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Cisco Unified Communications Manager – Time Based Call Routing

Time based call routing is a convenient feature in the Cisco Unified Communications Manager that allows calls to be treated differently according to a time schedule.

For this example we’ll assume an incoming number will be manipulated so that during regular office hours it will route to reception. Off-hours including lunchtime the call will go direct to voicemail.

Assumptions:
Main number is 206-555-1000 The CUCM strips all but the last four digits.
Hours of operation are Mon-Fri 8:00am to 6:00pm with a lunch between noon and 1:00pm.

The starting point is to create Time Periods associated with those hours.

Best practice is to name the time periods based on what they are.

The Open Hours will need two time periods:

  • Mon-Fri 8:00 to 12:00
  • Mon-Fri 13:00 to 18:00

The Closed Hours will need four time periods:

  • Mon-Fri 0:00 to 8:00
  • Mon-Fri 12:00 to 13:00
  • Mon-Fri 18:00 to 24:00
  • Weekends 0:00 to 24:00

Next is to assign the Time Periods to Time Schedules

  • TS_Reception_Open – the two associated time periods.
  • TS_Reception_Closed – the four associated time periods.

Once done you need to create two Partitions assigning the Time Schedules:

  • Part_Reception_Open – TS_Reception_Open
  • Part_Reception_Closed – TS_Reception_Closed

The Calling Search Space (SEA_Local) assigned to the incoming Gateway must then contain those two partitions:

  • For our example the reception phone Line1 is assigned 2000.
  • On the Cisco Unity server the voicemail subscriber with extension 1000 is Reception.
  • The Alternate Extension assigned to the subscriber is 2000 for convenience.

Next is to create a Translation Pattern for open office hours:

  • Translation Pattern – 1000
  • Partition – Part_Reception_Open
  • Description – Main Line 206-555-1000 Open
  • Calling Search Space – SEA_Local
  • Route This Pattern – checked
  • Called Party Transform Mask – 2000

Create a CTI Route Point for the Main Line Off-Hours going direct to Voicemail:

  • DeviceName – MainLineOpen
  • Description – Main Line 206-555-1000 Closed
  • Assign the appropriate Device Pool
  • Calling Search Space – SEA_Local
  • Save and then Line [1] – Add a new DN
  • Directory Number – 1000
  • Partition – Part_Reception_Closed
  • Description/Alerting – Main Line Closed
  • Calling Search Space – SEA_Local
  • Click the box to Forward All to Voicemail
  • Calling Search Space – SEA_Local

The Cisco Unified Communications Manager will then route the call appropriately.

Call flow follows:

PSTN calls 206-555-1000 and for our example strips it to the last four digits.

  • The Gateway sees incoming calls off the Calling Search Space of SEA_Local.
  • In that calling search space it sees two entries for 1000.
  • Next the CUCM checks the time schedule to see how to treat the call.
  • During hours it will be translated to 2000 Line1 of the Reception phone.
  • After hours it will route to the CTI Route Point with a CallFwdAll to the voicemail server and the subscriber extension 1000.