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Videoconferencing, Video Mail, IVR and Mobile Services

Provided by iPBX Technology

Introduction
Private branch exchange (PBX) systems have traditionally connected private enterprises to
the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using circuit-switched communications. iPBX
(or IP PBX) systems, which use the Internet Protocol (IP) to carry calls over packet-switched
networks, have become increasingly popular in recent years. iPBXs account for a significant
majority of current annual PBX installations. IP based private branch exchange systems are
projected to further dominate the videoconferencing, video mail, IVR and mobile markets in
the coming years.

Evolution of PBX Architecture

Phase 1: Traditional PBX


In the first stage of PBX evolution, traditional PBX systems connected time-division
multiplexing (TDM) equipment and phones only to the circuit-switched PSTN network.
Initially deployed to achieve substantial cost savings on intra-enterprise phone calls, PBXs
became more popular after offering a wide variety of services unavailable in the operator
network including call forwarding, extension dialing, auto dialing, and call waiting.

Phase 2: VoIP+PBX
In the second phase of the PBX evolution, enterprises typically added a voice-over-IP (VoIP)
gateway to operate along side the existing circuit-switched PBX. The new VoIP gateway
enabled packet-switched communications between the enterprise and IP network, while the
previously deployed PBX continued to support traditional circuit-switched communications.
In this phase, VoIP was the main service added to those services already offered in the first
PBX phase, and was typically adopted to reduce the enterprise's communication costs.

Phase 3: Hybrid iPBX


The third phase of PBX architecture development introduced the hybrid iPBX systems that
are predominantly IP in nature, but still support circuit-switched communications to the
PSTN. This phase represents the current status of the PBX evolution, and most iPBX systems
Surf Communication Solutions, Ltd. ▪ Tavor Building ▪ P.O. Box 343 ▪ Yokne'am 20692 ▪ Israel
Tel: +972 (0)73 714 0700 ▪ Fax: +972 (0)4 959 4055 ▪ e-mail: surf@surf-com.com ▪ www.surf-com.com
Multimedia iPBX: Moving Beyond Voice Services

sold today are in fact hybrid, rather than all-IP, systems. Another major current trend is the
adoption of open-source iPBX solutions such as Asterisk®, a leading open-source telephony
engine and tool kit.

Phase 4: Multimedia iPBX


The next phase of PBX development can be called "multimedia iPBX." In this phase,
advanced iPBX systems will empower a wide range of attractive multimedia services and
applications such as videoconferencing, video mail, IVR and mobile services. Before we fully
examine the architecture of multimedia iPBX, we will review a number of key multimedia
service scenarios enabled by iPBX.

Multimedia User-Experience Scenarios

Scenario #1: Videoconferencing


The CTO has a new idea for a product and wants to receive quick feedback from various
colleagues. He invites selected local managers into the conference room for an impromptu
meeting. Participants then decide to establish an immediate off-site videoconferencing
session with the chief design engineer, who is located at a different office, and the VP of
sales, who is reached on his mobile phone sitting on a bench at the train station.

Videoconferencing represents the use of audio and video telecommunications to enable


real-time meetings among numerous participants at different locations. Videoconference
meetings can range from simple conversations between two or more people at two locations
(point-to-point), to complex conferences connecting multiple users at multiple locations
(multi-point). Until now, videoconferencing required utilization of dedicated, identical and
expensive videoconferencing equipment at each location. Preplanning of each conference
was required due to the equipment set up requirements prior to each session.
Now, it is possible to avoid these drawbacks and create a multi-purpose, high-quality and
inexpensive videoconferencing system, as part of an IP-based enterprise telephony system.
The iPBX can serve as a videoconferencing bridge simply by adding video capabilities to the
existing PBX.

Scenario #2: Interactive Voice and Video Response (IVVR)


A paramedic is tending to an injured driver at the scene of a traffic accident. Prior to
administering aid or transferring the patient, he decides to consult with medical staff in
the hospital emergency room. He uses his mobile phone to call the hospital and reaches its
IVVR portal, a pre-programmed, interactive directory is used for direct calls within the
organization. The paramedic chooses the option to consult with a specialist and switches to
video mode. He then uses the camera on his mobile phone to relay visual information
about the patient’s injuries, and receives instructions from the specialist. After entering
the ambulance, he then navigates back within the IVVR portal to the emergency room to

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Multimedia iPBX: Moving Beyond Voice Services

update the receptionist with their estimated time of arrival.

IP-based IVVR systems streamline calls to enhance the customer experience and reduce
costs associated with human agents and large call volumes. Voice-only IVR is migrating to
video-enabled IVVR now that a critical mass of video-ready mobile handsets are on the
market, and operators are increasingly appreciating the improved user experience and new
revenue opportunities offered by video. Common IVVR applications include contact centers
(e.g. telephone banking, credit-card transactions, reservation systems), televoting for TV
programs, mobile and landline content ordering (e.g. games, ringtones, weather forecasts,
adult entertainment), and organizational portals.

Scenario #3: Video mail


Enterprises typically update their employees regarding company activities via periodic on-
site meetings. The larger the company the more difficult it is to arrange meetings with
100% attendance due to, off-site meetings, vacations and sick days. Using video mail, the
company can ensure that the content of such meetings will reach all employees and remain
easily accessible. The live meeting is recorded with a standard video camera or webcam,
with the resulting file stored on the network. Employees who were not present at the
meeting, or those in attendance who want to review certain parts of the presentation,
receive the video clip as a video mail directly to their computer or mobile phone.

Video mail, which is an extension of voicemail or email with an added video dimension, can
be sent to recipients' desktops or mobile handsets. From the sender's perspective, video
mail enables a new level of rich-media content and personalization. From the recipient's
perspective, it ensures that messages will never be lost and allows convenient viewing of
received video clips. From the enterprise perspective, video mail represents another
channel for effective intra-organizational communications. From the service provider
perspective, video mail creates additional revenue streams via increased service adoption
and new advertising opportunities. Given the growing penetration of broadband Internet
access, mobile Internet and video-enabled handsets, video mail is expected to become
increasingly prevalent in the coming years.

Multimedia iPBX Architecture Design


Multimedia iPBX systems introduce a new set of functionality to leverage IP capabilities and
enhance productivity. Their goal is to enable easier and enriched communications while
keeping costs at a minimum.

When designing an advanced iPBX, telecom equipment manufacturers require converged


multimedia communications, multiple network bridges, and support for a variety of user
terminals (3G, IP, PSTN), as well as back-office integration for easier access and
management.

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Multimedia iPBX: Moving Beyond Voice Services

Additional Multimedia Services


As depicted by the aforementioned user-experience scenarios, multimedia iPBX empowers
an array of compelling services that go well beyond traditional voice services. Additional
key multimedia services that can be offered over multimedia iPBX include:

Dual-Mode Handset
Many current mobile phones are equipped with dual-mode operations, allowing them to
function on both cellular and IP networks. An iPBX can be used to capitalize on this dual
functionality and reduce intra-organizational communication costs. In addition to supporting
standard IP codecs such as G.711 and G.729, an iPBX can support cellular codecs such as
AMR and EVRC. As a result, employees can operate their mobile phones like a WiFi device
within the enterprise via the internal network, saving on cellular connection charges. The
support and transition to mobile mode is seamless, so no change in usage habits is required.

Secure Voice
The American National Security Association (NSA) has adopted the IP-based V.150.1 ITU
protocol to ensure secure voice communications among government intelligence agencies.
Recently, several leading manufacturers have commenced production of telephone sets for
internal use that incorporate this protocol in order to transport secure voice traffic. For the
V.150.1 protocol to function, the PBX must serve as a gateway between the PSTN and IP
network. iPBX architecture allows the inclusion of the gateway component within the PBX
framework, thereby streamlining the solution and reducing maintenance costs.

Multimedia iPBX Extensions


Manufacturers of multimedia iPBXs require high-density, low-cost and scalable multimedia
extensions that can be easily integrated into their systems. Surf Communication Solutions
offers media processing solutions that enable multimedia convergence while supporting an
easy migration path from voice to video.

SurfExpress/PCIeTM Media Processing Solution


SurfExpress/PCIe is a modular PCI Express form
factor DSP resource board for flexible yet heavy-
duty enterprise-grade multimedia processing. The
board features a highly innovative patent-pending
design featuring the SurfDocker™ plug-in, allowing
it to carry up to four pairs of DSPs for a total of
eight DSPs per board. Providing 2 Gbit Ethernet
ports and a CT bus for additional TDM interfaces,
SurfExpress/PCIe is designed to meet the
requirements of VoIP enterprise-scale media
servers, iPBXs, media gateways, 3G-324M video
servers, MMSC content adaptation engines, and CTI applications.

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Multimedia iPBX: Moving Beyond Voice Services

Surf DSP-Level Media Processing Solutions


The Surf DSP-level family leverages Texas Instruments' C64xTM DSP
generation, and includes Surf DSP-12/24/82 based on TI’s
TMS320C6412/24/82, respectively. Featuring cost-effective unmatched
processing power of varying densities (depending on the DSP model) and
Surf's patent-pending Open Framework design, the family allows
seamless integration of user-defined and proprietary algorithms. Each member of the Surf
DSP family provides a powerful, yet flexible computing environment for telecom
infrastructure equipment developers.

About the Author


Avi Fisher, CTO, Director and co-founder of Surf Communication Solutions, maintains
extensive expertise in digital signal processing, embedded software and system
architecture. Author of several patents, he was the first contributor to the ITU V.150.1
standard for the relay of modem signals over IP. Avi Fisher holds a B.Sc. summa cum laude
and an M.Sc. from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

About Surf Communication Solutions


Surf Communication Solutions provides media-processing solutions that enable convergence
of voice, video and data across wireline and wireless networks. Surf’s solutions are
predominantly utilized by media gateway developers, media server developers and IMS
equipment manufacturers in the telecommunication infrastructure field to significantly
reduce time to market. For more information, visit www.surf-com.com.

View a more detailed version of the – Videoconferencing, Video Mail, IVR and Mobile
Services Provided by IP-PBX Technology – white paper

© Surf Communication Solutions, 2008 Page 5 of 5

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