3
Managing Contact Rules

This chapter discusses contact rule management, which enables users to tailor how they receive notifications for any given situation. This chapter includes the following:

• Section 3.1, "Overview"
• Section 3.2, "PIM Notification Dispatcher Administration"
• Section 3.3, "Managing Voice and Wireless Settings"
• Section 3.4, "Managing Personal Contact Rules"

3.1 Overview

The continuing diversification of devices not only offers mobile employees more options for keeping in touch with their fellow employees and associates, but more confusion as to which would be the best way to contact others and be contacted themselves. While on the road, they juggle a number of devices and technologies; they use a laptop and phone line to check email, store and carry needed documents in a local file system, and dial in to a work phone each time they want to access their voice mail.

Often, a mobile employee can only guess as to how would be the best and most appropriate way to reach a colleague directly. Likewise, anyone trying to contact a mobile employee faces the same predicament; one method of communication may be better than another, depending on the mobile employee's current circumstances. For example, during a meeting, a mobile employee may prefer to receive a notification on a cell phone about receiving a fax rather than receiving a disruptive phone call. The Oracle Collaboration Suite enables users to select how they wish to be contacted at any moment. A user can set preferences for both the means of contact (for example, cell phone, PDA, or regular phone) appropriate to any context (such as in a meeting or out of the office).

Not only does the Oracle Collaboration Suite alert users to receipt of important faxes, emails, voicemails, but it also simplifies the sending of an email, fax, message, or voicemail. Users no longer have to shuffle separate device addresses. Instead, a user needs only enter the name of the recipient. The Presence Server, a component integrated into Oracle9iAS Wireless, stores both an Oracle Collaboration Suite user's ID and contact profile information, which includes device addresses and current contact rules. The contact rules are defined prefences describing how a user wishes to receive calls and messages.

The Oracle Collaboration Suite uses Oracle9iAS Wireless to enable mobile employees to access their corporate information using any device with wireless or voice access. In addition, the Oracle Collaboration Suite keeps employees abreast of the latest information, such as receiving notifications for meetings, or important emails, by providing users with continuous access to email, voice-mail, calendar, address book, tasks, files, corporate directories, and instant messaging.

Figure 3-1 The Oracle Collaboration Suite

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3.1.1 System Architecture

The Unified Messaging, and Calendar applications generate notifications, which are delivered to the user by the PIM Notification Dispatcher. The Unified Messaging application enters the notifications into the Notification Queue in the database, which is managed by Advanced Queuing (AQ). The PIM Notification Dispatcher reads the notifications from the Notification Queue and then processes them. In addition, the PIM Notification Dispatcher listens on a TCP/IP port for notifications sent by the Calendar application. Each notification must contain an Oracle Global User ID as the destination. To find the user's current device address, the PIM Notification Dispatcher then contacts the Presence Server, which stores the user's Global User ID and contact rules. The Presence Server is an integrated part of Oracle9iAS Wireless. The PIM Notification Dispatcher then pushes the notification to the Oracle9iAS Wireless Messaging Layer, which delivers the notification to the user's device.

Figure 3-2 PIM Notification Dispatcher Architecture

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3.2 PIM Notification Dispatcher Administration

You use the Wireless system management for such administrative functions as starting, stopping, creating, and configuring the PIM notification dispatcher processes.

3.2.1 Managing PIM Notification Dispatcher Processes from the Enterprise Manager

You can start, stop, or add aPIM notification dispatcher process through Wireless system management. You access the management functions by drilling down from the PIM notification dispatcher hyperlink in Wireless management's Server tab.

3.2.1.1 Creating a Oracle9iAS Wireless PIM Notification Dispatcher Process

The PIM notification dispatcher processes screen enables you to create or delete a PIM notification dispatcher process.

To create a PIM notification dispatcher process on the Wireless Server:

1. In the PIM notification dispatcher processes screen, enter the name for the PIM Notification Dispatcher process in the Process Name field.
2. Click Add. The new process appears as a hyperlink in the table.

   Note: You must configure the TCP/IP port number for the calendar listener after you create a PIM notification dispatcher process. For more information, see Section 3.2.2.

3.2.1.2 Deleting a PIM Notification Dispatcher Process

To delete a PIM notification dispatcher process:

1. Select the PIM notification dispatcher process
2. Click Delete.

Figure 3-3 The PIM Notification Dispatcher Process Screen

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3.2.1.3 Starting and Stopping a PIM Notification Dispatcher Process

Wireless management designates the status of each process as started (running), stopped (suspended), or uninitialized (the process has never been run). You can start or stop a PIM notification dispatcher process by using the Start or Stop buttons in either the process or the detail screens for the PIM notification dispatcher processes. In addition, you can start all of the PIM Notification processes at once using the Start All and Stop All buttons on the Wireless Management's Server tab.

Note: For email applications, adding additional processes increases the throughput of notifications and may help to diminish backlogs. However, the calendar application, which uses only one port and one server, uses only one PIM notification dispatcher. It cannot take advantage of multiple PIM notification dispatcher processes; adding additional processes will not affect speed.

From the processes screen, you can start or stop a process by first selecting it and then by clicking Start or Stop.

From a process detail screen, you can also start or stop a process by clicking Stop or Start. When a process is stopped, the Start button appears; likewise, when a process is running, the Stop button appears.

Figure 3-4 The PIM Notification Dispatcher Process Detail Screen

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3.2.2 Configuring Oracle9iAS Wireless for the PIM Notification Dispatcher

A PIM notification dispatcher listens on a TCP/IP socket for notifications sent by the calendar application. The calendar then connects, sends the notification, and then disconnects. To enable the calendar to connect to the PIM Notification Dispatcher (which in turn pushes the message to the Oracle9iAS Wireless transport layer) you must configure the TCP/IP port number for the calendar listener.

Upon installation, a PIM notification process is created with a pre-defined port number.

Note: You must also configure the calendar application to use the same port. For more information, see the calendar documentation for the Oracle Collaboration Suite.

You use the server-level Wireless management to configure the calendar listener port number, identity, and caching participation of a PIM notification dispatcher process. For information on accessing the Wireless management functions, see Chapter 10, "System Management Overview".

To configure a PIM Notification Dispatcher process:

1. From the Processes table of Wireless management's Server tab, click PIM Notification Dispatcher. The processes screen appears.
2. Drill down to the detail screen.
3. Click Process Identity and Port. The configuration screen appears.
4. In the Process and Identity screen, accept or edit the process name. (The name of the selected process usually appears in this field by default.) This is a required field.
5. Enable (or disable) the process by selecting or clearing the Enabled Process check box.
6. Check the Participate in Cache Synchronization check box to synchronize the cache of this process with others.
7. Enter the port number of the calender listener. This should be a port not in use, one in the range of 9000 - 9100.
8. Click Apply. If you enabled the process, then true appears next to the Enabled label on the process detail screen (and next to the process name in the processes screen). If you have disabled the process, then false appears.

   Note: If you change the port number for a running PIM notification dispatcher process, you must stop the process and then start it again for the port number change to take effect. For more information on starting and stopping PIM notification dispatcher processes, see Section 3.2.1.3.

Figure 3-5 The Process Identity and Port Screen

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3.3 Managing Voice and Wireless Settings

The voice and wireless settings enable you to create, manage, and select contact rules.

3.3.1 What is a Contact Rule?

A contact rule describes how you wish to receive calls and messages. For example,you can set a contact rule for meetings, wherein you receive all notifications on a cell phone. The Presence Server keeps track of your current circumstances, such as in a meeting or out of the office, the devices available to you at any time, and the way in which you wish to be notified.

Using the voice and wireless settings screens (accessed through Oracle Collaboration Suite), you create a contact rule by first naming it (for example, At Field Office) and then by adding the communication devices that are appropriate to that contact rule. When creating a communication device, you enter the number or address for the device, along with a nickname for the device, such as My Mobile Phone. You can choose devices from the following communication methods:

• voice
• fax
• email
• messaging

For example, when creating the At Field Office contact rule, you may want to receive calls at a device called Field Office Phone, email at Corporate Office Email, and faxes at Field Office Fax. When creating a contact rule, you specify the preferred method for receiving notifications. For the At Field Office contact rule, you could choose to receive notifications as email messages, which are sent to Corporate Office Email.

The Oracle Collaboration Suite provides you with three pre-defined contact rules, At My Desk, At Meeting, and At Home. You can edit these contact rules and rename them. However, each contact rule name must be unique; you cannot have two contact rules with the same name. In addition, you cannot share a contact rule with another user.

You access functions to create and manage contact rules by by clicking the Voice and Wireless button on Home page of the Oracle Collaboration Suite. If you are a new user, you must create an account in the Voice Access and Alert Settings page (see Section 3.3.2 for more information).

Figure 3-6 The Voice and Wireless Button

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3.3.2 Creating a Contact Rule

3.3.2.1 Voice Access and Alert Settings

Complete the following fields as detailed.

• My mobile phone number is: Enter the telephone number for your mobile telephone.
• Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• My work phone number is: Enter the telephone number for your workplace telephone.
• Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Choose a voice & wireless PIN: Establish, and confirm a Voice Access PIN. The PIN must be at six to ten digits long. Digits only.
• Alert me when I receive: Choose the types of communications you want to be alerted about by checking one or more of these: Voicemails, Fax messages, Urgent messages, Messages from the following people. If you check Messages from the following people, then you must enter the names in the following field. List the first and last name of each person, separating the peoples' names with commas (for example: Jerry West, Johnny Weissmuller).
• My voice & wireless inbox view: Choose how you want messages displayed by clicking one of the radio buttons.

Click Cancel to discard all input information.

Click Finish to save your changes and go back to the Portal page.

Click Advanced to save your changes and go to the Advanced Voice & Wireless Settings page.

See Section 3.3.6 for information on creating a communications device.

Note: You use the numbers you enter for My Mobile Phone and Voice and Wireless PIN to access contact rule using the Device Portal Access. You access the login page for the Device Portal Access through the following URL: http://hostname:7777/ptg/rm 7777 is the default port number for Oracle9iAS Wireless. The port number range is 7777 to 7877. To ensure that you are using the correct port number, check the port number for Oracle9iAS Wireless stored in [Oracle home]/install/portlist.ini.

3.3.2.2 Advanced Voice and Wireless Settings

This page enables you to manage your contact rules and contact points. Two tables on this page (My Contact Rules, and Contact Points) organize these items for your use.

• How to Reach Me
  • Set Current: Click the Set Current button to set the selected contact rule as your current contact rule.
  • Edit: Edit a contact rule by selecting the radio button of the contact rule you want to change, then click the Edit button.
  • Delete: Delete a contact rule by selecting the radio button of the contact rule you want to delete, then click the Delete button.
  • Add: Add a new contact rule by clicking the Add button.
• My Communication Devices
  • Edit: Edit a communication device by selecting the radio button of the communication device you want to change, then click the Edit button.
  • Delete: Delete a communication device by selecting the radio button of the communication device you want to delete, then click the Delete button.
  • Add: Add a new communication device by choosing the type of device from the drop-down list, then click the Add button.

Click Back to return to the Voice and Wireless Settings page.

Click Finish to return to the Portal home page.

3.3.3 Adding a Contact Rule

To add a Contact Rule, click the Add button in the How to Reach Me table. Complete the fields as detailed.

• Contact Rule: Enter a name for your contact rule (for example, At My Desk).
• Call me at: Enter the communication device on which you want to be telephoned (for example, My Mobile Phone). You can select Do not call me if you do not want to be notified through a phone call. Only communication devices that have a voice feature will be listed for selection.
• Email me at: Enter the communication device on which you want to be emailed (for example, My Email). You can select Do not email me if you do not want to be notified through email. Only communication devices that have an email feature will be listed for selection.
• Fax me at: Enter the communication device on which you want to receive faxes (for example, My Fax). You can select Do not fax me if you do not want to be notified through a fax. Only communication devices that have a fax feature will be listed for selection.
• Send me SMS at: Enter the communication device on which you want to receive short messages (for example, My SMS). You can select Do not call me if you do not want to be notified through SMS. Only communication devices that have an SMS feature will be listed for selection.
• The best way to reach me is: Enter your preferred method of receiving notifications.

Ensure that the appropriate communication device is selected for the way you want to be notified, otherwise you will not be able to receive notification. For example, if you want to be notified through a telephone call, make sure that Call me at has a communication device selected.

Note: Contact Rules must be created before they can be selected.

Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.4 Editing a Contact Rule

To edit a Contact Rule, click the radio button of the contact rule you want to modify. Complete the fields as detailed.

• Contact Rule: Enter or change a name for your contact rule (for example, At My Desk).
• Call me at: Enter or change the communication device on which you want to be telephoned (for example, My Mobile Phone). You can select Do not call me if you do not want to be notified through a phone call. Only communication devices that have a voice feature will be listed for selection.
• Email me at: Enter or change the communication device on which you want to be emailed (for example, My Email). You can select Do not email me if you do not want to be notified through email. Only communication devices that have an email feature will be listed for selection.
• Fax me at: Enter or change the communication device on which you want to receive faxes (for example, My Fax). You can select Do not fax me if you do not want to be notified through a fax. Only communication devices that have a fax feature will be listed for selection.
• Send me SMS at: Enter or change the communication device on which you want to receive short messages (for example, My SMS). You can select Do not call me if you do not want to be notified through SMS. Only communication devices that have an SMS feature will be listed for selection.
• The best way to reach me is: Enter or change your preferred method of receiving notifications.

Ensure that the appropriate communication device is selected for the way you want to be notified, otherwise you will not be able to receive notification. For example, if you want to be notified through a telephone call, make sure that Call me at has a communication device selected.

Note: Contact Points must be created before they can be selected.

3.3.5 Deleting a Contact Rule

To delete a contact rule, select the contact rule radio button in the Contact Rule table, then click Delete.

3.3.6 Adding a Communications Device

Communications devices are identified devices on which you can receive notifications. To create a communications device, click the Add button in the Communications Devices table. You can add email addresses, faxes, mobile telephones, pagers, PDAs, and telephones.

To add a communications device, select the type of contact point you want to add, then click the Add button. The appropriate Add page appears.

3.3.6.1 Add an Email Address

To add an email address, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your email (for example, My Work Email).
• Email Address: Enter the address for your email. (for example, [e-mail]).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.6.2 Add a Fax Number

To add a fax number, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your fax (for example, My Work Fax).
• Fax Number: Enter the telephone number for your fax. Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.6.3 Add a Mobile Phone

To add a mobile telephone, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your mobile telephone (for example, My Mobile Phone).
• Mobile Phone Number: Enter the telephone number for your mobile telephone. Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Email Address: Add the email address for messages transmitted to this mobile telephone.
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.6.4 Add a Pager

To add a pager, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your pager (for example, My Pager).
• Pager Email Address: Enter or change the email address for your pager. (for example, [e-mail]).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.6.5 Add a PDA

To add a PDA, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your PDA (for example, My PDA).
• PDA Email Address: Add the email address for messages transmitted to this PDA.
• Email Address: Add the email address for messages transmitted to this PDA.
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.6.6 Add a Phone Number

To add a telephone number, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your telephone (for example, My Princess Phone).
• Phone Number: Enter the telephone number for your telephone. Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.7 Editing a Communications Device

Edit communications devices by clicking the radio button of the communications point you want to edit. Then, click the Edit button. The Edit Communications Device (name depends on the type of contact point you select) page appears.

3.3.7.1 Edit Email Address

To edit an email address, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter or change a name for your email (for example, My Work Email).
• Email Address: Enter or change the email address for your email. (for example, [e-mail]).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.7.2 Edit Fax Number

To edit a fax number, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter or change a name for your fax (for example, My Work Fax).
• Fax Number: Enter the telephone number for your fax. Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.7.3 Edit Mobile Phone

To edit a mobile telephone number, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter a name for your mobile telephone (for example, My Mobile Phone).
• Mobile Phone Number: Enter the telephone number for your mobile telephone. Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Mobile Phone Email Address: Enter or change the email address for your mobile phone.(for example, [e-mail]).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.7.4 Edit Pager

To edit a pager, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter or change a name for your pager (for example, My Pager).
• Pager Email Address: Enter or change the email address for your pager. (for example: [e-mail]).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.7.5 Edit PDA

To edit a PDA, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter or change a name for your PDA (for example, My PDA).
• PDA Email Address: Add or change the email address for messages transmitted to this PDA.
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.7.6 Edit Phone Number

To edit a telephone number, complete the fields as detailed.

• Name: Enter or change the name for your telephone (for example, My Princess Phone).
• Phone Number: Enter or change the telephone number for your telephone. Any valid telephone number is acceptable (for example, [phone] is the same as 16505068241).
• Click Finish after entering your information.

3.3.8 Deleting a Communications Device

To delete a communications device, click the radio button next to the communications device you want to delete, then click the Delete button.

3.4 Managing Personal Contact Rules

You can select a contact rule from a Web-based interface, such as the home page of the Oracle Collaboration Suite or from a registered communications device.

3.4.1 Selecting a Contact Rule from a Web-Based User Interface

You can change your contact rules from the Home page of the Oracle Collaboration Suite by selecting a contact rule from the Contact me drop-down list and then by clicking Change, or from the Advanced page by selecting a contact rule followed by clicking Set Current. For more information, see Section 3.3.2.2.

Figure 3-7 Selecting a Contact Rule from the Oracle Collaboration Suite

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3.4.2 Selecting a Contact Rule from a Device

You can also select contact rules from a variety of devices, because Wireless XML enables the conversion of XML from any Oracle9iAS Wireless application into several device-specific markup languages. As a result, you can select contact rules from a WAP-enabled device or from a regular phone. In addition, asynchronous-enabled applications enable you to select contact rules from devices having such asynchronous messaging applications as SMS or email, but lacking Internet access. To change contact rules from these devices, you send a message to the ASK SMS or email address set by the system administrator.

From a device, such as a WAP-enabled mobile phone, you select a contact rule from a displayed list. When you change a contact rule, Wireless switches from one rule's settings (which controls how you are contacted) to those of another contact rule.

The following section describe the following:

• Section 3.4.2.1, "Selecting a Contact Rule from a Device"
• Section 3.4.2.2, "Selecting a Contact Rule from an SMS- or Email-Based Device"
• Section 3.4.2.3, "Selecting a Contact Rule Using a Voice Application"

3.4.2.1 Selecting a Contact Rule from a Device

A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, displays your contact rules as a list and notes your current contact rule with an asterisk (*). You select a new contact rule by using the device's navigation keys and then by selecting OK.

Figure 3-8 Selecting a Contact Rule from a Device

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The confirmation screen appears, noting the new contact rule. Clicking OK returns you to the main menu.

Figure 3-9 The Confirmation Page (from a Device)

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3.4.2.2 Selecting a Contact Rule from an SMS- or Email-Based Device

From devices using asynchronous applications, you can set your contact rules by sending commands as messages to the ASK SMS or email address. You can use messages to set your contact rules as follows:

Method 1

For this method, you change your contact rules by sending three separate messages as follows:

Message 1: Enter cr in the message subject line or body of the message. You then receive a message which prompts you for your mobile phone number and PIN number (For more information, see Section 3.3.2.1.)

Message 2: Enter your mobile phone number and PIN number in the subject line or body of the message. If you send this information in the body of an email, then you must enter it on the same line. You then receive a message with a numbered list of contact rules.

Message 3: Enter the number of the new contact rule in the subject line or body of the message. For example, enter 2 if you wish to select 2. At My Desk from the numbered list. You then receive a message confirming the contact rule change. You can then return to the main menu.

Method 2

Using this method, you can change your contact rule by sending two separate messages by combining the cr command with the exact name of the contact rule as follows:

Message 1: Enter cr followed by the name of the contact rule in the subject line or body of the message. For example, enter cr "At My Desk". If there are spaces in the name of the contact rule, then you must enclose the entire name in quotation marks ("). The contact rule name is also case-sensitive. After you send this message, you then receive a message that prompts you to reply with your username and password.

Message 2: Enter your mobile phone number and PIN number in the subject line or body of the message. If you send this information in the body of an email, then you must enter it on the same line. After you send this message, you receive a reply confirming the contact rule change. You can then return to the main menu.

Method 3

You can also change your contact rule by sending a single message that combines the cr command, the name of the contact rule, and your username and password together in the subject line or body of your message. For example, you can select a new contact rule by entering all of the information in the subject line or body of a message as follows:

cr "At My Desk"; 16505555000 12345

 

Note: Use a semi-colon (;) to separate the cr and contact rule name command from the username and password.

After you send this message, you receive a reply confirming the contact rule change. You can then return to the main menu.

Note: If the name of your contact rule contains spaces, then you must use enclose the entire name of the contact rule in quotation marks ("). The contact rule name is also case-sensitive.

3.4.2.3 Selecting a Contact Rule Using a Voice Application

After you dial in, do the following:

1. Enter your mobile phone number. See(Section 3.3.2.1 for more information).
2. Enter your PIN. Confirm your PIN number when prompted.
3. Say Contact Rules to launch the Contact Rules application. The system first announces your current contact rule and then a list of the available contact rules.
4. Say the name of the new contact rule. For example, say At My Desk. The system then replies, confirming the change and returns to the main menu.