Inbound Route

An inbound route is used to tell the PBX where to route inbound calls based on the caller’s phone number or the DID number. Inbound routes are often used in conjunction with time conditions and an IVR.

DID Routing & Caller ID Routing

The PBX allows two specific types of inbound routing: DID Routing and Caller ID Routing. You can set both DID routing and Caller ID routing for an inbound route, or set one of the routing types.

If you don’t specify which DID numbers and Caller ID numbers on the inbound route, the inbound route will matches all calls.

Add an Inbound Route

To receive external calls on the PBX, you need to set up at least one inbound route.

The PBX has a default inbound route. When users call to the selected trunk, the PBX will route the calls to an IVR. You can delete the default inbound route, then add a new one to configure settings according to your needs.
  1. Go to Settings > PBX > Call Control > Inbound Routes, click Add.
  2. Set the Name to specify the route name.
  3. Optional: Set DID Pattern to route calls based on DID numbers.
    The PBX will route the call only when the caller dials the matched numbers.
    Note: Leave this blank to match calls with any or no DID info.
  4. Optional: Set Caller ID Pattern to route calls based on caller IDs.
    The PBX will route the call only when the caller ID number of the caller matches the Caller ID Pattern.
    Note: Leave this blank to match calls with any or no caller ID info.
  5. In the Member Trunks field, select the desired trunk from Available box to the Selected box.
    The PBX will route the incoming calls when the caller calls the number of the selected trunk.
    Inbound Route 1
  6. If you will allow the incoming calls being routed to a desired destination without time limit:
    Inbound Route 2
    1. Uncheck Enable Time Condition.
    2. Set the Destination.
  7. If you will route incoming calls to different destinations based on time condition:
    Inbound Route 3
    1. Check Enable Time Condition.
    2. Set the destination for Other Time.

      If a call comes outside the time condition, PBX will route the call to the selected destination.

    3. Click Inbound Route 4, select your time condition and the destination.

      If a call comes in the time condition, PBX will route the call to the selected destination.

    4. Click Inbound Route 5 to set another destination.
  8. Optional: Set other settings.
    • Distinctive Ringtone: This feature needs support from the phones. Distinctive ring tones help users recognize where the call is from.
    • Enable Fax Detection: If fax detection is enabled, the PBX will send fax to the fax destination if a fax tone is detected.
  9. Click Save and Apply.

DID Routing

DID (Direct Inward Dialing) is a telephone service that allows outside users to reach a certain destination instead of going to a receptionist or a queue and needing to dial an extension number.

DID Numbers

DID numbers are provided by the trunk provider. The following types of trunks support DID numbers:

  • VoIP
  • BRI
  • E1/T1/J1
Note: PSTN trunk and GSM trunk have no DID numbers.

The trunk provider usually assigns a range of numbers to the VoIP trunk or the physical trunk. There will be an extra charge for the DID numbers. Contact your trunk provider for more information about DID numbers.

Configure DID Routing – Single DID

Bind a DID number to an inbound destination.

Example:

You purchased two DID numbers from the SIP trunk provider: 5503301 and 5503302.

To route incoming calls to different destinations, you can set up two inbound routes for the two DID numbers.

Inbound Route 6

  1. Inbound Route 1 for DID number 5503301

    Inbound Route 7

    • DID Pattern: Enter the DID number 5503301.
    • Member Trunk: Select the trunk that is bound with the DID number.
    • Destination: Select the desired destination. When users dial the DID number 5503301, the call will be routed to the destination.
  2. Inbound Route 2 for DID number 5503302

    Inbound Route 8

    • DID Pattern: Enter the DID number 5503302.
    • Member Trunk: Select the trunk that is bound with the DID number.
    • Destination: Select the desired destination. When users dial the DID number 5503302, the call will be routed to the destination.

Configure DID Routing – Multiple DIDs

Assign DID numbers to extension users one by one. When an outside user dials an DID number, the user will reach a specific extension directly.

Note: The DID numbers should be continuous DID numbers.

Example: You purchased 10 DID numbers from the SIP trunk provider: 8823201-8823210.

Inbound Route 9

To assign the DID numbers one by one to extension 1001-1010 , you can configure the inbound route as the followings.

Inbound Route 10

  • DID Pattern: Enter the DID range 8823201-8823210.
  • Member Trunk: Select the trunk that is bound with the DID numbers.
  • Destination: Select Extension Range, and enter the extension range 1001-1010.

Inbound Route Examples

Below are sample configurations that will help you understand inbound route DID setting and Caller ID setting.

Note: The following examples ignore time condition, you can set time condition according to your needs.

Inbound Route without Limit

Any user call in the selected trunk will be routed to the inbound route destination.

  • Name: Set a name according to your preference.
  • Member Trunk: Choose desired trunk(s).
  • Destination: Set the destination.

    Leave all other fields blank.

Inbound Route Based on DID Numbers

If a trunk has multiple DID numbers, you can add multiple inbound routes that based on different DID numbers. When users dial different DID numbers, they will be routed to different destinations.

The following example shows inbound route based on DID number 5503301.

  • Name: Set a name according to your preference. For DID routes, you can set the name as the DID number, which help you identify the route.
  • DID Pattern: 5503301
  • Member Trunk: Choose the trunk that has the DID number.
  • Destination: Set the destination.

    Leave all other fields blank.

Inbound Route Based on DID Number Range

If a trunk has multiple DID numbers that are in a range, you can quickly set the DID number range in an inbound route to route calls to different destinations based on the DID numbers.

The following example shows inbound route based on DID range 5503301-5503305, that will route calls to extension 1001-1005.

  • Name: Set a name according to your preference.
  • DID Pattern: 5503301-5503305
  • Member Trunk: Choose the trunk that has the DID number.
  • Destination: Choose Extension Group, and enter the extension range 1001-1005.

    Leave all other fields blank.

Inbound Route Based on Caller ID

The PBX will route calls only when the users’ caller ID numbers match the Caller ID Pattern.

The following example inbound route will route caller ID numbers that start with digit 1 to the destination. If a user’s number, for example, 532352584, that doesn’t start with digit 1 could not call in this inbound route.

  • Name: Set a name according to your preference.

  • Caller ID Pattern: 1.

  • Member Trunk: Choose desired trunk(s).

  • Destination: Choose a destination.

    Leave all other fields blank.

Inbound Route Base on Caller ID and DID Numbers

The inbound calls should match both caller ID numbers and DID numbers, or the call will fail.

The following example inbound route allows the numbers that start with digit 1 to call in; the users should dial the number 5503301.

  • Name: Set a name according to your preference.

  • Caller ID Pattern: 1.

  • DID Pattern: 5503301

  • Member Trunk: Choose desired trunk(s).

  • Destination: Choose a destination.

    Leave all other fields blank.