cc/td/doc/product/voice/uone/srvprov/r42s
hometocprevnextglossaryfeedbacksearchhelp
PDF

Table of Contents

Administering Broadcast Messaging

Administering Broadcast Messaging

Broadcast messaging allows authorized users to send system-wide messages to groups of subscribers. This feature suppresses message notification, which is beneficial when you send out a message to large numbers of subscribers. In that situation if message notification were enabled, the system would be flooded by calls into the system.


Note   Broadcast messages are not sent to AMIS-A users, even if they are administered as External Voice Mail Users (EVMUs). Broadcast messages are also not sent to Administrative Accounts, such as Greeting, Fax, and AMIS-A Administrative Accounts. (LIP entries with the xamtevatitle attribute ending in the string "Admin" (case sensitive) are considered administrative accounts, and therefore, cannot receive broadcast messages. When you are creating accounts, be aware of this fact.)

Understanding Broadcast Lists

Broadcast lists are keyed off a field based on any indexed LDAP attribute you define in the index.ini file, for example, location. To ensure that location data, for example, is entered consistently, System Administrators edit the indexData.ini file and enter the appropriate data once. That location data is then made available through a pull down menu in uOne Administration.

System Administrators manage broadcast lists and make them available to specific people through an access list. The access list can be different for different broadcast lists. It is the System Administrator's responsibility to inform staff about the lists they have created and who has access to them.

Broadcast lists include a message aging option. When that option is configured at the COS level (Broadcast Expire attribute), broadcast messages are deleted from the users' inboxes after the message aging period has expired. (The DefaultExpDays parameter in UM.ini sets the default number of days before a broadcast message expires. The MaxExpDays parameter in UM.ini sets the maximum number of days that a subscriber is allowed to set the broadcast message expiration.)

uOne uses the Text-to-Speech feature to speak the name of the broadcast list. If a TTS resource is not available, the application speaks "broadcast list <broadcast list number>."

Related Topic

How Broadcast Lists Differ from Distribution Lists

Broadcast lists are similar to distribution lists; both types of lists allow you to send a common message to a group of subscribers. However, unlike distribution lists, broadcast lists are dynamically created at the time the message is sent based upon search criteria defined for the broadcast list. The following example illustrates this difference between dynamically generated broadcast lists and static distribution lists.

Let's say you create a distribution list with 50 numbers on it. What happens if some people move and are no longer valid entries on your list? Nothing, those 50 names remain on the list until you modify it. Let's say you also create a broadcast list for your building. What happens if some people move and are no longer valid entries on that list? They automatically disappear from the list. That's because broadcast lists are keyed off of LDAP directory attributes. Every time you use the list, uOne accesses the LDAP directory and generates an up-to-date listing based on your criteria.

Other differences between Broadcast lists and Distribution lists include:

Prerequisites

Before you start administering Broadcast Message Services, ensure that the following tasks have been completed:

Customizing Broadcast Messaging

You perform the following tasks to customize the Broadcast Messaging feature:

Modifying the LDAP Search Filter

The uOne subscribers may be grouped for the purpose of sending broadcast messages. You edit the indexData.ini file to set up the LDAP search filter options that are used to group subscribers for that purpose.

Adding LDAP Attributes and Options

One way of grouping subscribers for broadcast messaging is by location. The "l" attribute (location) is typically set up in the indexData.ini file during the initial configuration of your system (Figure 4-1).


Figure 4-1: Example of a indexData.ini file

[l]
numOfOptions=4
option1=1, Glen Allen
option2=2, Willowlawn
option3=3, Hanover
option4=4, Atlee
defaultValue=1

You can add [l] attribute value options or additional indexed LDAP attributes as needed.


Step 1   Go to the Gateserver
where the indexData.ini file resides for uOne Administration.

Step 2   Login as spmaster.

Step 3   Type:
cd /home2/spmaster/ADMIN/cgi-bin/MSGadmin/MSGdata.

Step 4   Edit indexData.ini files and set up the attribute.

[filterindex]
numOfOptions=<XX>
option<YY>=<value>,< name>
defaultValue=<value>


Note   The [filterindex] attribute must be used in an objectclass LIP entry (not including objectclass conf_msgbox) and the attribute must be indexed for the type of filter used to search for it. For example, the "l" attribute must be indexed for equality if "l"= 1 is used in the filter. Failure to ensure proper indexing may result in extreme performance problems.


Table 4-1: indexData.ini Attributes
Attribute Description Valid Values

[filterindex]

The options list label.

Should not be edited.

NumOfOptions=<XX>

The number of LDAP attribute and value options that will be displayed in the options list for this search filter. Ensure that this value matches the number of listed LDAP search filter options.

XX—a number

option<XX>=<value>, <name>

option<XX> is the label. For the [l] search filter, <XX> indicates the order in which the options will appear in the drop-down list box for the Subscriber Location field on the uOne Administration screen.

<value> is the data that will be stored in the LDAP database.

<name> is the name of the search filter group. For the [l] search filter, this name will appear in the drop-down list box for the Subscriber Location field.

<XX>—A number. There must be no gaps in the numbering of options.

<value>—Numeric characters.

<name>—Alphanumeric characters. Do not use commas in the name.

DefaultValue=<value>

The <value> of the option to be used for the default.

This field can be edited, but should not be removed.

A <value> listed in for this search filter.


Deleting LDAP Attributes and Options


Step 1   Locate the appropriate option<XX> line and then delete that line.

Step 2   Update the numOfOptions field with total number of OptionXX lines.

Step 3   Correct any gaps in the numbering of the option<XX> labels.


Figure 4-2: Example of Deleting an Entry in indexData.ini file

[l]
numOfOptions=3
option1=1, Glen Allen
option2=2, Willowlawn
option3=3, Atlee
defaultValue=1


Setting Up Broadcast Messaging Expiration

Administering the Broadcast Messaging Expiration Attributes

Perform the following steps to provide uOne with the default number of days before a broadcast message expires and the maximum number of days that a subscriber is able to set when sending a message in uOne for broadcast message expiration.


Step 1   Go to the Gateserver where the uOne application resides and log in as spmaster.

Step 2   Type: cd $PARMLIB/apps/UM

Step 3   Edit the UM.ini files and set the following parameters (Table 4-2).

[Broadcast]
DefaultExpDays=
MaxExpDays
=

You can use the defaults for these parameters.


Table 4-2: UM.ini Parameters for Broadcast Lists
Parameter Description Valid Values

DefaultExpDays

The default number of days before a broadcast message expires.

A reasonable number.

Default = 3

MaxExpDays

The maximum number of days that a subscriber is able to set when sending a message in uOne for broadcast message expiration.

A reasonable number.

Default = 365


Administering Subscribers for Broadcast Message Expiration

You can allow subscribers who are authorized to send broadcast messages to set a message expiration time period for broadcast messages. To allow authorized subscribers to do so, set the Broadcast Expire attribute to Yes on the Add/Modify Class of Service screen in uOne Administration. If this attribute is set to No for the subscriber, broadcast messages sent by that subscriber will have the default expiration.

Managing the Broadcast Lists

Broadcast lists are identified by 3-digit numbers. Currently, a broadcast list number must be between 900 and 999; numbers outside that range are not accepted.

Adding a Broadcast List


Step 1   Access uOne Administration.

Step 2   Click on the Broadcast List button.

Step 3   Click on Add a Broadcast List. The Add Broadcast List page displays (Figure 4-3).


Figure 4-3: uOne Administration: Add Broadcast List Page


Step 4   Enter the appropriate data in the input fields on the Add a Broadcast List Page (Table 4-3).
Table 4-3: Add Broadcast List Fields
Field Description Valid Values

Broadcast List Number

Identifies this broadcast list.

Range: 900 to 999

Email Address

The e-mail address used to refer to the list. Use this address to send a broadcast message to the members of this broadcast list.

A complete e-mail address, e.g., broadcast_925@<domain_name>

Broadcast List Description

Describes the broadcast list. Usually this is an option defined in the "For" attribute section on the LDAP Filter Creator screen.

Alphanumeric characters.

Entry DN

Indicates where in the LDAP database this entry resides. This is the entry distinguished name (dn) to which the broadcast list belongs.

Select a dn from the drop-down menu.

Mail Server

Domain name for this broadcast list.

Displays all available mail hosts.

Select the appropriate mail host from the drop-down menu.

Step 5   Click on Add and Modify.

The broadcast list number is added to the LDAP database.

The Modify Broadcast List page displays containing the Broadcast list number entry that you added (Figure 4-4).


Figure 4-4: uOne Administration: Modify Broadcast List Page


Step 6   Click on the Modify button in the LDAP Filter field.

The LDAP Filter Creator page displays (Figure 4-5).


Figure 4-5: uOne Administration: LDAP Filter Creator Page


Step 7   Enter the appropriate data in the input fields (Table 4-4).


Table 4-4: LDAP Filter Creator Fields
Field Description Valid Values

Search the

Identifies where in the specified database to start the search.

  • Root only—Search only the most immediate children of the entry specified.

  • Base only—Search only the entry specified.

  • Whole Directory—Search the entry specified and all of its descendents.

Default = Whole Directory.

From the Base DN

The dn of root of the subtree within directory server to use for the search.

Select a valid subtree from the drop-down menu.

Default = the search base of the administrator.

For

Defines how the database will be searched.

The first entry box identifies the LDAP attribute to use.

The second entry box identifies which operation to use during the search with this filter.

First Entry Box

  • location—Selects the [l] attribute in
    schemaConfig.ini file.

  • mailhost—Selects the [mailhost] attribute in
    schemaConfig.ini file.


Note   Other values may be configured.

Default = location.

Second entry box

  • contains—Searches for all instances of search string, regardless of position.

  • is—Searches for exact matches of search string.

  • isn't—Excludes search string from search.

  • sounds like—Performs a phonetic search using search string.

  • starts with—Searches for all instances that begin with search string.

  • ends with—Searches the database for all instances that end with the search string.

Default = is.

Search String

Defines the word or phrase that will be used as the search string during the database search with this filter.

Only alphanumeric characters.

Step 8   Click on the Test button.

The system indicates the number of entries that exist in the database that match the criteria in the filter.

Step 9   Perform one of the following:

Your changes are submitted to the LDAP database. The Modify a Broadcast List page displays.

Step 10   Click on the Modify button in the Access List field on the Modify a Broadcast List page (Figure 4-4).

Step 11   Enter the e-mail addresses of the subscribers who are authorized to use the new broadcast list (Figure 4-6).


Figure 4-6: uOne Administration: Access List Page


Step 12   Click on Modify.

The list of authorized subscribers is added to the LDAP database.

Step 13   Click on Return to go back to the Modify a Broadcast List page.

Step 14   Click on Submit.

The filter information is added to the broadcast list number entry on the LDAP database.

Step 15   To add another broadcast list, repeat steps 3 through 14 .


Modifying a Broadcast List


Step 1   Access uOne Administration.

Step 2   Click on the Broadcast List button.

Step 3   Click on Modify a Broadcast List. The Modify Broadcast List page displays (Figure 4-4).

Step 4   Click on the appropriate broadcast list.

Step 5   If necessary, enter a new description in the Description field.

Step 6   To change the filter, click on the Modify button in the LDAP Filter field. The LDAP Filter Creator page displays.

Step 7   Enter the appropriate data in the input fields (Table 4-4).

Step 8   Click on the Test button.

The system indicates the number of entries that exist on the database that match the criteria in the filter.

Step 9   To re-define the filter, click on Reset. Go to step 7.

To use the filter, click on Submit.

Your changes are submitted to the LDAP database.
The Modify a Broadcast List page displays.

Step 10   To change the access list, click on the Modify button in the Access List field on the Modify a Broadcast List page.

Step 11   To add a subscriber to the access list, enter the subscriber's e-mail addresses in the next available Value field (Figure 4-6).

To delete the subscriber from the access list, click in the appropriate checkbox (Figure 4-7).


Figure 4-7: uOne Administration: Deleting Users from the Access List


Step 12   Click on Modify.

Step 13   Click on Return to go back to the Modify a Broadcast List page.

Step 14   Click on Submit.

The filter information is added to the broadcast list number entry on the LDAP database.

Step 15   To modify another broadcast list, repeat steps 3 through 14.


Deleting a Broadcast List


Step 1   Access the uOne Administration interface.

Step 2   Click on the Broadcast List button.

Step 3   Click on Delete a Broadcast List.

Step 4   Click on the appropriate broadcast list number.

Step 5   To delete the selected broadcast list, click on Delete.

Step 6   To delete another broadcast list, repeat steps 3 through 5.


Sending Messages to a Broadcast List

Occasionally, you may want to send messages to a large group of uOne subscribers, for example, to notify subscribers when new features are available on the uOne system. The easiest way to do this is to create a broadcast list that addresses those subscribers.

Sending lengthy broadcast messages to a large group of subscribers can affect system performance. Therefore, when you send a message to a large broadcast list, keep the message short and send it during non-peak hours.


Note    Broadcast messages are not sent to AMIS-A external users or to the special administrative accounts (Fax Administrator, AMIS-A Administrator, and Greeting Administrator accounts).

To send a message to a broadcast list:


Step 1   Access the uOne system.

Step 2   Log into your mailbox.

Step 3   Press 2 from the Main menu.

Step 4   Enter the broadcast list number and press #.

Step 5   Perform one of the following actions:

Step 6   After you hear the tone, record your message and press # when you're done recording.

Step 7   If you are satisfied with the message, press 1 to send it, or follow the prompts to edit the message.


Note   Message recipients cannot reply to broadcast messages, but they can forward the message to someone else.



hometocprevnextglossaryfeedbacksearchhelp
Posted: Mon Sep 25 19:59:54 PDT 2000
Copyright 1989-2000©Cisco Systems Inc.