Dial-Plan Fundamentals

Digit analysis defines which calls (route-patterns) are allowed to which device. This is where Class of Service takes effect. Following constructs define digit analysis 1) Patterns These numbers are route-patterns, directory numbers, translation-patterns Directoy numbers are one form of route-patterns 2) Partitions Partitions are used to logically separate patterns. Same pattern can exist in different partitions. 3) Calling-Search-Space (CSS) Calling Search Space define which group of numbers are accessible to devices. That means which device can call which number. This is done by assigning partitions to CSS and then assigning CSS to devices.

Abbreviated Dialing
Dialing can typically be separated into four types: Intra-site, on-net abbreviated dialing Many systems accommodate four- or five-digit dialing within a site. For example, Cisco employees located in San Jose, California can call the main Cisco reception number using the five-digit string 64000. Inter-site, abbreviated on-net dialing For example, Cisco employees at any Cisco office can dial the San Jose reception number as 8 526 4000. The digit 8 serves as the inter-site access code, and 52 serves as the site code for San Jose. Inter-site, off-net dialing Routing of calls between sites can be handed off to the PSTN. For example, calls made from one site in San Francisco to another site in New York can be dialed either in the on-net or off-net form described above, but routed off-net through the PSTN. Off-net dialing For calls where the destination is off-net and outside of the company's dial plan, the Unified Communications system must offer a simple, locally significant dialing form to the users.

Avoiding Overlap of Extension Dialing

A telephony system must be configured so that any extension can be reached in an unambiguous manner. To accomplish this goal, the dial plan must satisfy the following requirements: All on-net extension dialing must be globally unique. Lets say we have 3 sites A, B and C. A and B (and C ofcourse) cannot have same extension number lets say 1000. There shouldnt be any partial overlap as well. For example, if A has extension number range from 9000 to 9999 and also the outside access code is 9.!, in that case, the extensions will surely dial but user (or the caller) have to wait for inter-digit timeout to expire before CUCM can understand whether its a on-net call or off-net call. (since 9 represent the off-net call access code). To summarize, partial overlapping within a site causes unexpected delays (from the point of view of users) since they expect internal extensions to be dialed immediately. Note: if an operator code is used (for example, 0), the entire 0XXX extension range would have to be excluded from a four-digit uniform dial plan.

Uniform On-Net Dial Plan

When dial-plan is being designed there are certain considerations that need to be taken care of. First and foremost, how many sites shall be a part of your IPT network. That will define 2 most important things. Do you want a site access code ? or simply a different range which must be uniform with all of the sites (in terms of digits). It may seem odd if one of the site is of 5 digits, while others are of 4 digits. Number of digits is defined keeping in mind the number of IP Phones plus any application that requires a dialable pattern. If a DID of last 4 digits is decided and in future a new range is required, we must make sure that the ranges doesnt overlap. For example we are using 800 as off-net access code. This is equivalent to above case in that now there is no extension range that can start from 8 !! Overlapping Extension Lets say we have 3 sites with same overlapping extensions. SITE A B C SITE-CODE 1 2 3 EXTENSION 1XXX 1XXX 1XXX

In this scenario, we have 9 as an access code to route calls to Off-net (PSTN). Now consider inter-site calls from Site A. When phone from SITE A wants to dial 1234 of SITE B, he must first signal CUCM that it wants to reach an extension (pattern) not internal, then he must also signal that out of sites B and C, it wants to reach SITE B. This is done via inter-site access code and site-access code respectively. Keep also in mind that SITE code is dependent on number of sites. For example, if we have less that 10 sites, single digit site code will suffice. Whereas number of sites less then 100, 2 digit site code suffice. Calls coming from SIP trunks or from SIP gateways are all associated with calling party numbering type Unknown.