Dial-ahead digit vector examples

Last Updated : Sep 08, 2012 |

The vectors in the following examples illustrate a situation where a caller can enter dial-ahead digits. In this case, the caller must have a touch-tone telephone. Program an alternative handling sequence in case the caller has a rotary telephone or the caller does not dial a touch-tone digit before the time out period.

Step 2 of vector 30 offers the caller two options, each of which provides different information. The caller is prompted to enter either 1 or 2, depending on the information the caller wants to hear. Once the caller enters a digit, the digit is collected by the collect digits command. Thereafter, an attempt is made by the route-to number command to route the call to the appropriate vector (step 3 or 4). If the caller enters a digit other than 1 or 2, the appropriate announcement is provided (step 5), and the digit entry cycle is repeated (step 6).

If the caller enters 1, vector 31 is accessed.

Using dial-ahead digits to bypass announcements, example 1

VDN (extension=1030   name=‘‘Coastal’’   vector=30)
Vector 30:  
1. wait-time 0 seconds hearing ringback
2. collect 1 digits after announcement 3000 [Thank you for calling Coastal League Baseball Hotline. You must have a touch-tone telephone to use this service. If you wish to hear the scores of yesterday’s games, please press 1. If you wish to hear today’s schedule of games, please press 2.]
3. route-to number 1031 with cov y if digit = 1
4. route to number 1032 with cov y if digit = 2
5. announcement 301 [Entry not understood. Please try again.]
6. goto step 2 if unconditionally

In step 1 of vector 31, the caller is offered three options that supplement the original option provided in vector 30. The caller is prompted to enter either 3, 4, or 5, depending on what information the caller wants to hear. If the caller enters an incorrect digit, the customary digit correction routine is implemented (steps 5 and 6). Once an appropriate digit is entered, the call is routed, in this example by a goto step command (step 2, 3, or 4), to the appropriate announcement (step 7 or step 9).

In step 10 of vector 31, the caller is prompted with the choice of returning to the main menu provided in vector 30 or of terminating the call. If the caller selects the former option (by entering 9), the call is routed to vector 30 and the entire process is repeated.

Using dial-ahead digits to bypass announcements, example 2

VDN (extension=1031  name=‘‘Scores’’   vector=31)
Vector 31:
 1. collect 1 digits after announcement 4000 [If you wish to hear scores of games in both divisions, please press 3. If you wish to hear scores for Northern Division games only, please press 4. If you wish to hear scores for Southern Division games only, please press 5.]
 2. goto step 7 if digits = 3
 3. goto step 7 if digits = 4
 4. goto step 9 if digits = 5
 5. announcement 301 [Entry not understood. Please try again.]
 6. goto step 1 if unconditionally
 7. announcement 4002 [Northern Division scores]
 8. goto step 10 if digits = 4
 9. announcement 4003 [Southern Division scores]
10. collect 1 digits after announcement 4004 [If you wish to return to the main menu, please press 9. Otherwise, press 0.]
11. route-to number 1030 with cov n if digit = 9
12. goto step 15 if digit = 0
13. announcement 301 [Entry not understood. Please try again.]
14. goto step 10 if unconditionally
15. disconnect after announcement none

Vector 32 is similar in design to vector 31. The major difference is the information provided and the requested digit entries.

In this example, the caller has to go through two sets of options to get the desired information. Each option set is introduced by an announcement. However, because of the dial-ahead digit capability, the caller can bypass the announcements if the caller wishes to. The caller can enter 1 and 5 within a matter of seconds to hear yesterday’s Southern Division scores.

The caller can enter digits while the call is being queued for an announcement or while the announcement is playing. If digits are entered during an announcement, the announcement is disconnected. If digits are entered while a call is queued for an announcement, the call is removed from the announcement queue.

Dial-ahead digits, example 2

VDN (extension=1032   name=Schedule   vector=32)
Vector 32
 1. collect 1 digits after announcement 5000 [If you wish to hear today’s schedule of games in both divisions, press 6. 
    To hear today’s schedule of games in the Northern Division only, press 7. To hear today’s schedule of games in the 
    Southern Division only, press 8.]
 2. goto step 7 if digits = 6
 3. goto step 7 if digits = 7
 4. goto step 9 if digits = 8
 5. announcement 301 [Entry not understood. Please try again.]
 6. goto step 1 if unconditionally
 7. announcement 5002 [Northern Division schedule]
 8. goto step 10 if digits = 7
 9. announcement 5003 [Southern Division schedule]
10. collect 1 digits after announcement 4004 [To return to the main menu, press 9. Otherwise, press 0.]
11. route-to number 1030 with cov n if digit = 9
12. goto step 15 if digits = 0
13. announcement 301 [Entry not understood. Please try again.]
14.goto step 10 if unconditionally
15.disconnect after announcement none