This paper attempts to cover the basics of Unified Communications and
how it works. To start with, let'sunderstand how unified communications
serversfit into the traditional communications networks of telephone,
voice mail, fax, and email.
Introduction
Unified Communication is the
transformation of traditional
communication methods like
messaging, telephone, voice
mail and fax with new electronic
communication methods such as
email, and instant messaging.
In simple words, unified
communication is a term that refers
to the integration of a variety of
typically communication systems,
both fixed and mobile, and the
use of these methods to enhance
collaboration.
Communication media that can
be integrated into a unified
communication system includesemail, voicemail, fax, instant
messaging, white boarding, audio
conferencing, video conferencing
and web conferencing.
A Unified Communication System
allows access to messaging
applications through a variety of
devices like PCs, video phones,
wireless handheld devices or
telephones, from both internet and
intranet. It will allow you to respond
quickly to any type of incoming
communication – whether you are
onsite or remote. Emails and voice
mails will be available anytime
and anywhere on different devices
irrespective of your location.
Any device can receive notifications
sent to user. Communications
happen between users facilitated
by location recipient of the
message. There are basically two
protocols developed to support this
communication, namely Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Session
Description Protocol (SDP).These
protocols are designed to work on IP
network and support TCP, UDP, DNS
and other internet protocol.
Unified Communication Components
For unified communication to function
seamlessly, various components like
Call manager, Voice gateway, Analog
gateway and most importantly, a
client device on which the client
will access all the emails, calls,
messages and other communication
services is a necessary requirement.
Call Manager
Call Manager is the brain of this
complete network. Without a call
manager, no other device can
perform their function properly. All the
client-end devices will be registered
in the call manager first. This helps
the call manager to know the exact
number of devices in the network
along with their positons.
Voice Gateway
Voice gateway is another major
component in unified communication.
Its major function is to connect the
private network or the intranet to
the outside world. All the calls and
messages, either from outside the
network or for the outside world, go
through this device.
Analog Gateway
Even after having many new
technologies, we fall back on older
technologies like Analog phones. But
as unified communication works on IP
network, so there is a requirement to
convert these analog phone signals.
Analog gateway is used to convert
these signals and all the analog
phones connect to this device.
Client Devices
This is another important component
of unified communication system. All
the communication happens on these
devices. Client devices can be either
a phoneor a PC.
Operation
The working of Unified
Communication System is very
simple. As discussed above, it
has some major components that
are required to perform day-today operations. Together,these
components form a network for an
organisation.
As shown in the above figure, we
understand how the devices connect
to form the complete network.
The end client devices which
consist of analog phones, mobiles,
video phones, computers,etc are
connected with the call manager.
We require analog gateways to
convert analog signal that comes
from analog phones and all analog
phones are connected to the analog
gateway. This gateway is then further
connected to the call manager. Other
client devices like computers, video
phones and other wireless devices
like mobiles are connected to the call
manager. All these devices first get
registered at the call manager, so
that call manager gets the complete
information about the devices and
its geographical location. The call
manger connects with the voice
gateway so that the organisation
call or messages can go outside.
Unified communication helps in
communicating to the users through
different end devices, irrespective of
their geographical locations.
If a client present in the organisation
wants to connect within the
organisation, the signal first reaches
the call manager. As all the devices
are already registered with the
call manager, he knows where the
call is originating and its eventual
destination. If the destination of
the call is within the organisation,
it directly connects both the
devices,so that communication can
take place seamlessly. If the call is
for outside the private network, then
the call manager sends the signal to
the voice gateway responsible for all
the outside world connectivity. The
voice gateway then connects the
call with the outside world and via
PRI lines to the destination phone.
The call manager, in this case, acts
as brain of the network.
Let's take a scenario where the
call manager is down. In that
case ideally complete networks
must go down, but that is not the
case. Basic calling functionality
still exists. In case, someone from
the organisation wants to make a
call, the voice gateway performs
the function by acting as a bridge,
allowing the user to connect with
the destination. In the meantime,
the call manager starts functioning
normally. This helps in keeping the
SLA too.
Benefits of Unified Communication
System
- One single, flexible infrastructure
- Reduced cost
- Improvedproductivity
- Mobility
- Multi-device rings
- Simplified billing
Summary
In today's day and age, Unified
Communication Systems plays
a very critical role.Features that
a unified communication system
provides are highly desirable. Unified
communication systems can be
deployed securely as long as proper
precautions arein place.
-Nikhil Sharma
Presales & Solution Team
Telecom Services Business
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