CAAB XL has two core billing modules. These modules are licensed separately and independent of each other allowing you to grow the system in a modular and scalable manner.

 

The traditional TIMS module is where we collect data from the telephone system, process it through our driver to normalise the information, rate the call with the actual charge as well as any mark up charges specified, perform the appropriate allocations and make the resulting charges available for analysis and reporting.

 

The netbox buffer and traffic enforcement device can be used to collect the call record data from the telephone system. Though more importantly it has been designed as an internet appliance to sit inline to your existing internet connection or gateway and monitor and enforce the traffic and associated policies. Other features include firewalling, SPAM, content filtering, VPN and room monitoring such as power, air con etc.

 

The hospitality system that has been designed for the Hotels, Hospitals and Student Accommodation market.

The operator directory module is an easily updatable directory for switchboard and reception operators, which includes e-mail integration for delivery of operator received phone messages and a high speed inline look up tool.

 

The SMDR (Station Message Detail Record) call collection module calculates call costs and records calls. It can handle small key systems or a large telephone system network, allowing real-time monitoring of calls from any management console.

 

The Database Management module provides the tools to set up and administer the CAAB XL database. It includes call-record archives, restore and delete options to maintain data at manageable levels, on-line integrity checking and facilities to export and import data.

 

The multi-site module consolidates call data from different phone systems and different sites, and can handle tens of thousand calls per hour.

 

The operator directory module is an easily updated directory for switchboard and reception operators, which includes e-mail integration for delivery of operator received phone messages.

 

The directory synchronization module allows CAAB XL to interface with other enterprise directory systems.

 

The traffic analysis module provides network analysis for trunk routes in and out of the telephone system.
 

The main body of CAAB XL is made up of three distinct sections. They are:

 

The Shortcut Window
Commonly used Applications can be set up here to allow you to run them without having to navigate through the Explorer Tree. This is done simply by clicking the left key of your mouse over the application or folder holding the button down and dragging the icon across to the Shortcut Window. Once it is there you can simply point and click to run your program.

The Explorer Tree
Allows you to navigate through the wide range of Applications to easily access the routine you want to run. Navigating the Explorer Tree can be done using your Mouse or the up/down keys on your keyboard.  Beside any folder entry that has applications or folders below it you will see a plus sign (+). By clicking your Mouse on the plus sign you will open that folder and display the contents. A minus sign (-) will then appear beside the folder and clicking this will close the folder and return its contents.  An application has no sign beside it and by clicking on the icon you immediately access that it in the Application Window.

The Application Window
This is the area that actually displays the Application input fields. It also displays the database contents and reports output when Preview Pane reporting is invoked

 

 

 

Reporting

 

The Reporting component of CAAB XL allows accounting to be run by the following parameters:

 

Department - Staff within your company can be broken down into and reported by five levels for more detailed call accounting by Department/Division/Sections etc.

 

Staff – Accounting can be run allocating costs to each member of your company’s staff.
 
Account Code – Bills and Accounts can be run off allocating call costs to Clients and allowing you to calculate an "On-The-Phone" duration for charging your time to Clients.

 

Extension - Accounting can be run allocating costs to each extension on your Telephone System.

 

Authority Code – Accounting by Authority Code allows a call to be allocated to a particular staff member or department regardless of where the call originated.

 

Management Reports – Actual cost, marked up charges, call type and destination analysis grouped by site.

 

Route/Trunk Analysis - Actual cost, marked up charges, call type and destination analysis grouped by Routes and trunks that carried the calls.

 

Traffic Reports - Analysis of call traffic in various formats

 

Carrier Comparisons – Generate Carrier cost comparison information with selected carriers to analyse the results grouped by route, trunk or site. This report allows you to make an informed analysis of the merits of one carrier over another.

 

Additional Reports - A variety of reports giving information such as, Unregistered Resources, GST billing and Top N reports.

 

Favourites - If you find that you run some reports more often than others they can be copied to "Favourites" in a separate area to avoid searching through the menu every time you run them.

 

 

 

Management

 

Administration - This section provides easy to use administration of Department, Staff, Accounts, Extensions, Authority Codes, Routes and Trunks. It also provides Set up Wizards and Report Automation.

 

Departments - CAAB XL allows staff within your system to be broken down into up to five levels for more detailed call accounting by Department/Division/Sections etc.

 

Staff – CAAB XL also acts as a Staff database, holding information essential to the management of office staff. The Staff database is linked to Departments and Extensions.

 

Account Codes - If your business requires you to bill clients for time spent on the telephone or calls made on their behalf then Account Codes will make this a simple task. You set up a code for each of your clients with the relevant charge rate and Department. When a call is made to a client the Account code is entered into the telephone number pad and carried through to the Call Database to be accessed as needed for client billing.

 

Scheduled Reports – Any reports that are run on a regular basis can be set to run at regular, predefine periods, eliminating the need for operator intervention completely.  

 

Setup Wizards – Allows for rapid initialisation of your database, as well as instant update of existing Extensions, Authority codes and Account numbers.

 

Site Data - The applications here will access data that relates to your particular site

 

• Route/Trunk - Allows you to add and maintain the Route & Trunk details for the relevant site.

• Authority Code – Allows the allocation of a Pin Number to a member of your staff along with a call cost markup if required.

• Extension –Extension administration allows you to enter Extension Management information (e.g. Extension Number, Markup, Staff Allocated, and Description) as well as the Extension’s telephone system details.

Configuration Data - These applications let you to set up the following configurations:

• Markups – Allows you to set up a variety of Cost Markups which can be applied to Staff, Account Codes, Extension or Authority Code. 

• Business Calendar – Allows you to set up accounting periods that are specific to your company. Using this table you can run your account reports and simply select one of the time periods you have preset on your system.  

• Call Alerts – Allows you to set up predefined messages to be e-mailed when certain call events occur on the system.

 

  

Database Tools

 

CAAB XL has a variety of database manipulation tools that you can use to make data management more user friendly.

 

Call Table Utilities 

There are several utilities that CAAB XL allows you to perform on your data:

• Archive Data: Allows you to copy a range of call records to an archive directory, where it can then be backed up for security.

• Recover Data: Allows you to recover a range of Archived records back into your live data file for reporting.

• Recost Data: Allows the recosting of a range of call records in the CAAB XL data file. This function can be used when loading new rate tables, to apply them to records already on the system, or if new trunks or routes have been loaded.

• Delete Data: This application allows for the bulk deletion of call data from the CAAB XL database, once the records have been backed up.

• Browse Call Table  Allows you to view all calls made on your system. Records can be added, changed or deleted from the database.

 

As well as collecting and processing calls from a local PABX/telephone System, CAAB XL MultiSite allows for the collection of call data from multiple remote sites, using a number of transports. 

 

CAAB XL MultiSite is composed of 2 separate components, Central & Remote. 

• The Central Service runs on the main site and is responsible for coordinating the polling of the Remote site data using whatever transport method applies to that site, downloading the data and processing it into the CAAB XL call table.

• The Remote Service runs on each site collecting and storing the raw data until accessed by the Central service.  At this time the data is passed back to the Central service using whatever transport method has been selected.

 

Transport LAN/WAN

The TCP/IP polling method can utilize the computer network to access the call data from a Remote Site.  The Remote Computer name or IP address is required so that Central knows where to look on the network and both Central and Remote computers need to be able to “see” each other across the LAN/WAN.

 

This method of polling is used if routers and firewalls pose no obstacle to the transmission of data across a network.  This is usually the case in LANs, but not so often with WANs where security is more of an issue.

 

RAS
The TCP/IP polling method can be used in conjunction with modem communications via an NT or Win 2000 RAS server at the remote site and an RAS client at the Central Site.

 

A RAS entry needs to be set up for each Site.  Each entry will be given an individual phone book entry name, which needs to be specified in the Polling setup.  Also specified are the User name, Password and Domain name for the Remote computer.

It is also possible to enter the Remote computer’s IP Address.  This is only required when the Remote computer is a client on the RAS Server’s Network and not a RAS server itself.

 

Email
The Email polling method utilizes the computer’s Email facilities to access the call data from a Remote computer.  Specify the Remote and Local Email address so that Central can send a request email with the return address to Remote.  Remote will then attach the call data to a reply email, so that Central can process it.  The check interval defines the amount of time to pass between each check of the local Email address for a reply.  The exception to this is when an Exchange Server is handling the Email.  In this case Central will be notified immediately a message is received.

Shared Folder
The Shared Folder polling method utilizes a computer network (LAN or WAN) to access the call data from a Remote computer via a shared folder on the Central computer.  The name or IP Address of the remote computer is specified in the remote setup. Central Service has a data path hard coded and will look for data placed there by the Remote Service.  A Network Administrator will need to map the drive path, with read/write permissions, to both the Central and Remote computer.  This polling method can be used when firewalls or routers prevent the data from being sent directly using TCP/IP or when TCP/IP is not available.

 

Local
Local transport allows multiple Remote collection processes on the one computer.  Each Remote process accesses a separate communication port on the PC and collects data from different sites (PABXs).  Each remote task allocates a different site number to its call data.  Central is run on the same computer to regularly access the data collected.  Normally CAAB XL doesn’t allow more than one copy of a service to be run on a single computer.  Contact TSA to enable this.

 

Buffer Modem
Polling data using the Buffer Modem transport requires a Call Collection buffer unit to be installed on each remote site.  This unit is accessed via modem from Central and data is downloaded on connection. 

The modem configuration is set up in the Config section of Central.  A remote phone number is needed for each site.  An End of Data Sequence string is handy to let the Central task know when the buffer unit is empty.  Only provide this if an actual End of Data Sequence String is being sent.  Time Out Duration sets a maximum no answer ring time before the call is abandoned.  Max Download Time will hang up the line after the given duration.  CTRLQ is the signal that triggers the buffer to release its data.  Specify how often this is sent out.  Enter 0 if CTRL Q is not required.

 

FTP
Using the FTP method of remote data access utilizes the security features inherent in an FTP server.  Call data is collected to an FTP server by Remote.  This data can be accessed across the computer network or via modem using a RAS client/server setup.