Direct Inward Calling Number

The Direct Inward Calling Number object is a child of the Direct Inward Calling object. It defines how external callers can dial directly into individual terminals on the PBX, either by specifying a range of external directory numbers that map to these PBX terminals (Direct Inward Dialing, DID) or by specifying an external directory number that connects directly to the PBX so that the caller can specify an internal extension number (Direct Inward System Access, DISA).


The object's name is displayed in the EMS Tree View as either DID Range or DISA Number, depending on the value you specify for the Type field.

You can limit the calls coming to a particular DID Range or DISA Number as follows.

When these limits are reached, any further calls will be treated as though the PBX is busy. These limits do not affect outgoing calls, so it is still possible for all lines to be busy even when the limits are in place, because the remaining lines are taken up with outgoing calls.


Parameter

Access

Description
Type Create Specifies the type of direct inward calling that this object defines. Values:
  • DID Range
    The object specifies a continuous range of external directory numbers that map to terminals on the PBX.
  • DISA number
    The object specifies a single external directory number that connects directly to the PBX.
Description Change Unique user-friendly name identifying the object. Specify a name of up to 16 characters. If a name is not specified, the EMS displays a default.
Range size Create This field appears only if Type is set to DID Range. It specifies the number of directory numbers in the range.
(First) Directory number Create The meaning of this field depends on the Type field:
  • For DID Range, this field specifies the first external directory number (full national telephone number including the leading zero) in the range.
  • For DISA number, this field specifies the external directory number (full national telephone number including the leading zero) used to access the PBX.
Either type in the number (noting that if the Number status is Normal or Ported from, the directory number must be within an active Number Range), or click on the ellipsis symbol at the end of the field to select from the list of numbers not currently in use, as follows.
  • Select a Number Range.
  • For DID Range only: Select a boundary (10, 50, 100, 500, or 1000) to determine how the starting number in the range should be allocated, or select None if any starting number is acceptable.
  • Select Manual or Automatic block selection.
If you select Automatic, the NE allocates a number or a block of numbers that meets your requirements for range size and starting boundary. It also shows the continuous range of unallocated numbers around the selected block, to help you determine how the available numbers in the range will be fragmented by your selection. If necessary, you can go back and specify a different range size, number range and/or boundary. If you select Manual, the NE displays a list of all possible numbers or number blocks meeting your requirements that could be allocated, again showing the range of unallocated numbers around each number block. Select an appropriate number or block from the list, or go back and specify a different range size, number range and/or boundary if necessary.
Last Directory number Read only This field appears only if the Type field is set to DID Range; it specifies the last directory number in the range.
First code Change This field appears only if the Type field is set to DID Range; it specifies the code that will be pulsed to the PBX to identify the terminal corresponding to the first directory number in the range. Specify a numeric code of 2-10 digits (if the Call Agent signaling type of the parent PBX is Analog line / T1 CAS), or 2-25 digits (if it is SIP). If you do not specify a value, the EMS supplies a default value if the following criteria are met.
  • (First) Directory number is set.
  • Type is set to DID Range.
  • This field has not already been set (even by a previous default).
  • The parent PBX object has a Default number of DID digits value set.
The default value is the last digits of (First) Directory number, with a length equal to the value set in the parent PBX object's Default number of DID digits field.
Last code Read only This field appears only if the Type field is set to DID Range; it specifies the code that will be pulsed to the PBX to identify the terminal corresponding to the last directory number in the range.
Limit incoming calls Change Specifies whether to limit the number of simultaneous incoming calls to this number or range of numbers. Values:
  • True
    The number of simultaneous calls cannot exceed the value specified in the Maximum incoming calls field.
  • False (default)
    The number of simultaneous calls is not limited.
Maximum incoming calls Change This field appears only if Limit incoming calls is True. The maximum number of simultaneous incoming calls to this number or range of numbers. When the limit is reached, any further calls will be treated as though the PBX is busy.
Number status Change Inactive Specifies the status of this number, or each number in this range. Choose Use default to inherit the value from the parent PBX, or specify a value. Values:
  • Normal
    Normal number on this exchange.
  • Ported to
    Number from a different exchange that has been ported to this exchange (for use by a subscriber connected to this exchange).
  • Ported from (UK only)
    Number ported from this exchange to a different exchange (for use by a subscriber connected to that exchange).
  • Recently moved
    Number that a subscriber has recently stopped using, to change to another exchange or to another number on this exchange. When someone calls this number, the NE plays an announcement about the change.
  • Reserved - old number
    Number that has previously been used and is being kept for a period of time before re-use.
  • Reserved for future use
    Number that has been reserved for future use.
  • Ported out (North America only)
    Number ported from this exchange to a different exchange (for use by a subscriber connected to that exchange).
  • Reserved - ported in (North America only)
    Number from a different exchange that has been ported to this exchange, but is not yet in use by a subscriber connected to this exchange.
  • Non-geographic
    Non-geographic number owned by this switch. This number status is used when there is a requirement to define a subscriber with a non-geographic Directory Number. Calls to this subscriber will only succeed if this switch and adjacent switches are configured to route calls directly to this number without performing AIN non-geographic number lookups.
Connect call after announcement Read Only / Change This field appears only if Number status is set to Recently moved. This field is read only, and takes its value from the parent PBX, if Number status is set to use default. Specifies whether a caller who calls the old number should be connected to the new number after an announcement. Values:
  • True
    The caller hears an announcement about the number change, and is then connected to the new number. The field Moved to directory number must specify a number configured on this MetaSwitch NE.
  • False (default)
    The caller hears an announcement that the number has changed, but is not automatically connected.
Moved to directory number Read Only / Change This field appears only if Number status is set to Recently moved, and is required if Connect call after announcement is set to True. This field is read only, and takes its value from the parent PBX, if Number status is set to use default. The new directory number to which this subscriber has now moved. Specify the number as a full national telephone number including the leading zero.
Ported exchange ID Read Only / Change The ID of the exchange to which calls for this nnumber should be redirected. This is a 5-digit number, allocated by the OFTEL Numbering Unit. When redirecting the call, the MetaSwitch NE identifies the target exchange by adding a 6-digit prefix to the called number; the prefix consists of the digit 5 followed by this exchange ID. This field appears, and must be supplied, only if the Number status field is set to Ported from.
PBX capacity group Change This field is valid only in the US.