Re: Question/Suggestion

[Alexander Larsson <alla lysator liu se>]

I don't actively work on Dia anymore. I CC:d this mail to the mailing
list where Dia development are done. Please continue this discussion
there.

/ Alex

On Mon, 2002-01-28 at 20:49, Martin Meadows wrote:
> Hi Alex
>
> Summary: XML file formats allow for parsers which create ready made state
> transition tables.  www.envox.com have a CTI telephony-call-flow system
> which saves in XML but it is not extensible.  With the right plugin-type
> feature extension, DIA may have the potential to become the defacto CTI
> call-flow design system in the telecom industry.
>
> Detail: I work in the CTI development on purpose built solutions for Call
> Centres like the directory enquiries platform used by Cable & Wireless.
>
> Most of our solutions deploy some form of automated system for announcing
> numbers and offering call connection.
>
> To date we've used VoiceTek (now Aspect), Periphonics (Nortel) and Envox
> platforms.  These environments each provide a flowchart like call-scripting
> tool for building sequences of operations to handle different call
> scenarios.
>
> The first two are fairly aged & clunky XWindow systems and the third (Envox)
> is more recent and slick and stores its schemas in XML.  
>
> The design tools are used to string together various operations (represented
> as shapes) such as answer, hang-up, say-something, record-something, etc.
> Each shape usually has one input and multiple outputs. The input represents
> a link from the previous operation, and outputs represent different possible
> outcomes which can each be linked to different next-operations.  Typical
> utcomes include as normal-completion, error-exit, and the various
> asynchronous events such as caller-hang-up.
>
> The potential power of diagram'd call handling logic is immense but is
> usually implemented in a propriety manner which restricts use to particular
> telephony hardware.  For instance, the Envox system saves in XML but doesn't
> allow users to add new shapes or develop multithreaded logic.
>
> Having found your tool over the weekend and read much of its praise and
> recognition, I believe it could readily provide the extensible functionality
> which might gain it defacto adoption across the telecom industry for
> building telephony handling logic.
>
> I'd like to suggest that you review Envox's design environment which can be
> downloaded FOC from their website, as I feel DIA could significantly improve
> on it.
>
> I would be interested in your comments.
>
> Best regards - Martin Meadows