Computer Telephony Demystified

Putting CTI, Media Services, and IP Telephony to Work


			This book is for anyone who wants to know about Computer Telephony (CT), specifically anyone who is: Interested in putting CT to work in the home or business; or Interested in opportunities to get involved in developing CT solutions or products. The book does not assume that you have any prior knowledge of telephony. All the telephony concepts and terminology you need in order to master CT are explained and illustrated.

If you do have a telephony background, you will find this book's review of telephony from a universal perspective to be invaluable. In the world of telephony technology, every company uses a slightly different vocabulary, and this complicates CT product and solution development. To address the requirement for a unifying model, this book presents a common set of concepts and terminology which reflect industry standards. These are explained in a fashion that makes them easy to relate to the models with which you are familiar.

The book provides a thorough introduction to telephony and CT technology based on the latest industry standards. These represent a universal abstraction, or unification, of the historically divergent telephony world. The framework presented by this book will help you understand the capabilities, limitations, and potential of existing products and equipment, and to anticipate the next generation (and future generations) of new telephony and CT products. You will be able to make the right CT planning and implementation decisions now, in anticipation of future CT developments, and you won't get caught heading down a technological dead end.


	Contents		The book's thirteen chapters present an introduction to CT, benefits of CT technology, telephony concepts, devices, features, and services, CT concepts, media services concepts, switching fabric technology, administration, telephony networks and equipment, CT system configurations and software, and examples of complete CT solutions. To pull everything together, each chapter ends in a review of the key concepts covered. While the book is intended to be read from beginning to end, it is designed to permit the use of individual chapters. References to key concepts explained in other parts of the book will make it simple for you to navigate.


	Illustrations		You will find that the book is extensively illustrated, to help make the frequently complex and abstract concepts surrounding telephony and CT intuitive and easy to comprehend. Standardized graphical notations are used wherever applicable. The symbols and icons used in these graphical notations are summarized on the inside of the front and back covers for easy reference. Key concepts, definitions, and cautionary notes are hilighted with special icons. Sidebars and footnotes are used throughout the book to present material that is useful but nonessential. You can read these for diversion and further insight as you proceed through the book, or you can return to them later.


	An Essential Reference		If you want to know more about TAPI, TSAPI, S.100, Telephone Manager, ECTF, CSTA, and Versit and how they relate to one another, you need this book.


	Order Info		Order a copy right now, or find it at your local bookstore.