Vectronix 2/VECTRONIX2.iso/FILES_01/COMA_270.LZH/MANUAL/ENGLISH/VOICE.TXT

Text File | 1994-12-19 | 20KB | 518 lines

chapter 3

the answering machine



3.0     general

3.1     system conditions

3.2     shareware version and registration

3.3     adjusting parameter for the voice operation

3.4     time attache of the message

3.5     reception of the answering machine

3.51    record with a Zyxel modem

3.52    recording with a Creatix LC144VF

3.6     testing the answering machine

3.7     play the calls

3.8     insert remarks in the calls list

3.9     long distance requesting of answering machine

3.10    second level messages



3.0 General

We will show you what the voice part of Coma can do in this part of the
handbook. The computer becomes a communication happening with a relevant modem.
You can then receive telephone calls and fax without any problems with one
telephone line, you can even operate a mini mail box. You can store messages for
certain people in the voice-mailbox which can only be called upon via a PIN. The
distinction between voice and fax will be done by the modem without further
hardware.

No more boring and monotone recorded text, CoMA offers seven different texts in
the voice part, six of those can be assigned to certain lines. For example a
special text for the lunch hour etc.

The voice module from CoMa can be used intuitively and is programmed user
friendly.



3.1 system conditions



First of all the necessary hardware: You can use as computer any Atari ST(e), TT
or the Falcon from 1 MB main memory. The used modem has to have a voice module.
This version supports the Zyxel 1496 )in the various formes) and the Creatix
IC144VF, which is marketed by 1&1 ans Escom.

The standard data transferrate of 19200 Baud between modem and computer is not
always sufficient because of the amount of transported data during registration
of incoming calls. The minimum DTE speed has to be 38400 Baud, otherwise the
registration of the calls can only be done with less quality under Creatix or
with Zyxel-Plus.  To ensure faster speed you have to have the small but very
efficient programme HSModem by Harun Scheutzlow installed. User with a ATARI ST
or Megg St need a further hardware extension for the serial interface which can
be purchased via Harun Scheutzlow (Germany).  CoMa Diskette contains the
necessary programmes in the AUTO file to install the interface correction.
Should you not have the HSModem installed yet continue to read from chapter
2.25.



 3.2 Shareware version and registration



The programme CoMa contains a limited shareware version of the voice module. You
can call this part of CoMa by clicking the button "Voice", configurate and use
all functions. But the calls will only be recorded up to max. 10 seconds. In
order to lift this restriction you will need a new registration key. This key
lifts the limitations.

To make the registration call up the window "info" in the main window of CoMa.
Choose the entry "registration" to receive the window for entering your personal
data. Please enter your date correctly here, the same way as you have done
before to receive the key. Finally click on ok and that's it.



3.3 adjusting parameter for the voice operation



 In the faxparameter choose the entry "voice" as modemtype. This switches on the
answering machine and it will be switched off by choosing "Standard".

Now you have to adjust the parameter for the answering machine. If you choose
the function "voice" the shown dialog box will appear. Most of the essential
adjustments will be done here.

    Chipset

 CoMa is compatible to two different modem types with different controller-ICs.
Choose the modem used by you. The entry "Creatix" indicates a certain
Voice-Modemr. All modems which use Rockwell should really work together with
this parameter in CoMa. In any case it works with Creatix ICI44VF.

     Quality

     1. Zyxel Modem

 The quality of the record can be adjusted in several steps via this
pop-up-menu. Please take care that an increase in quality is achieved by higher
resolution of the scanner value. Higher quality means larger memory requirement
of the information on the hard disk. In the adjustment ADPCM3 the registration
per scanning is three Bit. For smaller hard disk it has to be considered if
adjustment ADPCM2 is sufficient. Per second only 2400 Bytes are occupied. The
quality is worst in adjustment CELP, but used the least space. Because only one
Bit per scanning is used it needs for only one second text 1200 Bytes. CELP
exists only in Zyxel-Plus Modems.

From firm ware 6.13 Zyxel offers ADPCM4 as well. This resolution can only be
used at interface speed of minimum 57600 Baud.

The ADCPM3 has changed as well from firm ware 6.13. In order to be able to use
thisaccommodation module activate the buttin "Resznc bit at ADPCM3" in the
dialog box. In order for re- and backspool to function in the long distance
inquiry you have to activate in any case the button "Resznc bytes". In firmware
smaller than 6.11 this function does unfortunately not work.

All owners of a ATARI ST or Mega St need for the very high resolutions not only
the programme HSmodem, but also a hardware extension which enables the serial
port to transfer data above 19200 Baud. You can purchase this extension from
Harun Scheutzlow (see chapter 2.25)

     2. Creatix IC 144VF

 A cheap alternative from Zyxel is this modem. This has got for example amongst
others a reception module with a higher quality. Furthermore a microphone and a
loudspeaker can be connected to the system, which makes the recording and
playing of texts more comfortable than Zyxel.

This modem is especially interesting for all owners of a ATARI.ST, because the
voicle module can be implemented without hardware extension for the interface in
the lowest qualitystep. For the use with ADPCM 2 a data transferrate of 19200
Baud is sufficient. All that is needed therefore is the HSModem and the good ald
ST can be used as answering machine. Because of the large data this functions
only with a hard disk.

The Creatic offers the following resolutions:

ADCPM2   1,8kByte/s (works with 19200 Baud)

ADPCM3   2,7kByte/s (needs 38400 Baud)

ADPCM4   3,6 kByte/s (needs 38400 Baud)

      Input, Output

With these pop-up menus you can choose if the input or output of answering text
should be done via telphone switched parallel to the modem or via a individual
microphone-loudspeaker combination (ext Mic). This will be done via the inbuilt
or external speaker of the modem if you use the loudspeaker for the output.

If you choose the output "DMA-sound", you can play the recorded files via a
stereoamplifier that is connected to the DMA output of a STE, TT or Falcon.This
works only if you use a Zyxel modem. You can not use DMA-sound output with the
Creatix modem because the dataformat of this chipset is still unknown!

A telephone receiver can be connected directly to the line entry of the Zyxel
for the speaking of the answering text. You have to speak into the speaker then.
The quality is abysmal unfortunately.

It is better for the receiving if you connect a telephone parallel to the modem
(line) and you speak then into the mouthpiece of the telephone. For this you
have to plug the modem with a TAE-N connection into a TAE socket. The telephone
then sits in the TAE-F socket. The TAE plug of the modem has got to get two wire
bridges now.

After the reception you have to connect the telephone properly again. (consider
the instruction of Telecom).

   Silence (switch off threshold of the reception)

In order for the answering machine to recognise when the caller has finished you
have to tell the programme how many seconds silence should lay on the line. You
can choose your values between 1 and 25 seconds.

The field with the code dB identifies the threshold at which the modem
identifies the silence. We have already entered a value which should not cause
any problems even with bad connections. The higher the value, the sooner a noise
(crackling) will be accepted as silence.

The silence recognition unfortuantely does not function satisfactorily. The
Creatix knows only three steps. 10dB, 20dB and 30 dB.

Max. record time

It can happen that background noise is too loud to acknowledge the end of a call
correctly even at adjustment of 3l dB for background noise. In order not to fill
up the hard disk with ghost noise you can maximise the recording time. This is
necessary especially for the Creatix (see explanation above).

    Incoming-Outgoing

 In those two columns you have to enter the path for the folder MESS_IN and
MESS_OUT. If you click on one of these lines the data selectionbox will appear
and you can adjust the path.

The folder MESS_IN contains later on the recorded calls. In the folder MESS_OUT
the answering texts have to be located.

    No announces at remote

If you do not want to hear the amount and the recording of the recording time
during long distance request of calls you can adjust or cancel the function
here. In order to hear a timerecording you have to record all answeringtexts
beforehand of course.

    Redirect incoming message to

If you wish CoMa will send incoming calls to a different telephone connection.
You have to record the function here and enter a telephone No.

    No intro melody

Perhaps a data-modem can get problems with our start melody and disconnect
because it thinks the line is busy. For troubleshooting you can switch off the
start melody with this button.



3.4 Time attache of the messages



CoMa gives you the possiblity of two different kinds of messages.There are at
first the outgoing messages (OGM), we call them 1. level messages and as a
special feature the 2. level messages. The last kind of messages gives you the
possibility to leave a message for special persons in your computer. If the
caller wants to hear his message he has to send a PIN (personal identification
number).

In order to determine first and second level messages call up the entry messages
in the pop-up menu "parameter". You can sort seven texts (Message 1 to Message
7) to a certain time. The text on the slot "else" will always be used if no
other slot is intended for the actual time.

It can happen, of course, that you want to differentiate a text from a given
time. For this purpose you can put a text with the data selection box on the
slot "always" and activate it with the click of the button.  Now the selected
text will always be used till you switch off the button "always".

    PIN (personal identification number, secret code)

Very often one would like to know if any calls were coming in while being out.
If one possesses a tone-dialer one can call oneself and after passing on the
code the call will be played. The PIN No makes it impossible for others to have
access to the texts as well.

Certain conditions have to be considered though. The PIN always has to start
with a 8. In order to make identification of the numbers possible you should not
use the same two numbers consecuratively. And furthermore, no other 8 should be
included in the constellation. As soon as the programme identifies a 8 it will
start the input again and look at the 8 as figure 1 of the PIN.



3.5 Reception of the answering texts (OGM)



 The programme voice contains only two little texts as example. We are sure that
you will make use of the possibility to creat individual texts. Because we do
not know which kind of recording quality you prefer you have to take the trouble
to create the necessary texts yourself.  The next chapter shows you how to make
the OutGoing Messages (OGM)!



3.51 Record with a Zyxel modem



Before you can start with the recording do not forget to adjust CoMa to the
Modem type "voice". Otherwise nothing goes.

If you have done this press the button "Record" in the main dialogbox. If you
choose this command the recording start at the moment the LED with the name RXD
on the Zyxel blinks, or the recording-time- block is displayed on the monitor.
Speak the text either into the telphone piece or the external connected
microphone )see chapter 3.3). You finish the recording by pressing the Alternate
key.

The file select box will open and you can identify the name for the file.

How you name the seven answering texts in the file MESS_OUT is your choice, but
do not forget to record as final word for the recorded calls with the name
END.MESS.ZX?. Perhaps "Thank You for Your call!" would be advisable.

The following answering texts are necessary if you want to listen to the
answering machine via long distance request. CoMa will build from these text
blocks the answer about the number of calls and fax. There are recommendations
on " " for the texts. Of course only those texts should be located by the
figures.







NUM_00.ZX?                     "Zero"

NUM_01.ZX?                     "One"

             and so on...

NUM_24.ZX?                     "twenty-four or more"

THEREARE.ZX?                    "there are"

IN_MESS.ZX?                     "message and"

FAXES.ZX?                       "Faxes"

DATA.ZX?                        "Data calls"

CLOCK.ZX?                       "clock"

ERROR.ZX?                       "there is an error"

The third figure of the extension identifies the quality with which the
recording was made and will be displayed in the file-select-box.

.ZX1    CELP

.ZX2    ADPCM2

.ZX3    ADPCM3

.ZX4    ADPCM4 works only with 57600 Baud)

With the function "Play" you can replay the answering texts after recording. The
file-select- box appears again in which you can select the text you have
recorded.



3.52 Recording with Creatix LC144VF



The recording of the answering texts is more elegant with the Creatix LC144VF if
you buy the recording-play set belonging to the voice part. You receive a
speaker and a microphone which have to be plugged into the relevant socket. You
can then talk into the microphone directy.

You start recording by pressing the button "record". By pressing the Alternate
key the recording will be interrupted and a file-select-box appears. Enter the
name of the recording. You will need the same texts as mentioned in chapter
3.41, only the extension changes. It has to be for Creatix LC144VF .RO?

The resolutions are sorted to following end of files:

.RO2    ADPCM2

.RO3    ADCPM3

.RO4    ADPCM4

In order for everything to function you have to tell CoMa in the Voice Parameter
the chipset "Creatix".



3.6 Testing the answering machine



To ensure that the answering machine functions properly you do not have to buy a
telephone card and ring up from the public telephone box. This is much more
simple with CoMa.  You will find in the main dialog box the entry "takeoff".
CoMa simulates a call to the modem and will let the modem answer. You will hear
your answering text and you can record a message yourself. Afterwards you can
replay the text via function "Calls", just the same as if you had a proper call.
 Dial a 0 with the telephone beforehand in order to eliminate the ringing sign.



3.7 Play of calls



After you have finished all the adjustments your communication Manager can start
his business. The first call will be recorded some time and you would like to
listen what important message has been left. For this the calls list is
responsible. You can access this list by clicking the button "Calls" in the main
dialog window. Here you will find all calls and faxes. You can identify if it
was a call or a fax with the relevant entry in the list. All entries without a
tick are new. With the order "play all new" you can listen to all new calls.
Afterwards those calls will be provided with a tick. Calls you do not want to
acknowledge are marked by a click and deleted with the order delete in the
pop-up menu. This will not only remove the entry in the list but also the data
from the hard disk!

If you want to playback 10 seconds press the button 2. With the button 3 you can
go 10 second forward. This works the same as if you use CoMa from a remote
phone!


1       hole message again

2       10 second back

3       10 seconds forward

*       cancel the message

#       play the last message




3.8 Insert remarks in the calls list



Normally the calls list shows only the time and the date of the call. If you
want to store a call it would be nice to add a remark, like name etc. . For this
you have to activate the entry by clicking the left mouse buttion. You can
select the enter "Edit" in the pop-up menu. A window to enter text will appear
then.

Of course you can also enter a remark for a fax. It makes sense especially
there. You can enter the name of the sender.



3.9 long distance requesting of answering machine



As with many other answering machines you can listen to your calls whilst away.
all you need for this is a sound impulse input device or a telephone which can
switch to the sound selction process. CoMa offers also the possibility to change
the answering text whilst away.

Call your telephone No and and wait till the machine starts with the answering
text. Enter your PIN. Press the keys for each number approx. 1 second.

The answering machine will then tell you the number of calls and faxes and
replay the calls.

If you have de-activated the button "No timeannounce" in the parameter box every
call will be replayed with the recording time. Only the full hours will be
mentioned though. All calls from 17.00 hours till 17.59 will become 17.00 h.

Take care that your PIN No starts with 8. No figure can be used consecutively.

Follwoing functions are available :

key      function

*        discontinue recording, start the next call

1        back to the beginning of the playing

2        play back 10 seconds

3        play forward 10 seconds

4        go back one call

7        record a new answering text (OGM)

8        finish recording and play the new call

0        reset "always" button

#        play the last message

The answering text entered via long distance request will always be entered with
the name NEW-OGMXXX and is entered in the slot "allways". This text will be used
as answering text till you re-select the button "allways". This can also be done
whilst away. (DTMF-key 0)

When you have recorded a new outgoing message (OGM) by remote phone you stop the
recording by pressing the button 8. You will hear now the message. If you want
to start recording again, just press the key 7 again.



3.10 Second level messages



As already explained in chapter 3.4 CoMA contains a small voice mailbox. You can
record small messages for friends and relatives which can be called upon by the
rightful receiver, guarded by a PIN. The same method for selection of PIN No as
describted in chapter 3.9 applies.

You can of course make second level message accessible generally. For this use
only one figure as PIN. You are allowed to use any figure. We use the
Communication Manager in this way to transfer messages to the caller. If key 1
is pressed the caller will have an oversight into the available messages in our
voice-mailbox. With key 2 you can for example enquire our actual prices for our
products.

We are sure this new function will find a lot of friends and we are lacking
honestly imagination at the moment what other possibilities with this programme
are to be opened. But we are sure we will hear a lot of suggestions from you,
the user, and we will look into all of them.