Automated or Virtual Receptionist used to block SPAM callers

[Logan]

Are there any solutions out there for automated receptionists or virtual receptionists that I could use with my OBi2182 or OBi202 that would allow callers to hear a generic message when calling in and have to press a number to transfer? For example, a caller calls in, and the virtual receptionist answers the phone and says "press 8 to be connected to Logan". There are no other options to press... only 8. If the caller presses 8, it transfers the caller to me. If the caller does not press 8, my phone never rings. Are there any options here for this? If not, are there any other options (outside of GV) that I could enable that may help with spam callers? Thx

[SteveInWA]

There is an IVR feature built into the OBi firmware that does exactly that.

Read the administrator guide:  https://www.obitalk.com/info/documents/admin_guide/OBiDeviceAdminGuide.pdf

[azrobert]

The Auto attendant wasn't designed to block spam calls. It gives the caller 3 options (complete call, make a new call or callback). You need to create a custom greeting with only 1 option to Complete Call and some config changes to prevent caller from accidently picking the Make New Call option. If you're interested, I'll show you how to configure the AA. You can also have a whitelist to bypass the AA for friends and family.

[Logan]

The Auto attendant wasn't designed to block spam calls. It gives the caller 3 options (complete call, make a new call or callback). You need to create a custom greeting with only 1 option to Complete Call and some config changes to prevent caller from accidently picking the Make New Call option. If you're interested, I'll show you how to configure the AA. You can also have a whitelist to bypass the AA for friends and family.

I'm very interested. What you described sounds perfect.

[azrobert]

Use OBi Expert to make the following config changes:

Voice Services -> Auto Attendant

Under Auto Attendant Prompts set the following.
Menu: %User1%
%User1% will point to custom prompt#1.

All Other Prompts set to: &pause()
&pause() is the equivalent of deleting the prompt.

DigitMap: (0)

OutboundCallRoute: {0:ph}

AnswerDelay: 0

Voice Services -> SP1 Service -> X_InboundCallRoute:
{(Mwlst):ph},{aa}

User Settings -> User Defined DigitMaps -> UDD Map2:
Label: wlst
(1?5556660001|1?5556660002|1?5556660003)

The above assumes your provider is defined on SP1.

When a caller responds with a "1" to the AA prompt, a zero will be generated.
The above DigitMap will validate the zero and the outbound route will send the call to PH.
All other responses will be rejected.

Add all numbers you want to bypass the AA to wlst.
The "1?" will allow for 10 or 11 digit callerid's.
GV uses 11 digits with a "+" prefix.

Record a Custom Prompt
Dial the following:
***0
1001#                  This will save the recording to %User1%.
                             1002# will save to %User2%
1                           This is for a new value for the recording
1                           Any digit will start the recording
Say your custom message
#                          Will end the recording. Leave a couple of seconds
                             of silence at beginning and end.
1                           Confirm the recording and save

[PDX_Mark]

I tried this and it appears to be missing something the call never goes to the menu. I tried changing Voice Services > SP1 Service > X_InboundCallRoute to aa and that does not do it either.


Also based on what I see is that some of this has to be done directly on the device, especially if uploading files like the one attached.

Attached is a good spam filter menu generated by IBM Watson in the 'Michael" Voice at .9 speed. This was downloaded from my  Obi200 so it should be the native Obi format. I had a lot of noise and distortion issues converting WAVs internally in Obi200


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EDIT

I did get it working. It was my problem why it was not working , all here seems correct

Problem
If I place a call to that number dial 1 then hang up and make another call to that number I get music . This MUST come from obi as not sure it would come from GV. ANyway after a few minutes I can call the number again and get the menu

Also if I dial '2', then line goes  dead. Any invalid digit should send caller back to the main menu

Additional questions:
How do I then forward to SIP URI for voice mail ? I mean I need 'No answer' and 'busy' forwards too SIP URI. I tried the call forwarding settings in SP1 service and Line 1 settings both they both say numbers  and neither seems to be for a SIP URI.

How do we make a default destination so that it still rings the phone after the recording plays when no digit is dialed?

I mean ultimately the call should flow as below:

GV > aa > ph > (if phone busy or no answer) SIP URI Voice Mail
(this applies whether 1 is dialed or no digit is dialed) Any other digit should either hang up or return to aa from beginning
______________________________
EDIT

Resolved the music issue I think It seems you need to delay before answering Google Voice. Use the following instead of OP


AnswerDelay: 2 (but this does not really seem to delay the line being answered by the menu)

I  remembered a similar issue when answering GV with asterisk

[PDX_Mark]

Ok just refining the settings here

I have  managed to fix some menu issues

Use the attached half second of silence  file

Upload this as  %User2% sound prompt file

Set the following to %User1%
InvalidPIN
Menu
EnterNumber


Set all the remaining entries to %User2%


Now instead of crashing the Obi will play 1/2 second of silence or repeat the menu.

After the menu repeats three times it will ring the default destination (in the rare case of someone calling from a rotary phone)