NConference can be used to create a conference bridge with n users. It does not rely on hardware timing devices and works exceptionally well with different codecs and sample sizes.

Application Arguments and Syntax

Synopsis

Navynet Channel Independent Conference

Syntax

NConference(confno/options/pin)

Options

The options string may contain zero or more of the following:

• M: Caller is Moderator (can do everything).
• S: Caller is Speaker.
• L: Caller is Listener (cannot talk).
• T: Caller is Talker (cannot listen but can only speak).
• C: Caller is Consultant (can talk only> to moderator).
• V: Do VAD (Voice Activity Detection).
• d: Disable DTMF handling (keypad functions).
• x: Don’t auto destroy conference when all users quit. (it’s destroyed after 300 seconds of inactivity) Note: works only with M option set.
• q: Quiet mode. Don’t play enter sounds when entering.
• m: Disable music on hold while the conference has a single caller.

If ‘pin’ is set, then if the member is a Moderator that pin is inherited by the conference (otherwise pin is empty), if the member is not a Moderator and the conference is locked, that pin is used to gain access to the conference.

Please note that the options parameter list delimiter is ’/’ Returns 0 if the user exits with the ’#’ key, or -1 if the user hangs up.

Example Dial Plans

Simple moderator extension:

exten => 4002,1,NConference(100/M)

Creates a conference numbered 100 at extension 4002 for a moderator.

Simple participant extension

exten => 4001,1,NConference(100/S)

Creates a conference numbered 100 at extension 4001 for a speaker, which means the participant can talk and listen but cannot moderate the conference.

Channel Variables

Nconference accepts 3 channel variables which, if present (like in the following example) will set the outbound features of the application. All of them are optional.

exten => 1234,1,Answer
; Then context where outbound calls will take place
exten => 1234,n,Set(NCONF_OUTBOUND_CONTEXT=internal)
; The default option parameters for the called member
exten => 1234,n,Set(NCONF_OUTBOUND_PARAMS=S)
; The default timeout before giving up the call
exten => 1234,n,Set(NCONF_OUTBOUND_TIMEOUT=5)
; Caller id Name and Num
exten => 1234,n,Set(NCONF_OUTBOUND_CID_NAME=Nconf)
exten => 1234,n,Set(NCONF_OUTBOUND_CID_NUM=9999)
 ; Here we are ... 
exten => 1234,n,NConference(12345/MV/1111)

NCONF_OUTBOUND_CONTEXT: The context where to put the outgoing call to.

NCONF_OUTBOUND_PARAMS : Parameters to invoke the conference application in the outbound channel.

NCONF_OUTBOUND_TIMEOUT (seconds) : The timeout before hangup, if no answer.

Keyboard Functions

NConference can be controlled with DTMF tones generated by your phone’s keyboard.

Normal mode (all types of users)

1	2	3
4	5	6
7	8	9
*	0	#

• 1: Talk volume DOWN
• 2: Hold this channel – Talk Mute and switch on MOH (on/off)
• 3: Talk volume UP
• 4: VAD On/Off if support is compiled in
• 5: Talk Mute ON/OFF
• 6: Enable/Disable sounds for this member (override conference main settings) (a beep is played when sounds are enabled)
• 7:
• 8:
• 9: Asks for pin to become a moderator member (terminated by #)
• 0: Says the number of the members in the conference
• STAR: Enable admin mode (if the member is a Moderator, otherwise do nothing)
• #: Hangup

Moderator mode

1	2	3
4	5	6
7	8	9
*	0	#

• 1: Considers the following digits (up to #) as an extension to be called and added to the conference. The extension is looked up in the context specified by NCONF_OUTBOUND_CONTEXT. The conference is started for a SPEAKER vith VAD (if compiled in) and DTMF tones commands activated.
• 2:
• 3:
• 4: Enable/Disable sounds for ALL members of the conference.
  • 0: Disable
  • 1: Enable

• 5: Mute/Unmute all members except the one who has typed the command
  • 0: Unmute
  • 1: Mute

• 6: Start/Stop playing MOH for all members of the conference.
  • 0: Stop
  • 1: Start

• 7: Lock/Unlock the conference (No one will be able to join unless it’s moderator)
  • 0: Unlock
  • 1: Lock

• 8:

• 9: Sets the following digits (up to #) as the conference PIN. Plays the PIN when set. (Throws manager event)

• 0: Hangup
  • 0: Quit gracefully all users except the member entering the command
  • 1: Kicks last user entered
  • 2: Kicks all users except the member entering the command
• STAR: Exits admin mode
• #: Applicable to some commands to indicate the command is over: execute it

Manager Commands

Syntax

NConference command conference_name usernumber

Available commands

• kick
• list
• lock
• mute
• show
• unlock
• unmute

Manager Events

Manager events are generated on:

• DTMF Received
• Speaking state change detected
• Setting the PIN of a conference
• Joins/Leave events
• Conference Creation/Deletion

License and Credits

NConference is a channel independent conference

It is distributed under GPL V2.

It was written by Massimo “CtRiX” Cetra – Navynet SRL – Firenze, Italy – http://www.navynet.it

Inspiration was taken from app_conference and some (small) parts of the code were re-used.