§2024-08-28

What is Asterisk? Asterisk is an open source framework for building communications applications. Asterisk turns an ordinary computer into a communications server. Asterisk powers IP PBX systems, VoIP gateways, conference servers and other custom solutions. It is used by small businesses, large businesses, call centers, carriers and government agencies, worldwide. Asterisk is free and open source. Asterisk is sponsored by Sangoma.

Today, there are more than one million Asterisk-based communications systems in use, in more than 170 countries. Asterisk is used by almost the entire Fortune 1000 list of customers. Most often deployed by system integrators and developers, Asterisk can become the basis for a complete business phone system, or used to enhance or extend an existing system, or to bridge a gap between systems.

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Asterisk is a framework for building multi-protocol, real-time communications applications and solutions. Asterisk is to realtime voice and video applications as Apache is to web applications: the underlying platform. Asterisk abstracts the complexities of communications protocols and technologies, allowing you to concentrate on creating innovative products and solutions.

You can use Asterisk to build communications applications, things like business phone systems (also known as IP PBXs), call distributors, VoIP gateways and conference bridges. Asterisk includes both low and high-level components that significantly simplify the process of building these complex applications. See the Asterisk Applications section for more examples.

Asterisk can be integrated with Rocket.Chat to combine the functionalities of both platforms—telephony and team collaboration. This integration allows you to leverage Asterisk’s VoIP capabilities within the Rocket.Chat environment, enabling features like voice calls, call management, and more. Here’s how you can integrate Asterisk with Rocket.Chat:

  1. Integration Goals Voice Calls: Enable users to make and receive voice calls within Rocket.Chat using Asterisk. Call Management: Manage and monitor calls, including features like click-to-call and call routing. Unified Communication: Combine messaging and telephony into a seamless experience for users.
  2. Integration Methods
  3. Using SIP Integration SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is commonly used for integrating VoIP systems like Asterisk with other platforms:

Install a SIP Client: Use a SIP client or softphone that supports integration with Asterisk and can be embedded or accessed within Rocket.Chat. Configure SIP Settings: Set up the SIP client with the necessary credentials and settings from your Asterisk server. 2. Rocket.Chat Outgoing Webhooks and Custom Scripts You can use Rocket.Chat’s outgoing webhooks or custom scripts to interact with Asterisk:

Outgoing Webhooks: Configure Rocket.Chat to send data to a custom endpoint when certain events occur (like sending a message). This custom endpoint can then interact with Asterisk to initiate or manage calls. Custom Scripts: Write custom scripts to handle communication between Rocket.Chat and Asterisk. This can be done using APIs provided by both platforms. 3. Using Asterisk AMI or ARI Asterisk’s Manager Interface (AMI) or Asterisk REST Interface (ARI) can be used for more advanced integrations:

AMI: Use AMI to control and monitor Asterisk from Rocket.Chat. You can create scripts or applications that communicate with AMI to handle calls and other telephony functions. ARI: Use ARI for more advanced, real-time interactions. ARI provides a RESTful API for interacting with Asterisk, allowing you to build custom applications that integrate with Rocket.Chat. 3. Example Integration Scenarios Click-to-Call:

Scenario: A user clicks a phone number in Rocket.Chat, and it triggers a call via Asterisk. Implementation: Set up Rocket.Chat to send a request to Asterisk’s AMI or ARI to initiate the call. In-Call Notifications:

Scenario: Receive notifications in Rocket.Chat when a call is started or ended in Asterisk. Implementation: Use AMI to push event data to Rocket.Chat, which can be displayed as notifications. Voice Mail Integration:

Scenario: Users can check and manage voice mails from within Rocket.Chat. Implementation: Integrate Rocket.Chat with Asterisk’s voicemail system to provide access to voicemail messages. 4. Tools and Resources Rocket.Chat Documentation: Review the Rocket.Chat API and webhooks documentation for details on integrating with other systems. Asterisk Documentation: Explore the Asterisk AMI and ARI documentation for information on how to interact with Asterisk programmatically. Community Forums: Engage with Rocket.Chat and Asterisk communities for advice and examples of similar integrations. 5. Implementation Steps Define Requirements: Determine the specific features and interactions you want between Rocket.Chat and Asterisk. Choose Integration Method: Decide whether to use SIP, webhooks, AMI, ARI, or a combination. Develop and Test: Implement the integration, configure both systems, and thoroughly test the functionality. Deploy and Monitor: Deploy the integration in a production environment and monitor for any issues or improvements. By following these methods and utilizing the appropriate tools, you can effectively integrate Asterisk with Rocket.Chat to enhance your team’s communication capabilities.