- Possible causes are:
- [ Incorrect usage... help screen will be displayed.]
- [ Error opening a COM port. ]
- [ Error installing INT's. ]
- Call router has built-in error traps and will display a resulting
- error message if they occur.
-
- Program ended normally (errorlevel 0)
- This simply indicates that the ESC key was pressed and Call Router
- ended normally.
-
- Use the 'IF ERRORLEVEL' condition to test the success level of a
- previous command. In this case the Call Router program is the previous
- command in your batch file.
-
-
- Useful tips / troubleshooting
- ------------------------------
-
- * If you have ringmate, use that number as your data number.
- Call Router is much faster with ringmate and allows you more time to
- load your 'answering' program. For every one ring the caller hears you
- hear two. This means that Call Router will have determined a ringmate
- call on one standard ring since it takes two to determine the ring type.
-
- * Because the quiet time between rings is measured as well, the program
- exits at the starting edge of the next ring. So, if you set the
- 'rings' argument to 2, the program will exit at the very start of
- ring 3. This checks for a hangup.
-
- * If Call Router is running and NOT notifying you of incoming rings
- check the following:
- - Pin 22 on your 25 pin RS-232 cable must be connected.
- - Make sure your phone is properly connected to your modem.
-
- * Test your setup before before taking calls. Have someone call you from
- a remote site while you watch what happens. Call from a remote site
- yourself and see how your computer responds.
-
- * When choosing your 'answering program' avoid software that takes a
- long time to load and initialize or use a front-end program that can
- answer sooner.
-
- * Combining features built into many bulletin board systems with a few
- batch utilities can greatly enhance the performance of Call Router.
-
-
- Support
- -------
-
- Any questions, suggestions, or comments may be addressed to:
-
- RBK support BBS - 24hrs.
- An official RBK software support and distribution site.
- (516) 859-1078 (300/1200/2400 BPS)
-
- Compuserve [70714,3020]
-
- RBK Software
- 280-13 Belmore Avenue
- East Islip, NY 11730
-
- Sorry, no voice support for unregistered users.
-
-
- Registering
- -----------
-
- Support further development of this software...
- please register your copy of Call Router today!
-
- Send a completed registration form with a $15 check or money order
- payable to: "Robert Mulligan"
-
- RBK Software
- 280-13 Belmore Avenue
- East Islip, NY 11730
-
- -or-
-
- Via Compuserve - "GO SWREG"
-
- You will receive the next version of Call Router with printed
- documentation and several useful utility programs for use with
- Call Router through the U.S mail.
-
-