(2-22-00) Quick Note (per my last update): i'm not saying anything bad about the mgetty/vgetty package. it has done a lot for modem support under Unix/Linux. it is the standard when it comes to dialing-in and voice-modem support. my vision is just to make setting it all up and maintaining it a little more straight-forward. think of a newbie trying to set up vgetty for the first time. when i went through it, i found myself lost a couple times (then again, i didn't have the README's that come with the source since i had Redhat on here). again, nothing bad towards Marc and everyone who has worked on vgetty. They have put a LOT of hard work into the package and it shows. This posting isn't in response to any e-mail. i sat back and re-read the previous update and said "damn! i sound really accusatory!!". please don't read it that way. Thanx! (1-24-00) As you've all known, SohoVoice has been on hold for a while (7 months?). This is because of some issues and lack of time. [SNIP]. Data/fax/voice is so tightly integrated these days that this is something that needs to be put in 1 all-encompassing package. I'm writing a spec now for LinTel, the Linux Telephony daemon. This will allow multiple sources to use the modem, handle call routing, utilize caller-id, and make modem installation EASY (even for PNP). Modem drivers are simple text files that you can easily create from the Wind0ws .inf files.
(5-29-99) Sorry for the delay. The link to the source is below. Notice the version "0.0". That means it ISN'T a functionally answering machine yet. If you set up vgetty correctly, it will play messages that you specify in the config file, but won't record yet. read the info below for installing. (5-18-99) Development has been stalled due to me seeking full-time employment at my university. I will be posting what i have so far today or tomorrow. It's dirty, but works. no recording of messages yet though. it will play back messages for days on end though. :) i have used it as a call-in information line for about 2 weeks now, and no problems so far. no real docs yet, but hopefully it will be a little straight-forward. it is essentially a state machine design, but extendable by a simple config file with a couple options. it will include my voice.conf file that i use. (4-13-99) Still here. I plan on releasing a snippet of the PERL code that actually handles getting the DTMF signals and playing sound files. it will greatly simplify writing scripts of your own in perl. Also, i believe i have a working model, but have yet to try it. I'll keep the status posted. (This is gonna be great! :D) (4-3-99) After 3 rewrites, i have a basic working model. :D got around a lot of issues dealing with syncing with vgetty. almost to a working script. then comes the config part. (3-29-99) Perl script is talking with the libvoice (that's a good thing) and i have successfully played sound files over the modem. It's just a matter of writing a complex loop now. :)
(3-27-99) SUCCESS!! after hacking a little bit of vgetty, it now supports my modem! Thunderlink 1440VQH 56k v.90/k56flex. Now, since i have the parsing done, i can move forward and do the testing! yay! (note: i was getting so frustrated that i was thinking of doing a vgetty re-write that loads a generic text config file for modem commands. in win9x, the .inf file list all the necessary commands to get in voice mode and play files, etc. this might be a nice route to take, making adding modem support to vgetty is just writing a text file with the commands already widely available in window .inf files. maybe write a little converter to convert .inf -> vgetty modem spec.)
(3-22-99) Parsing of .conf file is done (yay)
Proposed features:Easy mailbox setup via GUI or console. Infinite number of mailboxes. Streaming audio over the network for remote access Viewing and Sending of faxes over the network Fax-back Pager/Email notification Email-to-voicemail
Please mail me if there is something you'd like to see.
The following is required:vgetty (and compatible modem) Perl GTK+ (only for the configuration GUI) Web Browser RealAudio plug-in
Development version is v0.0
Installation: download and copy to /etc/mgetty+sendfax then untar. It will create a "sohovoice" directory. Edit your voice.conf file in the /etc/mgett+sendfax directory, specifically looking for the "voice_program" line, and making it read "voice_program /etc/mgetty+sendfax/sohovoice/sohovoice.pl". Look in the "help" file for the command to give a "virtual" ring for testing purposes. The .conf file is loaded whenever a call comes in, so no reason to reload vgetty to update the config file. editing it should be straight forward (i tried to document it very well).
AGAIN, this is not a FULL release. this is out here because some people requested the code to play with, and because my time has be eaten away at with gPhoto and gLaptop. Feel free to write me with questions though. Linux definitely needs something like this if it wants to break into the small-office/home-office environment.
A LOT of thinking has been done, and this is the initial result:Client software is simply a web browser. RealAudio plug-in for voicemail. Remote streaming access to voicemail anywhere on your network (or the Internet for that matter). Security through the web server. Could be as simple as putting in a .htaccess file, or as complex as setting up SSL. Fax viewing handled in web browser. Fax sending done via a print server on the SohoVoice server. If you can print, you can send a fax.
Here is the original SohoVoice proposal. Added is the ability for a branching mailbox to be a voice-mail box too (move to another mailbox, or just leave a message)