Redirect to Second Number After "Timeout"
pedro.ra...@gmail.com
I have very basic knowledge with programming in Node.JS but I see that Twilio Functions are powerful and I have managed to achieve 50% of what I want to do even with my basic knowledge.
What I am looking to do is forward calls to a number that I purchased with Twilio, to mobile number in Brazil. I managed to do this part using your template “Call Forward” (I attach the code below). Nonetheless, the second part I cannot understand how I should attack the problem. I would like that if the call is not answered in 10 seconds that it should be forward to another number.
My doubts are:
- I imagine that I must use the 'timeout' attribute to set the limit in seconds that <Dial> waits for the called party to answer the call. Is that correct?
- Where must I place this code of the identification of the 'timeout' of 10 seconds? Can I place it in the same function as the first call redirection, if so how is this “hook” triggered? Or should I create a second function, and if so how can I call this second function when the ‘timeout’ of 10 seconds it complete?
=======
/**
* Call Forward Template
*
* This Function will forward a call to another phone number. If the call isn't answered or the line is busy,
* the call is optionally forwarded to a specified URL. You can optionally restrict which calling phones
* will be forwarded.
*/
exports.handler = function(context, event, callback) {
// set-up the variables that this Function will use to forward a phone call using TwiML
// REQUIRED - you must set this
let phoneNumber = event.PhoneNumber || "+5511********";
// OPTIONAL
let callerId = event.CallerId || null;
// OPTIONAL
let timeout = event.Timeout || null;
// OPTIONAL
let allowedCallers = event.allowedCallers || [];
// new
let callStatus = event.CallStatus || '';
let answeredBy = event.AnsweredBy || '';
// generate the TwiML to tell Twilio how to forward this call
let twiml = new Twilio.twiml.VoiceResponse();
let allowedThrough = true
if (allowedCallers.length > 0) {
if (allowedCallers.indexOf(event.From) === -1) {
allowedThrough = false;
}
}
let dialParams = {};
if (callerId) {
dialParams.callerId = callerId
}
if (timeout) {
dialParams.callerId = timeout
}
if (allowedThrough) {
twiml.dial(dialParams, phoneNumber);
console.log('Dialing:');
}
else {
twiml.say('Sorry, you are calling from a restricted number. Good bye.');
}
if (callStatus === 'in-progress') {
console.log('AnsweredBy:' + answeredBy);
}
// return the TwiML
callback(null, twiml);
};
Chris Corcoran
Thanks for your question about Twilio Functions, I'd be happy to help you get up and running. If I'm understanding your question correctly, it sounds like you want to setup a linear phone tree of some sort. Basically, you want to call a number and if doesn't answer you want to try another number. I think this is pretty easy to do with a little bit of basic logic in your Function. I've included a simplified version of what a "Strictly Linear" phone tree might look like. Let me know if you think something like that could work for your solution.
/* * Example: Strictly Linear Phone Tree * This example shows how you might iterate through a list of numbers. * Each will be tried for 10 seconds before moving on to the next. */exports.handler = function(context, event, callback) { // REQUIRED - URL to hangup Function let hangUpAction = ""; // REQUIRED - URL to this Function let phoneTreeUrl = ""; // Timeout - The amount of time we want to dial before giving up let timeout = event.Timeout || 10; // Attempt - The position in the list we are currently at let attempt = event.Attempt || 0; // Phone Numbers - The list of numbers to cycle through let phoneNumbers = [ "+5511********" ];
// generate the TwiML to tell Twilio how to forward this call let twiml = new Twilio.twiml.VoiceResponse(); // If we have exhaused all numbers end the attempts if (attempt > phoneNumbers.length) { twiml.say("Sorry, we could not find someone to take your call. Please try again later"); callback(null, twiml); } // Build the state for our Twiml response let target = phoneNumbers[attempt]; let nextAttempt = attempt + 1; let nextAttemptUrl = phoneTreeUrl + "?Attempt=" + nextAttempt; twiml.dial(target, { timeout: timeout, action: hangUpAction }); twiml.redirect(nextAttemptUrl); callback(null, twiml);};Alternatively, if your phone tree doesn't need to be linear you could use a "simul-ring". With a simul-ring all of the phone number you specify in the <Dial> verb are called and the first to answer gets connected. This is what I normally recommend for situations like this. Typically your caller will get connected faster and your answering party doesn't need to jump to beat the timeout. I've included a simplified example of how you might do this with a Function.
/* * Example: Simplified Simulring. * This will dial all of the phone numbers specified in the phoneNumbers array at one. * The first number ot answer the call will be connected. */exports.handler = function(context, event, callback) { // Phone Numbers - The list of numbers to cycle through let phoneNumbers = [ "+5511********" ];
// generate the TwiML to tell Twilio how to forward this call let twiml = new Twilio.twiml.VoiceResponse(); let dial = twiml.dial(); for (var phoneNumber in phoneNumbers) { dial.number(phoneNumber); } callback(null, twiml);};Hopefully, this helps point you in the right direction. Let me know if you have any follow up questions.
pedro.ra...@gmail.com
Thank you Chris, that has helped me immensely.
Just two more quick questions if I may?
1) 1) How can I tell if a call to a particular number on the “twiml.dial(target, { timeout: timeout, action: hangUpAction });” was answered? And if it was answered, I will update a value of a certain pre-declared variable, which I will use later on in the function?
2) 2) Is it possible that I can obtain the caller´s number and pass it on to another function I created? This other function I have linked to the “CALL STATUS CHANGES” and when the call ends I need the callers number to send an SMS with some information; I am not sure if the is the correct an recommended procedure.
Thank you in advance,
Pedro
Chris Corcoran
Chris Corcoran
Nir Montag
For some reason I couldn't get the "Linear Phone Tree" to work after the 1st number wasn't answered, the hangUpAction fired immediately.
This is the code I've tried to execute:
/* * Example: Strictly Linear Phone Tree * This example shows how you might iterate through a list of numbers. * Each will be tried for 10 seconds before moving on to the next. */exports.handler = function(context, event, callback) { // REQUIRED - URL to hangup Function //let hangUpAction = "https://rhetorical-pain-6593.twil.io/CM2"; let hangUpAction = "https://rhetorical-pain-6593.twil.io/RecordSales"; // REQUIRED - URL to this Function let phoneTreeUrl = "https://rhetorical-pain-6593.twil.io/CM1"; // Timeout - The amount of time we want to dial before giving up let timeout = event.Timeout || 10; // Attempt - The position in the list we are currently at let attempt = event.Attempt || 0; // Phone Numbers - The list of numbers to cycle through //" let phoneNumbers = [ "+111...", "+222..." ];
// generate the TwiML to tell Twilio how to forward this call let twiml = new Twilio.twiml.VoiceResponse(); // If we have exhaused all numbers end the attempts if (attempt > phoneNumbers.length) { twiml.say("Sorry, we could not find someone to take your call. Please try again later"); callback(null, twiml); } // Build the state for our Twiml response let target = phoneNumbers[attempt]; let nextAttempt = attempt + 1; let nextAttemptUrl = phoneTreeUrl + "?Attempt=" + nextAttempt; twiml.dial(target, { timeout: timeout, action: hangUpAction }); twiml.redirect(nextAttemptUrl); callback(null, twiml);};CM1 function calling "+111..." and calling the CM2 function as the hangUpAction
CM2 function calling "+222..." and calling a voice mail function as the hangUpAction.