ParagonVoIP Support

Configuring User Answering Rules

Answering rules define how calls to this extension are handled. To configure answering rules for the selected user:

From the Users page, click the Answering Rules tab. A page similar to the following appears.

Use the Ring for  drop-down list to select the maximum number of seconds that incoming calls ring for this user before the system routes the call to the user’s voicemail or the Forward if Unanswered option, if configured.

From this page, you can:

• Allow or block calls for this user (see “Allowing or Blocking Calls” on page ).
• Add answering rules for this user (see “Adding Answering Rules” on page ).
• Change the active rule for this user (see “Changing the Active Answering Rule” on page ).
• Edit answering rules for this user (see “Editing Answering Rule” on page ).
• Deleting answering rules for this user (see “Deleting Answering Rules” on page ).

Allowing or Blocking Calls

To allow or block calls for this user:

Click the Allow/Block button. The Allow/Block pop-up window appears.

Calls from allowed numbers bypass call screening and server side Do Not Disturb (not phone DND). To allow numbers for this user, enter a number in the Enter a number field under ALLOWED NUMBERS, and then click the plus sign next to this field. Repeat this step for each additional number you want to allow for this user.

Calls from blocked numbers receive a fast busy or number disconnected message. To block numbers for this user, enter a number in the Enter a number field under BLOCKED NUMBERS, and then click the plus sign next to this field. Repeat this step for each additional number you want to block for this user.

To block anonymous or unknown numbers, check Block anonymous or unknown.

Click Done.

Adding Answering Rules

Adding additional answering rules allows you specify alternate call answering rules in a different time frame (for example, handle calls differently on a weekend than on a weekday). To add an answering rule for this user:

• Click the Add Rule button. The Add an Answering Rule pop-up window appears.

Complete the settings in the Add an Answering Rule pop-up window.

Table 1-1. Adding/Editing Answering Rules

Setting	Description
Time Frame	Select a time frame to which this answering rule will be applied. Choices shown are the ones previously configured using the procedure under “Adding Time Frames” on page .
Enabled	Add an answering rule: this check box does not appear. Edit an answering rule: enable (check) or disable (uncheck) this time frame for this user.
Do not disturb	Enables or disables the Do Not Disturb feature. Choices are: Checked = enable Do Not Disturb. Send all calls directly to voicemail (if available), without ringing the phone. Not checked = disable Do Not Disturb.
Call screening	Enables or disables the Call Screening feature. Choices are: Checked = enable Call Screening. System prompts callers to say their name, and then lets you screen the call before accepting it. Not checked = disable Call Screening.
Call Forwarding options	Select the following appropriate Call Forwarding settings. When entering another extension as a Call Forward option, a drop-down menu allows you to forward the call to specific resources associated with that extension (see Table ‎4-3). Some settings might not appear, depending on the features associated with the given extension. Choices are: Always = immediately forward calls to the number specified in the text field. When busy = forward calls to the number specified in the text field when your extension has used all available call paths. When unanswered = forward calls to the number specified in the text field if the call is not answered after the specified ring timeout. When offline = automatically forward calls to the number specified in the text field if your desk phone has lost communication (for example, during a power outage).
Simultaneous Ring	Simultaneous ring allows multiple phones to ring at the same time. Check boxes allow you to include the user’s extension, ring all user phones at the same time, and use answer confirmation for offnet numbers. Include user’s extension = check to ring the phone with the same extension as the user. Ring all user’s phones = ring all phones associated with this user at the same time. Answer confirmation for offnet numbers = ensures when conducting a simring to a cell/landline that the answering party is a person instead of voicemail by requesting them to press 1 to accept the call.
	In this field, you can enter the extension of another telephone you want to ring. The clock icon allows you to specify a ring delay. A ring delay allows you to enter the amount of time before the call rings at the destination. To add other phones to the simring, click the green plus icon.
Just ring user’s extension	Enables or disables the ringing of your telephone only. Checked = incoming call rings just your telephone. Not checked = feature is disabled.

Table ‎1-2. Call Forward Selections

• Click Save.

Repeat this procedure to add answering rules for this user.

Changing the Active Answering Rule

You can define multiple answering rules, but only one rule can be active at a time. The active rule is the first rule with a matching time frame. Best practices dictate that you order answering rules according to how specific they are, with the most specific time frames (for example, Holidays) at the top.

Assume today is Monday, July 4^th. In this example, the Holidays and Open time frames could match the time and date conditions for July 4th. If Holidays is the first rule, however, it becomes the active rule. But if Open is the first rule, Open becomes the active rule.

To specify a rule other than the top one as the active rule:

• In the Answering Rules tab, find the rule you want to designate as the active rule.
• On the left side of the Answering Rules tab, hover the mouse over the up/down arrows for that rule (the pointer changes to a 4-headed arrow).
• Hold down your mouse button, drag the rule to the top row, and then release the mouse button. A message tells you that the answering rules have been re-prioritized and prompts you to click Save.

• Click Save. The Active designation appears next to the topmost time frame.

Editing Answering Rules

To edit an answering rule for this user:

• In the Answering Rules tab, hover over the answering rule, and then click the icon at the far right of the row.

The Edit Answering Rule pop-up window appears.

• Change the rule, as appropriate. For assistance, see Table ‎1-2 on page .
• Click Save.

Deleting Answering Rules

If you no longer need an answering rule for a user, you can delete the rule. You can delete any answering rule, except the default rule.

• In the Answering Rules tab, hover over the answering rule, and then click the icon at the far right of the row.

A confirmation prompt appears.

• Click Yes to delete the rule or No to retain it.