Asterisk Integration

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bmoraca
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Asterisk Integration

Post by bmoraca » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:52 am

I've read through the forums a bit and noticed that there was some interest in Asterisk integration.

The company I work for has many years of experience with dental office integration (mostly with Dentrix) and we're looking at Open Dental as a possible solution. One other focus of our business has been the implementation of Asterisk phone systems. We've done small systems of as few as 10 phones up to 75 phones, and have found that Asterisk works wonderfully. One of our goals is a pre-packaged dental-focused phone system based on Asterisk.

One thing which would really help sell both would be integration with the practice management software. Working with Asterisk for a long time has given me a lot of insight into its workings, and I'd be very interested in working on an Asterisk integration feature for Open Dental. I am a bit green when it comes to Open Dental, so if I am making any assumptions I shouldn't be, please correct me.

Here's my thoughts: the logical way to do this would be through the server component. Asterisk has a feature called the AMI which is very easy to use and can facilitate call monitoring, placing, transfering, etc. The server component would talk to Asterisk through the AMI and then push the needed information to whichever client was appropriate. In addition, a "Call this Patient" option on the toolbar.

Hurdles: each "user" in Open Dental would need to be associated with an extension, requiring an expansion of that database table, and it would require some pretty serious work on the part of the server to parse the AMI information, but I think it is very doable.

Anyway, I'm tinkering around with the source to familiarize myself with it and hopefully we can see this feature added at some point. If anyone has any input, or if it's already on the books, let me know!

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:47 am

We just tapped into the AMI last week. We actually built an entirely separate standalone server program to handle it. Our server program populates a table in the OD database. Each workstation then polls that table once per second to unintelligently throw the information in that table into a grid on screen. In other words, all the intelligence is in the server program, and the workstation just displays the info. Our server program is hard coded for the Open Dental staff. It is not flexible enough to be used in a general purpose dental office yet. There would have to be lots more options added. And dental offices aren't usually interested in monitoring a phone bank like we are.

Your first hurdle of associating phone extensions has already been solved. We actually associated the extensions with employees. The employees are already associated with users. We went with employees because we're not really concerned with who is logged in, but rather with who is clocked in.

As for the "pushing" of information, we abandoned the push model years ago in favor of a polling model. It has worked really well, and even the one-second polling has posed no problems.

Our next goal is to pop information to the screen when a phonecall comes in and the extension picks up. It will automatically switch to that patient, and a dialog will come up with overview data. When we are able to accomplish that, we will likely make a server program available for everyone.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

sunny
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by sunny » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:59 am

Hi,
we developed a Web service which integrates Open Dental With Asterisk PBX. with the minimal changes to open dental side we are able to get pop screens with incoming calls and also click to call integration with front desk phones. I am in the process of writing a separate applicaction which can be added via Program Links. If any one interested we can help.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:36 pm

Very nice.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

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steveng
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by steveng » Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:38 pm

Is there a common module for creating bridges with OpenDental ? Then it would be easier to switch patient from pop-up screen, I think.
Thanks,
Steven G.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:48 pm

Are you asking about our plug-in framework?
http://www.opendental.com/manual/plugins.html
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

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steveng
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by steveng » Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:59 pm

This is new.
Then, I have a question: "Can you swtch patient in OpenDental from another application through this new plugin interface?"
Thanks,
Steven G.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:57 pm

Of course. You can do anything you want.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

gmaguire
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by gmaguire » Tue Jun 29, 2010 3:57 am

Hi, I am new to Opendental but am very interested in implementing the Asterisk PBX solution with it, especially the features of screen popping clinet data based on the incomming call. Has there been any further developments with this or are thes addons available for trial ?

Thanks in advance,
Ger.

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steveng
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by steveng » Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:32 am

Thought this may help in getting this implemented in application for ease of use.

C# classes that allow building applications that interact with an Asterisk PBX
http://asterisk-dotnet.sourceforge.net
Thanks,
Steven G.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:22 pm

sunny hasn't visited since that last intriguing post. Back then, we didn't have a plugin framework.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

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steveng
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by steveng » Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:48 am

Question?
How hard it would be to store phone numbers in the database in their raw format Ex: 9712391150.
Then, telephone number format utility would not be needed anymore. All formatting would be done for the front end separately. You can even create a format masking parameter for international version.
Have something like "show phone numbers as" ###-###-#### or (###) ###-#### or ###.###.#### (you got the idea)

I'm trying to simplify patients search with SQL and avoid convoluted REGEX in WHERE clause.

Want to save time from receiving a call,search patient record with SQL, bring up short patient info on the pop up screen.
Thanks,
Steven G.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:37 pm

It would have to be another field. I want users to have total control over phone numbers formats. For example, to tag on extension numbers. There's nothing more annoying that a field that won't let you type what you want to type.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
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steveng
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by steveng » Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:47 pm

Actually, that would have to be 3 fields. Home, work and wireless numbers.
Another field could be used for phone comment/notes and may as well be used for ext # if necessary. Format masking would really work nice. Everyone will have their favorite way of viewing phone numbers plus it will satisfy international customers as well.
With so many variations http://www.wtng.info/...
Thanks,
Steven G.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:13 pm

Or we could ignore everything after the numbers when formatting, sort of like we already to when automatically formatting. You may be convincing me, although the regex isn't that bad, is it?
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

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steveng
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by steveng » Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:54 am

It really gets complex http://regexlib.com/Search.aspx?k=phone%20number. To try to keep it simple and use one common format you need to make sure "phone number" utility in OD runs to cleanup the mess left behind by front desk.
I believe it will only help in the long term.
Thanks,
Steven G.

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:17 pm

Well, they are making it more complicated than it needs to be. To search for a phone number containing 123456, it would look like this:
1[^0-9]*2[^0-9]*3[^0-9]*4[^0-9]*5[^0-9]*6
Long, but not particularly complicated.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

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Rickliftig
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by Rickliftig » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:49 am

Jordan - since you have been working with the phone panel (I assume in asterisk), do you seen any potential for adapting it to the dental practice? (Ie. caller id pops up the patient info screen)
Another Happy Open Dental User!

Rick Liftig, DMD FAGD
University of CT 1979
West Hartford, CT 06110
srick@snet.net

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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:38 am

No. What we've actually been working on has been webcam integration more than anything new with Asterisk. We now have one window where we can see all staff, each on their own webcam. So this would make webcam features more likely in the future, but Asterisk integration is complicated and much of what we did is hard coded. It doesn't seem very relevant right now. Keep in mind that we use IP phones here, not software phones. In other words, our mic, speakers, and keypad are not routed through the computer. We might look into integrating with a softphone at some point. That seems a little easier. And that does not depend on an Asterisk server.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

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Rickliftig
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by Rickliftig » Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:17 am

jopeth3173 wrote:will it do wonders in the dental industry? will it make work easier? is it hard to configure or to study the system? :D
more spam - Maybe we should get in touch with "dentistry roseville"
Another Happy Open Dental User!

Rick Liftig, DMD FAGD
University of CT 1979
West Hartford, CT 06110
srick@snet.net

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:10 pm

It's not a realy dental office. It's a fake. The domain is for sale.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
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joshuab
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by joshuab » Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:11 am

Looking into this myself I'm thrilled others have already considered already. We use Trixbox/Asterisk in our office and guessed OD did in their offices as well. Nice.

We mainly just want a way to auto-switch to the patient's record in OD when a call is answered. Hope this is something on the list for OD, or other 3rd party. Would be huge for the front office!

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Justin Shafer
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by Justin Shafer » Thu May 17, 2012 1:23 pm

http://fonality.com/trixbox/forums/trix ... o-question

I would love if they gave HUD a CLI.. then we could use it as a program link.

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Justin Shafer
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by Justin Shafer » Thu May 17, 2012 1:26 pm

I think Bria has a CLI but it is only for soft phones. I think if they both work, then TrixBox will be a very good distro to use for Asterisk...

too bad they dumped HUD Lite in 2.6.....

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Wed May 23, 2012 1:38 pm

Trixbox uses a forked version of FreePBX, which is a bad idea. Also, FreePBX got their act together and started putting together their own distro. So we ditched Trixbox months ago, and now we just use a recent version of the FreePBX distro, which works very well. We're getting better at Asterisk, but the learning curve has been much longer than I ever thought it would be when we started all of this. In short, we do have the expertise to know how to enhance Open Dental to automatically switch to the patient when you pick up the phone. But knowing how is only half the battle. We then need to prioritize and dedicate resources to add that feature. At the moment, there are simply other priorities that are higher.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
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Justin Shafer
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by Justin Shafer » Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:13 am

that would be awesome! I never thought of that.

mikelb420
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by mikelb420 » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:48 pm

I like the idea of the patient coming up when a call comes in. I hadn't thought about that. I was wondering if it is possible to use asterisk as a sort of in-house "patient activator"? It seems like Asterisk could pull the next days patients and send texts, phone calls, and emails automatically, thus eliminating the need for those services and allowing a more personalized service. Is this already being done by anyone?

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jordansparks
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by jordansparks » Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:55 pm

I don't know how it could send texts or emails since it's just a phone system. And I also don't think it has advanced speech synthesis capabilities, so I don't know how it could make reminder phone calls of any kind.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
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mikelb420
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by mikelb420 » Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:25 pm

Texts and emails I would think could be handled by a relatively simple bit of code, maybe not in Asterisk directly, but a relatively simple program could use asterisk to dial out and play a prerecorded message reminder. I was more curious if anyone is or was thinking of using OD with Asterisk and how they used it or if OD was planning to implement any sort of integration, via a soft phone or using asterisk the way it uses an email server to send out emails, you could dial directly from the patients chart. It would be awesome for staff if they were doing personal reminders if all they had to do was make 2/3 mouse clicks (one to highlight the appoinment and then one to dial). Really streamlines the job and OD would automatically record the fact a reminder call was made. I don't know enough about the details of how texting works to figure it out for myself at the moment, so I was seeing if anyone was already doing it.

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Justin Shafer
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by Justin Shafer » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:37 am

Would it be possible to have the caller-id with incoming calls be matched with open dental and have open dental bring up patient information when its matched to an incoming call?

:D

enamelrod
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by enamelrod » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:32 pm

http://www.getweave.com/services/ there phone system does this. I have never been able to get one single reference from the guy. its just asterisk and some software. they wont sell the software separately they want you to drop your current service and voip your phone system

90210smile.com
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Re: Asterisk Integration

Post by 90210smile.com » Mon May 23, 2016 12:38 pm

We found a way of implementing custom caller ID with our asterisk box. You have to set "CallerID Lookup Sources" to query your OD MySQL database for numbers.

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