Category : Communication (modem) tools and utilities
Archive   : CALLRT14.ZIP
Filename : CALLROUT.DOC

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.