Subject: From: Date:

FTP site and examples of configurations Martin Terry Sun, 27 Sep 1998 00:32:59 -0700

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ECS users-

I have been thinking of, and finally this week implementing, a new ECS
phone event Working in an area of ECS that I'm not that familiar with I
have some questions...

Phone processing (I'm using bigmouth and ECST btw) is one of ECS's
greatest strengths when coupled with Caller ID. Currently, when a call
comes into my home, through the power of ECS it determines who the call
if for (me, one of the kids, etc.), announces the call first, then rings
the phone, and if the call isn't answered plays the caller an outgoing
message based on who the call is for and takes a message specifically
for the target member of the family.  And that's not to mention the
changes that may occur if it's 2am, or we're having dinner, or whatever
other exceptions are programmed.

However, the lack of caller id data can bring this process to a grinding
halt.  Rather than blocking all unknown calls, (which would include
myself since my employer doesn't provide caller id data) I have thought
of implementing an event that would answer all unknown calls, play a
message that unknown calls must provide a phone number, then get the
number through a remote-phone-button item.  After that I could take the
number, look it up in a table and either announce the call, take a
message, or tell the calling party to kiss-off. :)

I've done some local-phone-button programming, but this is my first
experience at remote phone, outside of macros.

I wonder if anyone else has done much remote-phone processing? Any
pointers?

I began thinking that the FTP site, which has a repository of older ECS
list discussions, also has several config files, provided by veritable
GIANTS of ECS cutting edge usage (at least back then). Some (or all) of
these folks are still around. I for one got a great deal of ideas and
insight in reading over other people's config files, both for current
needs, and for equipment I might add in the future. It's a shame there
aren't any current versions.

Would anyone be interested in sharing ECS config files? Granted,
personal or security related data would need to be removed, but
otherwise it's a fairly painless process.

Who actually manages the FTP site?  Would there be space available for
this kind of data?

I personally would be happy to participate. My config is fairly well
commented, otherwise I wouldn't be able to maintain it! :)

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