Telephony software provides all of the components – APIs, drivers, firmwares, libraries and tools – that are needed for the development and operation of Aculab’s digital network access and Prosody media processing resource products. Strategic components include IP telephony and SS7 protocol software, and the algorithms and firmware modules for all Prosody products using the TiNG framework.
The development of Aculab’s telephony software architecture continues, with the regular introduces introduction of new features. This brings many benefits to users, not least of which is the opportunity to influence the introduction of new functionality. The general release version of Aculab telephony software is always available to users from the software downloads pages. It is accessed using the Aculab installation tool (AIT), which allows users to select and download the modules needed to create their desired software build.
Global deployments made easy Telephony software is unaffected by the number and type of boards installed in a system and is independent of the protocols in use. Downloading the required protocol firmware is done concurrently on a per-trunk basis, leading to fast system initialisation. And Also there is no requirement to stop and restart an application or install different call driver combinations in order to change the assignments of protocols to boards or to trunks. This means that users may change the configuration or protocol in use on any trunk, on any board, without affecting active call traffic elsewhere in the system.
One telephony software build, therefore, means that enables customers to address global deployments with need only maintain a single, concise software build load for all deployments worldwide. This also means reduced reduces development, test and implementation overheads for developers.
IP, TDM – the choice is yours
With telephony software, users can select from Aculab’s worldwide portfolio of protocols, including a wide range of CAS and ISDN firmwares, H.323, SIP, and our SS7 stack (see the product bulletin APB0016 for details).
Many carriers have implemented variants of SS7 to allow enhanced and differentiated services to be offered. These can range from complex protocol conversion solutions to network based messaging, prepaid calling board platforms and other revenue generating services. The evolution of Aculab's SS7 is intended to assist developers and integrators designing such value-added solutions for public telephony networks.
In tune with the inescapable shift toward an IP-based communications transport infrastructure Aculab telephony software underpins proven implementations of both H.323 and SIP. These enable successful developers and new entrants to leverage solutions into the IP arena and target IP-centric offerings based on hardware (peripheral expansion slot boards) and software (host media processing) alternatives.
On many Aculab hardware configurations IP and TDM protocols can be run simultaneously, thus making possible a variety of high performance converged or gateway product designs.
One application, or many?
The telephony software call event mechanism allows the running of multiple, simultaneous applications independently sharing access to a common set of resources. An application that uses Aculab telephony software simply opens each individual resource before making use of it. This enables discrete, modular applications to be written with efficient, easy to maintain code – a key goal for most developers. Furthermore, new applications can be readily added, each able to access the available resources, with no disruption to active processes. The flexibility gained also enables the optimum – cost effective – provisioning of system resources.
Utilities abound
A number of utilities are provided for all supported operating systems. These are used for the download, installation, configuration and test of Aculab telephony software. A manual (command line) configuration option is also available.
The AIT is a software application that enables users to select, download and install telephony software files onto a system – users grab only the files that are needed for the target application. A further benefit of the AIT is that it will also allow users to readily identify when new releases or updates are posted – release notes are viewable via the AIT. Users need a password and username, which are available from technical support, to run the installation package.
The Aculab configuration tool (ACT) is an essential application that is automatically installed onto the target system by the AIT when downloading telephony software. On completion of the installation the ACT is used to configure the software.
CallLab is a utility that can be configured for bulk TDM call generation, back-to-back (system-to-system) or loop-back (single system) call tests. SS7maint is a command-line program that is used during installation, configuration, maintenance, testing, and troubleshooting of an Aculab SS7 installation. These utilities, which are available under a cost free licence with Aculab telephony software, are useful tools, which can help reduce the time and cost associated with proving or testing new products.
Hot swap architecture
Hot swap is designed to allow the orderly insertion and extraction of cPCI boards in a running system, allowing for reconfiguration and fault recovery with minimal down time. It enables CT systems to emulate proprietary PBX/ACD and central office switch functionality in an open standards way.
The enumeration of system resources is effected by a resource management API, which manages and detects hot swap events. In a hot swap system, where support is available for the operating system, any like replacement board will be automatically detected and the necessary resource support loaded.
Product options
Telephony software is available for all E1/T1, IP telephony and Prosody hardware, including Prosody X, in PCI and CompactPCI form factors, and for Prosody S.
Operating system support
Telephony software is available to download with support for Linux, SPARC Solaris, Windows XP/2000 and Windows Server 2003 operating system environments. See the software downloads page for up to date information on operating system support.
