[patch] callback on busy with blind transfer

patch for extensions.conf - FreePBX 2.2.1

I think this patch is valid only when you set "extensions" mode in amportal.conf, not valid for "deviceanduser" mode. I have not yet tried.

I tested this patch, manually pasting the added code into the appropriate locations in extensions.conf. Please note I'm still running FreePBX version 2.2.0 for various reasons, and also have patched extensions.conf before, so it's possible my experience may be unique, though I doubt that. But, this is what I observed.

I busied out an extension that does not have voicemail by calling an internal recording (one that supervises). Next, I dialed into another extension using a DID number that goes direct to that extension. On the called extension I hit ## to transfer, then dialed the number of the busy extension. The outside caller then heard: "The person at extension [pause] is on the phone" (note it does not read the extension number) and then one cycle of ringback tone (which appears to be an intentional delay).

IF, by that time, the extension that originally transferred the call has hung up, then that extension actually begins to ring. However, and this is significant, if the extension that originally transfered the call has not yet disconnected, the call seems to go into dead air. This MAY have something to do with the fact that in my test, the transferring extension has a follow-me enabled - one line I see on the CLI is "Returning there are no members left in the hunt group to ring."

I don't claim to have the perfect test bed for this but I did want to point out that it's playing the recording but omitting the extension number - that's because there is no code to play the extension between these two lines:

exten => blindtr,n,Background(vm-theperson)
exten => blindtr,n,Background(vm-isonphone)

In order to solve that problem, I changed those lines to:

exten => blindtr,n,Background(the-party-you-are-calling)
exten => blindtr,n,Background(is-curntly-unavail)
exten => blindtr,n,Background(pls-hold-while-try)

(Perhaps not the best choices, but not as glaring as a missing extension number).

And also, if the person who causes the transfer delays in hanging up the phone (or, presumably, their line is immediately busied out again by another incoming call or something similar) then the transferred call MAY wind up in a black hole (it does NOT honor a follow-me and go to another extension in the follow-me group, which may or may not be desirable behavior). Still, I like the idea of not transferring a caller to a busy signal (which is what can happen without this patch), so I'd encourage a bit more work on this patch to resolve the problem, if at all possible.

I have upgraded the patch. You are right wiseoldowl, in Italy sounds ok "the person is on phone", but not in english. I think that it's not right choice go through follow-me when calling-back: the person that transfers the call is obviously in that extension. I have added a GotoIf? when busy, so the call go to the operator extension (defined in General Settings -> Operator Extension)

The new patch also call-back when the extension is unavailable, before was only when busy.

I have a new patch, if the operator was a queue or a ring-group didn't the call it. Now works well.

I was looking for something like this for a while! But is this really necessary now that we have VmX?

I think it's still necessary, and this callback function only when you have vmx/voicemail disabled. It' a basic feature of many traditional pbx and key systems.

Callback on busy works fine, but if function Follow me is enabled this patch not working. Follow me function is used for "no answer" transfer to return on ring group, perfect solution is to add patch code for callback "no answer" blindtranfered call to original extension. Is this possible francesco_r !? How, please help !

Replying to draguzet:

Callback on busy works fine, but if function Follow me is enabled this patch not working. Follow me function is used for "no answer" transfer to return on ring group, perfect solution is to add patch code for callback "no answer" blindtranfered call to original extension. Is this possible francesco_r !? How, please help !

And + if extension is busy and call is not blindtransfer send busy tone. Full PBX solution without voice mail IMHO !

Houskeeping: anyone interested in testing this patch and providing feedback?