2 Initial Configuration
Overview
Introduction
This chapter explains the steps necessary to initially set up ACS to run calls. As ACS is a highly configurable and flexible application, for brevity only the minimum configuration necessary to achieve the running of a basic call has been detailed in this chapter. For full details of all options and configuration please see chapters following.
Before You Begin
Setting up ACS to run a call
The basic steps required to set up ACS to run a basic call are detailed later in this chapter. In summary, they are as follows:
| Step | Action | Refer to... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Log on to the system:
|
Logging on to the System |
| 2 |
Create reusable resource sets:
|
Creating Resource Sets |
| 3 |
Map announcements to network resources:
|
Mapping Announcements to Network Resources |
| 4 |
Create an ACS customer:
|
Creating an ACS Customer |
| 5 |
Add resources for the customer:
|
Adding Resources for the Customer |
| 6 |
Enter numbers for the customer:
|
Creating Customer Numbers |
| 7 |
Create a control plan:
|
Creating a Control Plan |
| 8 |
Attach the control plan to the service number:
|
Attaching a Control Plan to a Service Number |
| 9 | Configure ACS for your network by editing the acs.conf file. | Configuring ACS for Your network |
Step 2 - Creating Resource Sets
Introduction
ACS allows reusable sets of resources to be created. These sets may be accessed by several customers for use within their control plans. The access to these sets is determined on a per customer basis in the Customer Resource Limits on the Customer screen.
The reusable resource sets available are:
- Geography sets
- Holiday sets
- Announcement sets
- Feature nodes sets
See ACS Configuration for details.
Feature Node Sets
A feature nodes set consists of permissions to use a group of feature nodes in a control plan. Feature node sets can only be created and changed by a system administrator; see Who is the System Administrator for details.
Feature nodes sets are created using the Feature Sets tab on the Configuration screen. See Feature Sets for further details.
Geography Sets
A geography set contains a tree structure of named dialed number prefixes.
Geography sets are used in the ACS Geographical Routing feature node.
Geography sets are created using the Geography tab on the Configuration screen. See Geography Sets for further details.
Holiday Sets
A holiday set contains a group of holiday entries. A holiday entry is a named day (or run of days) that have been grouped together into a set.
Holiday sets are used in the ACS Day of Year feature node:
Holiday sets are created using the Holiday tab on the Configuration screen. See Holiday Sets for further details.
Announcement Sets
An announcement set contains a group of standard announcement entries. Announcement sets can only be created and changed by a system administrator; see Who is the System Administrator for details.
Announcement sets are used in the following ACS feature nodes:
- Play Announcement
- Selection Dependant Routing
- PIN Authorisation
- Account Code
- Collect Digits to Subtag
- Variable Announcement Rule Sets
- Number Lookup and Translate
- Collect Digits to Buffer
- Collect Digits to Pending TN Buffer
- Activate Control Plan
- Load Profile
Announcement sets are created using the Announcement tab on the Configuration screen. See Announcements for further details.
Step 3 - Mapping Announcements to Network Resources
Introduction
For an announcement to play to a caller whose call runs through an ACS control plan, all ACS announcement entries must be mapped to the actual resource on the network that plays these announcements and to each individual announcement recorded on that resource.
There are two types of ACS announcement entries:
- Standard announcement entries
- Variable announcement rules entries
Mapping announcements
Announcements may be mapped by one of the following methods:
- Specifying the resource name and ID of the resource on the network that plays the announcement
- Selecting the named VARS mapping, for variable part announcements.
Announcement entries are mapped to the network resource using the Announcements tab on the Configuration screen. See the chapter on ACS Configuration for details of how to use this screen.
Variable Announcement Rules
Variable announcement rules (VARS) are useful where the text to speech translation for "zero", "one", and "many" are different. Where variable announcement rules are required, these must be created using the following tabs on the Configuration screen:
- VARS tab, to create the rules for the variable announcement
- VARS Mapping tab for each VARS rule a mapping must be made to the network resource that plays the appropriate announcement when this rule is true.
- Announcements tab. Announcement entries may be mapped to a variable announcement rule set
See ACS Configuration for details of how to use this screen.
Creating the VARS rules
A VARS contains a named set of rules that determine the behavior of the announcement parts. VARS rule sets are created using the VARS tab on the Configuration screen. See Variable Announcement Rule Sets for details of how to use this screen.
Mapping VARS Rules
The VARS must also be mapped to the resources on the network that will play the announcements. For each rule within a VARS, a mapping must be made to the network resource on which is recorded the announcement to be played if that rule is true. Each rule set may have multiple named mappings.
Variable announcement rules are mapped using the VARS Mapping tab on the Configuration screen. See VARS Mapping for details of how to use this screen.
Step 4 - Creating an ACS Customer
Introduction
Once you have logged on to ACS, an ACS customer must be created. On install, the system creates a customer called "Boss"; however it is recommended that a new customer be created.
ACS customers are created using the Customer tab on the Customer screen, see ACS Customer Screen for details on this screen.
Step 5 - Adding Resources for the Customer
Introduction
Once a customer is created, they need to be given access to the resources that they are permitted to use. The resources are assigned in the Resource Limits tab of the Customer screen. See ACS Customer for details of how to use this screen.
Assigning resources
The following will need to be assigned to a customer in order for them to use these resources:
- Feature node sets
- Geography sets - if the geographical routing feature is to be used in control plans
- Announcement sets - if announcements are to be used in control plans
- Holiday sets - if the holiday routing feature is to be used in control plans
For details on how to add resources for a customer, see Customer Resource Limits .
Step 6 - Creating Customer Numbers
Introduction
There are several numbers that need to be entered into the system for a customer.
- Service numbers
- Calling line identifier (CLI) numbers, if required
- Termination numbers
Service Numbers
A service number is the number that is dialed by other parties when contacting the customer. Service numbers are created using the Service Numbers tab on the Numbers screen. See ACS Numbers for further details.
Step 8 - Attaching a Control Plan to a Service Number
Introduction
In order for a call to be routed through a control plan, the control plan must be attached to a service number, using the schedule option. Control plans are scheduled to be used by a specific service number on the Service Number tab of the Numbers screen. See ACS Numbers for further details.
Step 9 - Configuring ACS for Your Network
Introduction
Once all data is set up in ACS and a customer has active control plans scheduled, calls to the service numbers entered into the system will be routed through the control plans activated.
Ensure that all network configuration has been completed, and that the acs.conf file has been configured for your particular network. This will only need to be carried out on first installation of ACS. See ACS Technical Guide for details on configuration of ACS.