Automated Attendant


  • Automatically answers the telephone system’s incoming calls, plays an Instruction Menu message, and provides dialing options to callers.
    • The Automated Attendant features described on this page are available in software versions 3.01 or higher.
  • For a built-in call answering capability when IntraMail is not installed, see Automated Attendant, Built-In.
Additional Feature Information
Automated Attendant, Built-In
Call Routing Mailbox
Dial Action Table
Multiple Company Greetings
User Operation
Automated Attendant
Shortcuts
Upgrading from the Built-In Automated Attendant

Description

The Automated Attendant answers outside calls on each line, according to the time of the day and day of the week that the call is ringing. The Automated Attendant can automatically answer the telephone system’s incoming calls, play an Instruction Menu message, and provide dialing options to callers. There are 3 major components:
  • Line Schedules
    • The Line Schedules, when enabled, set how the system answers outside calls according to the time of day and day of week the call is ringing. If the active Line Schedule routes a call to an IntraMail Call Routing Mailbox, the Automated Attendant picks up.

    • By default, Line Schedules do not route calls to the Automated Attendant.

  • Call Routing Mailbox
    • A Call Routing Mailbox (32 maximum) is a mailbox associated with an individual Line Schedule entry. It specifies which dialing options (Dial Action Table) are available to callers. It also provides the Instruction Menu to callers which typically greets the callers and describes the dialing options.

    • By default, Line Schedules do not route calls to the Automated Attendant.

  • Dial Action Table
    • Once the Automated Attendant answers, the Dial Action Table (16 maximum) provides the dialing options to callers. Each digit a caller can dial is assigned a specific action (function) in the Dial Action Table. The dial action used depends on the setting in the active Call Routing Mailbox, which in turn depends on the Line Schedule setup.

    • By default, Call Routing Mailboxes 1-8 use Dial Action Table 1.

Upgrading from the Built-In Automated Attendant

To upgrade to IntraMail from the Built-In Automated Attendant:
  1. Plug the IntraMail CompactFlash card into the system.
    • See your system’s Hardware Manual for more.
  2. Reset the system. IntraMail automatically installs.
  3. Rerecord your Instruction Menu Messages.
    • Your Line Schedule and Dial Action Table programming remain intact.

Conditions and Defaults

Conditions


  • None.

Default Setting


  • See Description above.

Release Notes (System)

Digit Processing Improved After Invalid Entry

[3.05] If the Automated Attendant has a custom greeting (Instruction Menu Message) recorded, the processing of invalid entries is improved. Invalid entries occur when an outside callers dials digits into the Automated Attendant that are not defined in the Dial Action Table. With this software version, it is not necessary to wait for the "That is an invalid entry" or the custom greeting to complete. The system now discards the invalid entries and processes the valid entries more quickly.

Reference: None

Other Related Features

Features


  • Line Schedules
    • If enabled, sets how the system answers outside calls.

IntraMail Features


  • Call Routing Mailbox
    • The mailbox that specifies the dialing options (Dial Action Table) and Instruction Menu that announcements are available to Automated Attendant callers.
  • Dial Action Table
    • Defines the dialing options for the Call Routing Mailbox.
  • Fax Detection
    • The Automated Attendant can route outside calls to the company fax machine.
  • Multiple Company Greetings
    • One IntraMail system can provide individual greetings and dialing options for several companies.