Implementing a Help Point System using GAI-Tronics VoIP products0 pages

VoIP Telephony
Implementing a Help Point System
using GAI-Tronics VoIP products
General Description
GAI-Tronics VoIP products incorporate a number of features designed to deliver a high-quality, resilient
system across an IP network. This document highlights those features particularly important for
implementing a Help Point or Emergency Call Point system. Full specifications and configuration options
are contained in the installation guide and configuration guide.
Physical and Environmental properties
In common with most GAI-Tronics products, VoIP Help Points are designed to be rugged, vandal resistant,
weather resistant to IP65, and have an operating temperature range of -20°C to + 60°C, making them
perfectly suited for public use in internal and external locations.
System Approach - design for resilience / open protocols
In the GAI-Tronics approach there does not have be a single Help Point Server. Rather than a single
monolithic device, a number of discrete servers are used to provide the services required for the Help
Points to operate. “Server” in this instance implies a software entity rather than a physical machine; the
required server can be anywhere on the IP network
This approach delivers 2 key benefits:
•
Ease of integration, by using standard open protocols.
•
Resilience, by using multiple redundant servers
Open protocols
None of the servers of protocols used by GAI-Tronics Help Points is proprietary or in any way bespoke to
GAI-Tronics. Central to this is SIP (Session Initiation Protocol, RFC3261) which has been widely adopted
as the preferred protocol for VoIP. Using standard components and open protocols means that Help
Points can often be integrated into an existing VoIP system with no additional equipment, with a
subsequent reduction in maintenance, support, technical training and the other often hidden costs of
maintaining additional equipment on a network. Using a standard SIP server can make PABX-style
features such as call diversion, call forwarding, conferencing and call recording available to Help Points.
The servers that a GAI-Tronics VoIP Help Point can use are:
•
SIP proxy - to route calls
•
SIP registrar (frequently combined with the proxy server)- to resolve URls to IP addresses
•
DNS - to resolve domain names to IP addresses
•
Syslog (over TCP) - for reporting alarms and external inputs
•
SMTP - for reporting alarms via email
•
STNP - to synchronise the internal clock in the Help Point
•
TFTP - for downloading configuration files to Help Point
Many of these will already be available as part of the normal components on an IP network.
If any components do need to be added specifically for the Help Points, they can be readily sourced from a
number of suppliers.