Cisco Unity System Administration Guide (With IBM Lotus Domino), Release 4.0(5)
Restriction Tables

Table Of Contents

Restriction Tables

Overview: Restriction Tables

Predefined Restriction Tables

How Restriction Tables Work

Creating and Modifying Restriction Tables

Restriction Table Settings


Restriction Tables


Overview: Restriction Tables

Restriction tables allow you to control which phone numbers subscribers and administrators can use for:

Transferring calls—including both the numbers subscribers can enter for transferring their calls, and the numbers that unidentified callers can enter when using Caller system transfers. (For more information on Caller system transfers, see the "Setting Up System Transfers" section on page 5-33.)

Recording and playback by phone from Cisco Unity applications, when the phone is the designated recording and playback device in the Media Master, or in the VCR-style player/recorder available in Lotus Notes with IBM Lotus Domino Unified Communications (DUC) for Cisco. (The Media Master is available in the Cisco Unity Administrator and the Cisco Unity Assistant.)

Delivering faxes to a fax machine.

Sending message notifications.

Sending AMIS messages.

For example, you can specify that subscribers have calls transferred only to internal extensions or that faxes are delivered only to local phone numbers. Restriction tables are applied regardless of how a subscriber or administrator accesses Cisco Unity.

Each class of service specifies for its members a restriction table for call transfers, one for message notification, and one for fax deliveries. The restriction table can be the same for all three, or different for each. Note, however, that the AMIS restriction table is not associated with a class of service; there is only one systemwide Restriction Table that controls AMIS message delivery.

Predefined Restriction Tables

Cisco Unity comes with the following predefined restriction tables, which you can modify (including changing their names) but not delete. By default, each of these restriction tables prevents access to long distance phone numbers.

{Default Outdial}

Restricts numbers for message notifications. Also restricts the subscriber extensions that Cisco Unity dials when the phone is selected as the recording and playback device in the Media Master or in the VCR-style player/recorder available in Lotus Notes with DUC for Cisco. (The Media Master is available in the Cisco Unity Administrator and the Cisco Unity Assistant.)

{Default Transfer}

Restricts numbers for call transfers.

{Default Fax}

Restricts numbers for fax delivery.

{Default AMIS}

Determines which AMIS delivery numbers can be processed immediately and which delivery numbers must wait for the AMIS schedule to become active.

CS_Default_System_Transfer

Restricts numbers that can be used for Caller system transfers, which allow unidentified callers to transfer to a number that they specify. For example, callers may want to dial a lobby or conference room phone that is not associated with a Cisco Unity subscriber. By default, the table does not allow Cisco Unity to dial any numbers.


See the following sections in this chapter for more information:

How Restriction Tables Work

Creating and Modifying Restriction Tables

Restriction Table Settings

How Restriction Tables Work

When a subscriber uses the Cisco Unity Assistant or the Cisco Unity conversation to attempt to change a phone number that will be used for message notification, fax delivery, or call transfer, or when subscribers use Caller system transfers to transfer to a number that they specify, Cisco Unity applies the applicable restriction table to verify that the phone number entered is allowed. The same thing happens when an administrator uses the Cisco Unity Administrator to attempt to change a phone number that will be used for message notification, fax delivery, or call transfer. In each case, the restriction table used is the one associated with the subscriber or administrator who is changing the number. (Note that in version 3.1 and earlier, the Cisco Unity Assistant was known as the ActiveAssistant, or AA.)

For example, if a subscriber uses the Cisco Unity Assistant to enter a phone number to set up a message notification device, Cisco Unity applies the restriction table associated with class of service of that subscriber, and displays an error message if the phone number is not allowed. But when an administrator changes a message notification number for a subscriber by using the Cisco Unity Administrator, Cisco Unity applies the restriction table associated with the administrator class of service, not the class of service of the subscriber. Therefore, an administrator can, when necessary, override the limitations of the class of service of a particular subscriber.

Each row of a restriction table is made up of a dial string. Each dial string consists of a call pattern and a setting that specifies whether numbers matching the call pattern are permitted for use. The restriction table is applied when a subscriber or an administrator attempts to change a number controlled by a restriction table, not when Cisco Unity tries to complete a transfer or delivery. (Note, however, that the AMIS restriction table is applied every time a message is sent to an AMIS subscriber or an AMIS location.) To protect Cisco Unity from toll fraud and unauthorized use when subscribers use Caller system transfers, subscribers must log on to Cisco Unity, enter the number that they want to transfer to, and Cisco Unity performs the transfer only when the CS_Default_System_Transfer restriction table permits it.

When a restriction table is applied to a number (such as a pager number for a message notification), Cisco Unity compares the number with the call pattern of the first dial string in the restriction table. If the number does not match the call pattern, Cisco Unity then compares the number with the call pattern in the second dial string, and so on, until it finds a match. When Cisco Unity finds a match, it either permits or restricts the use of this number as specified in the dial string.

Restriction tables are commonly used to permit or restrict the use of the following:

Specific numbers, such as an extension.

Numbers that are greater than or less than a specific length.

Numbers that contain a specific digit or pattern of digits, such as an external access code followed by a long-distance access code.

For example, the restriction table in Table 22-1 restricts most long distance phone numbers, but permits extensions starting with "91." In this case, if a subscriber enters "9123" as a transfer number, Cisco Unity first compares the number to the call pattern in Dial String 0, which restricts all numbers that begin with "91" and are followed by at least seven digits. Because the number entered does not match the call pattern, Cisco Unity then compares the number to Dial String 1, which restricts all numbers that begin with "9011" and are followed by at least seven digits. Finally, Cisco Unity compares the number to the last dial string, which contains the wildcard character that matches all numbers of any length. Because the Allow This String field is set to Yes for this dial string, Cisco Unity permits this number to be used.

Table 22-1 Example 1

Dial String
Call Pattern
Allow This String

0

91???????*

No

1

9011???????*

No

2

*

Yes


The restriction table in Table 22-2 restricts long distance phone numbers and numbers less than four digits long. In this example, "9" is the external access code for the phone system, and "1" is the long-distance access code. Dial String 0 restricts any number beginning with "91," while numbers less than four digits in length are restricted by Dial String 2. Thus, the only numbers permitted by this restriction table have at least four digits, and are not long distance phone numbers.

Table 22-2 Example 2

Dial String

Call Pattern
Allow This String

0

91*

No

1

????*

Yes

2

*

No


Creating and Modifying Restriction Tables

You can modify the predefined restriction tables, and you can create up to 100 new ones. You can also add up to 100 dial strings to a table. New dial strings are automatically inserted into the restriction table as Dial String 0. Note that the order of the dial strings is very important because Cisco Unity sequentially compares a phone number to the call patterns in the restriction table, starting with Dial String 0. If a number matches more than one call pattern, the number is handled according to the first call pattern it matches.

You can indicate call patterns by entering specific numbers or by using the following special characters as wildcards:

*

Matches zero or more digits.

?

Matches exactly one digit. Use ? as a placeholder for a single digit.

#

Corresponds to the # key on the phone.


By default, all restriction tables have * as the call pattern in the last dial string of the table; you cannot modify this call pattern setting. It prevents a case in which the entered number does not match any call pattern in the table. However, you can change the Allow This String field setting for this dial string to either permit or restrict a number.

To Create a New Restriction Table


Step 1 In the Cisco Unity Administrator, go to any Call Management > Restriction Tables page.

Step 2 Click the Add icon.

Step 3 In the Add a Restriction Table dialog box, enter information as applicable in the Name field.

Step 4 Select New Restriction Table or Based on Existing Restriction Table. If you select Based on Existing Restriction Table, select the applicable restriction table in the Based On field.

Step 5 Click the Add button.

Step 6 Enter settings for your new restriction table, and then click the Save icon.


To Modify a Restriction Table


Step 1 In the Cisco Unity Administrator, go to any Call Management > Restriction Tables page.

Step 2 Click the Find icon.

Step 3 Double-click the restriction table that you want to modify.

Step 4 Do one of the following:

To add a dial string, click Add Dial String and enter settings for the new dial string as applicable.

To delete a dial string, click the dial string number in the table at the bottom portion of the Restriction Tables page, and then click Remove Dial String.

To modify a dial string, click the dial string number in the table at the bottom portion of the Restriction Tables page, and change settings as applicable.

Step 5 Click the Save icon.


Restriction Table Settings

Use the following table to learn more about settings for restriction tables.

Table 22-3 Call Management > Restriction Tables Page 

Field
Considerations
Restriction Table Name

Enter a descriptive name for the types of phone numbers that are restricted or for the types of subscribers to which the restrictions apply.

Minimum Digits Allowed

Enter the minimum number of digits—including access codes—in a call transfer, message notification, or fax delivery number. Only the dial strings that contain a number of digits greater than or equal to the Minimum Digits Allowed are checked against the restriction table. Dial strings that contain fewer than the Minimum Digits Allowed are not permitted.

For example, to prohibit subscribers from using four-digit numbers, enter 5 in the Minimum Digits Allowed field.

Default: 1 digit.

Maximum Digits Allowed

Enter the maximum number of digits—including access codes—in a call transfer, message notification, or fax delivery number. Only the dial strings that contain a number of digits fewer than or equal to the Maximum Digits Allowed are checked against the restriction table. Dial strings that contain more than the Maximum Digits Allowed are not permitted.

For example, if local calls in your area are seven digits long, and you want to prevent subscribers from using long distance phone numbers, enter 8 in the Maximum Digits Allowed field. (A local number plus the access code for the phone system equals 8 digits.)

Default: 30 digits.

Selected Dial String

Display only. This setting identifies the dial string in the restriction table that is selected for modifying.

If you click the Add Dial String button, the new dial string is always added to the first row of the restriction table as Dial String 0. Up to 100 dial strings can be specified in a table.

Note that the order of the dial strings is very important. Cisco Unity sequentially compares a phone number to the call patterns in the restriction table, starting with Dial String 0. If a number matches more than one call pattern, the number is permitted or restricted according to the first call pattern it matches.

Allow This String

Select the action that Cisco Unity takes when a number matches a call pattern:

Yes—Permit use of phone numbers matching the pattern.

No—Do not permit use of phone numbers matching the pattern.

Default: No.

Call Pattern

Enter specific numbers or patterns of numbers that can be permitted or restricted. Include external and long-distance access codes. Use digits 0 through 9 and the following special characters:

* to match zero or more digits.

? to match exactly one digit. Each ? serves as a placeholder for one digit.

# to correspond to the # key on the phone.

Default: No long distance, no international numbers.