LodgeIC PMS Help Documentation Call Accounting Interface
help home / installation / call accounting

The Call Accounting Interface captures phone records through the computer's communications port from your phone system. This program may run on any machine on your network (does not need to be run on server). It will only work if your phone system has the capability to transmit text through a serial connection.

note: Before you can edit any parameters, you must sign in. Click the Advanced button on the General Tab to sign in.

To run this program click start..LodgeIC PMS program group...Call Accounting. An icon (phone) will appear in the system tray indicating the program is running.

Interface Parameters

Field Specifications
Enter the starting position and length of each field. The first charater in the data stream is position #1. If the field is not included in the stream enter a zero for the postion and length.

Field Description
Room Enter the position of the Room/Trunk ID. This field will be used to match the Extension specified in the room assignments tab
Date Enter the position designating the Date the call was placed. If it doesn't exist, the system will use the current date.
Time Enter the position designating the Date the call was placed. If it doesn't exist, the system will use the current date.
Duration Enter the position designating the duration/length of call.
Phone Enter the position designating the Phone # dialed.
Amount This field is used if your phone system provides the amount to be charged for the call. An alternative is to use the rate tables that you define. (see below)
Outside Line If your phone system requires an 8 or 9 to dial an outside line check the sent in stream box. If the 8/9 is contained in the phone number field check the included in phone number box. If the 8/9 is positioned in a different section of the data stream enter the data position.

Protocol
Field Description
Comm Port Enter the communications port used for serial communications with the phone system
Baud Rate Enter the data transmission speed (baud rate) as specified by your phone system.
Data bits Enter the data bits (word length) as specified by your phone system.
Parity Enter the parity type as specified by your phone system.
Stop bits Enter the # of stop bits as specified by your phone system.
Ack character If you phone system requires an acknowledgement character to be sent confirming reception of the stream, enter the acknowledgement character required as specified by your phone system. (This is typically a #6)
Transaction Identifier
Record Id 		If your phone system transmits a unique code specifiying the beginning of a new data stream, enter the code, position and length. If not, leave the Record Id blank.

Start program when Windows starts
This program can automatically start when your system starts. To enable this function click the enable button. To disable the automatic launch click the disable button.

Location of Database
Set the location of the reservation files. If you're running a multi-user system, this location with be the folder containing the reservation files on your server. For example, if F: was mapped to your server, the value should be F:\LodgeIC.

Room Assignments

This table allows you to assign the trunk/extension provided by your phone system to a room. You may also specify a non room location (office, break room, etc) by leaving the room assigment blank and entering a description only.

To create a new link/assignment, click the New Link button or press the insert key while the table has focus or go to the end of the table. Enter the trunk Id, click the drop down button in the Room column to select a valid room (or leave it blank if this is a non room assignment). If this is a non room assignment, you may enter a description of this link.

To delete a link make sure the link you want to delete is selected, then click the Delete button.

Other Assignments

This table allows you to assign additional codes to change the room status. For example, create a code 901 to signify the housekeeper is in the room. When the housekeeper enters the room, she/he would entry 901 on the phone and hang up. This assumes that your phone system will allow non room # dialing. Also, this function may be supported by your PBX system another way.

To create a new assignment, click the New Link button or press the insert key while the table has focus or go to the end of the table. Enter the trunk Id, click the drop down button in the Room Status column to select a valid status description.

To delete a link make sure the link you want to delete is selected, then click the Delete button.

Rate Tables

If your phone system doesn't provide phone call charges, you can use these rate tables to calculate phone charges to post to the folios.

Use Rate Tables
Set this value to checked to use these rate tables to calculate phone charges. If this value is not checked, this program will use the amount field in the data stream sent by your phone system.

Field Description
Grace Period Some phone systems will transmit all calls dialed whether or not a connection (call answered) was made. This value is used to determine whether or not the transaction should charged. If the duration of the call is less than the grace period, it will not be charged. (typically 30 seconds)
Local Rates
Area Code Enter your local calling area's Area Code.
Rate per Minute Enter the rate charged per minute for local calls. Enter zero (0) if you do not charge guests for local calls.
Charge After (xx) mins If you only want to charge guests for lengthy local calls, enter the time limit for free local calls. Any time accumulated after this limit will be charged at the rate entered above.
Access Fee Enter a flat fee you want to charge the guest for dialing a call. For example, some properties charge guests 75¢ for a local call.
Local Prefixes If this field is checked, all phone #'s dialed using the local area code will be charged using the local rate.
Long Distance Rates
Local (regional) Enter the rate per minute and minimum fee charged for #'s dialed that match the Local Long Distance Prefix table.
Out of State Enter the rate per minute and minimum fee charged for #'s dialed that don't match the In State area codes.
International Enter the minimum fee charged for international #'s dialed.
Toll Free Rates
Rate per Minute Enter the rate per minute and minimum fee charged for #'s dialed that match the Toll Free Area Codes table.
Charge After (xx) mins If you only want to charge guests for lengthy toll free calls, enter the time limit for free toll free calls. Any time accumulated after this limit will be charged at the rate entered above.
Directory Assistance
Access Fee Enter the fee charged for directory assistance (411 or 555-1212) calls.
Unknown Local Call
Use Local Rate Check this field if a number dialed from the local area code that doesn't match any local prefixes should be charged using local rates. If not, the instate long distance rate will be charged.
Billing Type
Folio Info Assign the billing type used to post the charge to the guest's folio.