I am requiring a program to do the following, if possible without having to develop any additional hardware and by using the hardware that is already in use.
Situation
MyBusiness Phone line has been updated to a Cloud Line/VOIP by the service provider(BT) from the old copper line system (PSTN). BT has supplied me with a Cloud/VOIP cordless phone and base, my job was just to simply plug the base into my internet router and then plug the cordless base to power and the phone and line is fully functional and working.
Problem:
We use a touch screen EPOS computer system that we use to take orders from customers, when a new customer calls there phone number would pop up on the EPOS program, if a repeat customer's called then all there recorded details would come up too name, address, etc. very time saving and easy at busy periods.
On the old PSTN line, We had a USB caller ID box(CTI) this was connected to the phone line at one end and computer on the other, this would create a virtual port on the computer and I believe send the callers number to this port, then If I'm not wrong the EPOS software would be programmed to grab this data from that port, and display it to us as the callers phone number. (My knowledge is limited so I'm not 100% sure how they work).
Now since the line has been updated to a VOIP/CLOUD line the EPOS software is unable to display the callers details and we are having to type the callers phone number in manually on each call, very difficult and time consuming at busy times. I believe the old caller ID box will not work now as the data is now sent via SIP and not the old analog style system which delivered the data through the copper line to the Caller ID box and old telephone. There is a product on the market which is a VOIP caller ID box and works in a similar way as the old style one, you just connect it between the router and VOIP line and to a computer on the other end, it acts like a packet sniffer and extracts the required data and sends it to the computer.
Requirement
I require a piece of software that will enable the callers phone number to appear in the EPOS software on the computer so it can display it in the same way as it did with the caller ID box.
I'm not sure how such software would be written or what is required for development or if it's possible without hardware. The program must be able to correctly extract the callers phone number and possibly send it to the virtual port on the computer and allow the EPOS software to grab this data for use, again with only limited knowledge in the subject, would I be right in saying the program will be/act as a packet sniffer/analyzer that will get the relevant data and use it or will there be a different way to get the required data, I am open to your different styles of approach and solutions to requirements and problem above as I am not qualified in the field to say how the system will work, I am just assuming that it will be like that, also how will the computer be connected to the phone line for the son the data can be read by the program, will it be done via the network connection.
Notes
I am firstly wanting to solve my own issue with this application, however my main objective is to sell the program to the EPOS software makers and also other users who have the same issue as me, how hard would it be to protect my program and code also would it be easy for such people to simply copy my solution.
At the moment with the old style systems each system has to physically have a USB caller ID box, this is sold to the person who buys the system by the EPOS company, who also buy this product to use with there systems. can the same be said for a software solution, if we was able to produce a program that does the same thing, will I be able to sell it to each system the company sells or will they be free to use is it freely and as many times as they like once they have it off me, how can I protect and maximize my income from it.
I will need full ownership of the application and code from the chosen developer on here, so I can freely use it and distribute it how I feel.
Some businesses have more than one phone line, so at the moment in such a case, each computer has a individual USB caller ID box connected to it from the relevant phone line, however on the cloud/VOIP lines I believe all data is sent through one line even if the business has two numbers or two phones on one number, I am assuming that all the call data will be sent through the same line until it reaches the relevant phone signaling it to ring, so if one number/line is engaged the other one will ring, the program must be able to some how send to more than one computer if need be depending on which phone rings.
I hope the above makes sense and gives everyone a idea of what I need, of course we can talk more in detail with the developer and I can provide more in depth information and requirements
I look forward to hearing from you.
About the recuiterMember since Mar 14, 2020 Ketan Patel
from Sabah, Malaysia