CallingNow.info - Caller ID Database Integration

Features

CallingNow joins caller ID to contact management on your computer. It can work with external databases or Microsoft Outlook, includes a SQL based contact manager and database, and features full call back and call logging capabilities.

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How it works
Database
Calling
Logging
Advanced Features
Client/Server version
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How it works - Caller ID, CallingNow, and Screen Pops

CallingNow gathers caller ID information that is delivered between the first and second ring of the phone. Caller ID information occurs part of the signaling and is not dependent on the phone being answered for delivery. CallingNow takes the name and number information and finds the location they are calling from. It also does a lookup in the contact database looking for a match to display on the screen and displays the callers information on screen.

Caller ID
Caller ID uses Frequency Shift Keying to transmit bits over a phone line. FSK is extremely simple: One tone (or frequency, like 1,200 Hertz) represents a binary 1, while another tone (like 2,200 Hertz) represents a binary zero. A modem changes frequencies depending on whether it wants to send a 1 or a 0. How quickly it changes frequencies determines the speed, or baud rate, of the modem.

To send caller ID information to your desktop, the phone company uses an FSK technique identical to a 1,200 baud modem and it sends ASCII character data to the caller ID modem. The caller ID message is sent between the first and second ring.

If you listened to the phone line just after the first ring, you would hear a "bleeeep" sound about half a second long. If you decoded the bleep, you would find that it contains (in the simpler of the caller ID systems):

A series of alternating 1s and 0s to help the caller ID box get the timing down
A series of 180 1s
A byte representing the type of message
A byte representing the length of the message
Month, day, hour and minute, each represented with a pair of bytes
The 10 digit phone number in 10 bytes
The name of the caller
A checksum byte

CallingNow and Screen Pops
The information is then passed to the CallingNow program. CallingNow parses the information and checks it for validity. It then passes it to a database program such as the demo database or Outlook. If the phone number is found the contact record is displayed (or ‘popped’) automatically. CallingNow logs the caller ID information.

If the caller record is not found, CallingNow has the ability to add the information to the external database.

Database

The included contact database is a fully functional contact manger with a form based front end with a MS Access based SQL compliant database backend. The contact manager contains the common contact fields (name, address, phone etc) and includes a clipboard field parser for inserting information from other sources.

SQL Queries
The SQL Query form lets you compose and edit a custom SQL query for finding records in the demo DB. This lets you create a complex search to accomplish a detailed search such as finding a sequence, range or queries matching several criteria, like finding all callers in a certain range of zip codes, or callers created over a certain range of dates.

Starting a DB Application from CallingNow
CallingNow has the capability of starting a remote database application to pop screens or access call records. CallingNow can pass information to a DB application via the Windows command line. This is similar to starting the application via the “Run” command under the main Windows Start menu. Command line arguments tell the receiving application what kind of data is being sent and what to do with it.
The database option screen allows to insert search arguments for a DB application via the Windows command line. After starting the DB application the application would be expected to parse the command line argument and the search string. The include contact manager is preconfigured to accept the default values of the search and add arguments.

Calling

CallingNow can launch return calls with a simple right click by the phone number on the call list. CallingNow will dial the number using either the built in modem or TAPI services running on the computer.

The Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) is an API, which enables PCs running Microsoft Windows to use telephone services. This is a standard that allows applications to easily use serial devices (such as modems) that have already been configured in Windows. TAPI can use either the CallingNow modem or another phone capable device.

Calling Service options:

TAPI Use the TAPI services installed on the computer to make calls.

Modem Use the caller ID modem for dialing the number.

TAPI Info shows TAPI location information and provides a quick check to see if TAPI is installed on the computer.

Test capability tests the calling service selected by placing a call.

Logging

CallingNow will log all incoming call activity to the file selected. This gives you a record of call date and time, caller number, name and caller state. The information is logged whenever caller ID information is delivered, regardless if the phone was answered.

Call log information includes the call date, the call time, the calling number, calling name and calling state. You can view the call log directly in calling now.

Call logs are normally kept in a text file local to the computer, but can be stored in a common directory on a company's network. Logs can be saved or archived.

Contact Us for More Information

If you have further questions or would like more information about CallingNow please feel free to contact us:
By phone: 612-370-1091
By E-mail: info@callingnow.info

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