6 The OCSS Outbound Call Management Tab

The Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) Outbound Call Management tab provides tools to help you manage outbound calls for your enterprise. You can create a list of outbound phone numbers and specify how OCSS validates and enforces their use.

Topics:

Use the following topics to create and manage your enterprise outbound calling number list.

• The OCSS Outbound Call Management Tab Display and Operations
• Outbound Call Validation Page
• Outbound Call Management General Settings Page

The OCSS Outbound Call Management Tab Display and Operations

The Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) Outbound Call Management tab displays links to sub-tabs for configuring outbound call management operations. Through the sub-tabs, you can create an outbound call validation list and specify the validation and enforcement settings. The view defaults to the Outbound Call Validation page, which displays your list of managed outbound phone numbers.

Outbound Call Validation Page

Outbound Call Management General Settings Page

Outbound Call Processing Behavior

To help manage your enterprise phone numbers allowed for outbound calls and to assure call recipients that the calling number is valid, you can create a list of allowed outbound phone numbers for Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) to validate. OCSS can provide additional information in the outbound SIP message, which can help avoid negative call labeling, avoid false-positive call blocking, and elevate STIR/SHAKEN attestation outcomes by Communication Service Providers. The objectives are to avoid automated call blocking, avoid unanswered calls, and improve connection rates.

From the Outbound Call Management tab, you can access the Outbound Call Validation page where you can manage your enterprise phone numbers when used for outbound calls. You can configure attributes and rules for phone numbers on the list to instruct how you want OCSS to handle your outgoing calls.

• When OCSS finds a match on the validation list for an outbound calling number it handles the call according to the rules you set.
• When OCSS cannot find a match on the validation list for an outbound calling number, it allows the call without any validity information and sends the outbound INVITE with no changes. Allowing the call can prevent OCSS from blocking the number in a scenario where a legitimate number does not exist on your Enterprise Number validation list. You can control how OCSS handles the call when it does not find a match. By default calls are allowed, but you can also block these calls. Even when no match is found, and the respective setting is to allow the call, OCSS can still block the call because of the Access Control List or the reputation score.
• When you configure a presentation number for an outbound calling number, OCSS replaces the original number in the FROM header of the outbound INVITE with the presentation number configured for the calling number. You can use the presentation number to ensure your outgoing calls present, for example, only the main company number, main toll-free number (for your contact center), switchboard number, and so on. This can help to shield your employees from a direct dial-in or callback.
• When the calling number is on the list and you set the status for the number to Inactive, OCSS handles the call based on the settings for Inactive (on the General Settings page).
• When the original number is in the sip-uri format and you want OCSS to use a presentation number, the OCSS adds the presentation number in sip-ur format and preserves any header parameters or parameters as received.
• When the original FROM contains Anonymous in the display name or elsewhere, OCSS overrules it in the replaced FROM.
• When the number is present in your enterprise number table, is marked active, and is marked to use PAI, OCSS behaves as follows:
  • removes any preexisting headers, including anonymous information.
  • removes a received P-Preferred Identity (PPI)
  • does not take into account privacy headers related to the FROM and keeps the privacy header in the outbound INVITE.
  • adds a new PAI header to the outbound call.
  • populates the new PAI header with the presentation number when you provision PAI for the calling number or populates the PAI header with the original calling number when you do not configure a presentation number for the calling number.
    • if the original FROM is in tel-uri format, adds PAI in tel-uri format.
    • if the original FROM is in sip-ur, adds the PAI in sip-ur format where username consists of presentation number, re-use the hostname as received in the FROM and add tag user=phone.
    • if anonymous is present in the host name of the original FROM, uses the provisioned domain name.
• For outbound calls, any Header Manipulation Rules that change the domain part of the FROM header will overwrite the domain name provided by OCSS.

Outbound Call Validation Page

The Outbound Call Validation page is where you create your outbound call validation list and later search the list for a phone number, for example, to edit its attributes or to delete a number.

Click the Add button to display the Add Outbound Calling Number dialog, where you add a phone number and specify its attributes. Use Search to find a phone number on the list. Hover over a row to access the Edit and Delete icons.

Note:

The Call Tag list on the Outbound Call Management tab shows all call tags for configuration purposes. When you filter on call tags, the filter menu displays only the call tags you configured

The following screen capture shows the Add Outbound Calling Number dialog, where you enter the phone number you want to add to your Outbound Call Validation list. The only required field is the Number field. You can set any combination of the attributes or none at all. When you set no attributes, the phone number defaults to the Active state.

See Outbound Calling Number Attributes.

See Call Tag Descriptions

Outbound Calling Number Attributes

In the Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) Add Outbound Calling Number dialog you can set the attributes that you want applied to a phone number. The dialog requires only the phone number. You can configure some, all, or none of the attributes. Reach the page from the Outbound Call Management tab.

The outbound call validation attributes you can set for a phone number include:

• Number—The general number format convention is country code followed by the subscriber phone number <country code><subscriber phone number>. The country code can be up to three digits long. The subscriber phone number may include an area code and is typically seven to eleven digits long, depending on the national number conventions. For international formatting, you may format the number with a + character (+<country code><subscriber phone number>, for example, [phone]) or without the + character. For outbound calls to international destinations you can use either the + character or the international dialing prefix for your country.
• Description (Optional)—A descriptive name for the number. For example, Enterprise Callback Number.
• State (Optional)—Determines whether validation applies to the number.
  • Active—OCSS validates the number using the Outbound Calling Attributes you set. For example: State, Call Tagging, P-Asserted Identity, and Presentation Number.
  • Inactive—The number remains on the list and OCSS allows outbound calls from the number with no validation.
• Presentation number (Optional)—The phone number you want the call recipient to see. When configuring the Presentation Number you must use only the number format convention supported by the SIP trunk provider. When you use multiple SIP trunk providers, you must use a Presentation Number format that each SIP Trunk provider can support. For example, in the United States you use [country code][area code][local phone number] or the more commonly used [area code][local phone number]. In the European Union and United Kingdom you use [+][country code][area code][local phone number].
• Use P-Asserted Identity header (PAI) (Optional)—Use to include the PAI header in the outbound call, so the SIP Trunk provider's spam solution analytics, and potentially the nuisance (robocall) analytics applications on smart phones, considers the call from a legitimate source. Using the PAI helps to achieve the goal of call spam labeling and helps to elevate STIR-SHAKEN validation by Communications Service Providers. Default: Deselected.
• Call Tag (Optional)—Use to configure phone numbers by their IETF call tag. (For future use. The call tag does not impact the outbound INVITE, at this time.)

Note:

You must be a member of the OCSS ACL Editor, OCSS Configuration Editor, or CGBU OCSS Administrator user groups to work with the Outbound Calling Number list. See "User Roles and Privileges" in the OCSS Installation and Maintenance Guide.

Call Tag Descriptions

The Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) Outbound Call Management list page includes a list of supported Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Call Tags that you can use to filter phone numbers.

The following list describes all the IETF Call Tags that OCSS supports.

Note:

At this time, configuring call tags with a value other than the default does not impact the outbound call INVITE.

• Business—Calls placed by businesses, entities, or enterprises. Use when none of the other call tags apply and you want to add Call Tags to the outbound call.
• Debt Collection—Calls related to collecting of debt, for example, loans, mortgages, and credit.
• Health—Calls to provide health care-related information, for example, from health plans, health care clearinghouses, health care providers, prescriptions, and doctor calls.
• Survey—Calls call that solicit opinions or data from the called party.
• None—Omits call tags from the search.
• Informational—Calls intended to communicate information to the called party. For example, an order confirmation, an appointment reminder, or a notice from a utility.
• Telemarketing—Calls placed to sell the call recipient a product or service, or donate to an organization.
• Trusted—Calls from a trusted entity not covered by the other call tag types. For example, returned calls and messages from telecommunication carriers and utilities. An established business relationship must exist between the caller and the recipient.

The Call Tag list on the Outbound Call Management tab shows all call tags for configuration purposes. When you filter on call tags, the filter menu displays only the call tags you configured.

See Add a Phone Number to the Outbound Call Validation List

Add a Phone Number to the Outbound Call Validation List

Use the following procedure to add one or more phone numbers the Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) outbound call validation list.

Before You Begin

• If your Session Border Controller does not use phone numbers in the E.164 format, you may need to work with Oracle before deploying OCSS to determine how to normalize your phone numbers to work effectively with OCSS.
• You must be a member of the OCSS ACL Editor, OCSS Configuration Editor, or CGBU OCSS Administrator user groups to add numbers to the Outbound Calling Number Validation list.
• See OCSS Phone Number Format Requirements.

Use the following procedure for adding phone numbers to the outbound call validation list.

1. Access the Outbound Call Management tab, and click Add on the Outbound Call Validation page.
2. In the Add Outbound Calling Number dialog, do the following:
   • Number—Enter the phone number you want to add using the guidelines listed above.
   • Description—(Optional) Enter a description about the purpose of the number.
   • State—Select Active to validate the outbound number as configured. Select Inactive to use the Inactive Outbound Numbers enforcement action configured under the General Settings tab. Default: Active. Valid values: Active | Inactive.
   • Presentation number—(Optional) Enter the number you want the call recipient to see in caller ID, if different from the calling number. Do not use wild cards.

     Note:

     Ensure that each of your SIP Trunk providers can use the format you use.
   • Use P-Asserted Identifier (PAI) (Optional)—Select to include the PAI header in the outbound call., so OCSS analytics considers the call legitimate. Default: Deselected.
   • Call Tag (Optional)—Select a call tag from the drop-down list. Default: None.

     Note:

     Call Tag functionality is reserved for future use. At this time, configuring call tags does not impact the outbound call INVITE.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Click Add to close the dialog an add the phone number to the list.
   • Click Add Another to keep the dialog open to add another phone number to the list.

Edit Phone Number Attributes on the Outbound Calling Number List

Use the following procedure to edit phone numbers on the Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) outbound calling number list.

Before You Begin

• If your Session Border Controller does not use phone numbers in the E.164 format, Oracle may need to work with you before deploying OCSS to determine how to normalize your phone numbers to work effectively with OCSS.
• You must be a member of the OCSS ACL Editor, OCSS Configuration Editor, or CGBU OCSS Administrator user groups to add numbers to the Outbound Calling Number Validation list.
• See OCSS Phone Number Format Requirements.

Use the following procedure for editing phone numbers on the outbound call validation list.

1. Access the Outbound Call Management tab.
2. On the Outbound Call Validation page, search for the phone number you want to edit.
3. Hover over the row of the phone number you want to edit, and click the edit icon.
   OCSS displays the Edit Outbound Calling Number Attributes dialog.
4. In the Edit Outbound Calling Number Attributes dialog, do the following:
   • Number—You can search for
     • the calling number in E.164 format or 1-15 digits.
     • the presentation number E.164 format or 1-15 digits.
     • numbers using a wild card suffix. For example: +1919555xxxx.
     • a range of numbers.

     Note:

     You cannot edit the phone number, only its attributes. To change the phone number, delete the existing one and add the one you want.
   • Description—Edit the description about the purpose of the number.
   • State—Select Active to validate the outbound number as configured. Select Inactive to use the Inactive Outbound Numbers enforcement action configured under the General Settings tab.
   • Presentation number—Edit the number you want the call recipient to see in caller ID.

     Note:

     Ensure that each of your SIP Trunk providers can use the format you use.
   • Use P-Asserted Identifier (PAI)—Select or deselect to include or exclude the PAI header in the outbound call.
   • Call Tag—Select a different call tag from the list.

     Note:

     At this time, configuring call tags with a value other than the default does not impact the outbound call INVITE.
5. Click Save.

Delete a Phone Number From the Outbound Call Validation List

The simple method for deleting a phone number from the Outbound Calling Number list is to enter the number in the Search field and click the delete icon when Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) finds the number.

Before You Begin

• You must be a member of the OCSS ACL Editor, OCSS Configuration Editor, or CGBU OCSS Administrator user groups to delete numbers from the Outbound Calling Number Validation list.

You can search for

• The general number format convention is country code followed by the subscriber phone number <country code><subscriber phone number>. The country code can be up to three digits long. The subscriber phone number may include an area code and is typically seven to eleven digits long, depending on the national number conventions. For international formatting, you may format the number with a + character (+<country code><subscriber phone number>, for example, [phone]) or without the + character. For outbound calls to international destinations you can use either the + character or the international dialing prefix for your country. Check with your SIP trunk provider for the number format convention it supports.
• numbers using a wild card suffix. For example: +1919555xxxx.
• a range of numbers.

Use the following procedure to delete a phone number without using the Search filters.

1. Access the Outbound Call Management tab.
2. On the Outbound Call Validation page, enter the phone number in the Search field and click Search.
   If OCSS finds a match, it displays the number in the Outbound Call Validation table.
3. Hover over the entry in the table and click the trash can icon.
   OCSS displays a confirmation dialog.
4. Click Delete.

For some searches, you might want to use the filters to find the number to delete. See Delete a Phone Number From the Outbound Call Validation List Using Filters.

Delete a Phone Number From the Outbound Call Validation List Using Filters

Use the following procedure to delete phone numbers from the Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) outbound calling number list when using the filters.

Before You Begin

• You must be a member of the OCSS ACL Editor, OCSS Configuration Editor, or CGBU OCSS Administrator user groups to delete numbers from the Outbound Calling Number Validation list.

You can search for

• The general number format convention is country code followed by the subscriber phone number <country code><subscriber phone number>. The country code can be up to three digits long. The subscriber phone number may include an area code and is typically seven to eleven digits long, depending on the national number conventions. For international formatting, you may format the number with a + character (+<country code><subscriber phone number>, for example, [phone]) or without the + character. For outbound calls to international destinations you can use either the + character or the international dialing prefix for your country. Check with your SIP trunk provider for the number format convention it supports.
• numbers using a wild card suffix. For example: +1919555xxxx.
• a range of numbers.

Use the following procedure to narrow the search for phone numbers to delete by using the Search filters.

1. Access the Outbound Call Management tab.
2. On the Outbound Call Validation page, use the search filters to locate the phone number you want to delete.
3. Hover over the row of the phone number you want to delete, and click the trash can icon.
   OCSS displays a confirmation dialog.
4. Click Delete.
   OCSS displays a success message.

Search Operations in the Outbound Call Validation List

After you create a list of outbound calling numbers for Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) to validate, you might need to edit the list or look for phone numbers for other reasons. For example, you might want to change the settings for one or more of the validation attributes or delete a number.

Note:

You must be a member of the OCSS ACL Editor, OCSS Configuration Editor, or CGBU OCSS Administrator user groups to edit or delete numbers on the Outbound Calling Number Validation list.

The Outbound Calling Numbers page displays a text box for entering a phone number in the center pane and a set of filters in the left pane. You can show or hide the filters pane with the toggle.

You can search in the following ways:

• Enter the phone number in the Search field and click Search
• Enter the phone number in the Search field, select one or more filters, and click Search.

Guidelines for Using Search.

You can search for

• The general number format convention is country code followed by the subscriber phone number <country code><subscriber phone number>. The country code can be up to three digits long. The subscriber phone number may include an area code and is typically seven to eleven digits long, depending on the national number conventions. For international formatting, you may format the number with a + character (+<country code><subscriber phone number>, for example, [phone]) or without the + character. For outbound calls to international destinations you can use either the + character or the international dialing prefix for your country. Check with your SIP trunk provider for the number format convention it supports.
• numbers using a wild card suffix. For example: +1919555xxxx.
• a range of numbers.

Note:

When you search for telephone number that is not on the list, the OCSS prompts you to add the number to the list.

Descriptions of the Filters

State—Filter on Active or Inactive outbound phone numbers.

Use PAI—Filter on whether the P-Asserted Identity is used or not used.

Call Tag—Filter on the Internet Engineering Task Force IETF call header tag.

Outbound Call Management General Settings Page

On the Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) Outbound Call Management tab, click General Settings to reach the Outbound Call Validation Settings configuration page.

The following screen capture shows the Outbound Call Validation Settings page, where you set the domain name and enforcement actions for validation results.

See Configure Outbound Call Validation General Settings

Configure Outbound Call Validation General Settings

Use the Outbound Call Validation page to configure how Oracle® Communications Security Shield (OCSS) displays your domain name to outbound call recipients, enforces inactive outbound calling numbers, and enforces numbers not configured for outbound calling validation.

1. Access the Outbound Call Management tab, click General Settings, and click Outbound Call Validation Settings.
2. On the General Settings page, do the following:
   • Domain Name—Enter the domain name you want the called party to see to identify your company.

     Note:

     For outbound calls, any Header Manipulation Rules that change the domain part of the FROM header may overwrite the domain name provided by OCSS.
   • Inactive Outbound Calling Numbers—Set the enforcement action you want the session border controller to perform on inactive phone numbers configured for Outbound Call Validation. Default: Allow Call. Valid values: Allow Call | Block
   • Outbound Calling Numbers Not Configured—Set the enforcement action you want the session border controller to perform on phone numbers not configured for Outbound Call Validation. Default: Allow Call. Valid values: Allow Call | Block
3. Click Save.