To view the code, download the files, or just see the script, go to VoIP Tech Chat (dot com).

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
use LWP::UserAgent;
$|=1;
sub trim($);

my %AGI; my $tests = 0; my $fail = 0; my $pass = 0; my $result = ""; my $cidnum = ""; my $cidname = "";
my $npa = ""; my $nxx = ""; my $station = ""; my $name = "";

$cidnum = $ARGV[0];

while(<STDIN>) {
	chomp;
	last unless length($_);
	if (/^agi_(\w+)\:\s+(.*)$/) {
		$AGI{$1} = $2;
	}
}

my $AnyWho = '1' ;
my $Google = '1' ;
my $www411 = '1' ;

if(substr($cidnum,0,1) eq '1'){
$cidnum=substr($cidnum,1);
}

if(substr($cidnum,0,2) eq '+1'){
$cidnum=substr($cidnum,2);
}

if ($cidnum =~ /^(\d{3})(\d{3})(\d{4})$/) {
	$npa = $1;
	$nxx = $2;
	$station = $3;
	}
elsif($cidnum =~/\<(\d{3})(\d{3})(\d{4})\>/){
	$npa = $1;
	$nxx = $2;
	$station = $3;
	}
else {
	print qq(VERBOSE "ERROR: unable to parse caller id" 2\n);
	exit(0);
} 

if ($AnyWho > '0') {
	print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: checking AnyWho for name lookup" 2\n);
	if ($name = &anywho_lookup ($npa, $nxx, $station)) {
		$cidname = $name;
		print qq(SET VARIABLE CALLERID\(name\) "$cidname"\n);
		print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: AnyWho said name was $cidname " 2\n);
		exit(0);
		}
	else {
		print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: unable to find name with AnyWho" 2\n);
		}
	}
else {
	print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: AnyWho lookup disabled" 2\n);
}

if ($Google > '0') {
	print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: checking Google for name lookup" 2\n);
	if ($name = &google_lookup ($npa, $nxx, $station)) {
		$cidname = $name;
		print qq(SET VARIABLE CALLERID\(name\) "$cidname"\n);
		print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: Google said name was $cidname " 2\n);
		exit(0);
		}
	else {
		print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: unable to find name with Google" 2\n);
		}
	}
else {
	print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: Google lookup disabled" 2\n);
}

if ($www411 > '0') {
	print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: checking www411 for name lookup" 2\n);
	if ($name = &www411_lookup ($npa, $nxx, $station)) {
		$cidname = $name;
		print qq(SET VARIABLE CALLERID\(name\) "$cidname"\n);
		print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: www411 said name was $cidname " 2\n);
		exit(0);
		}
	else {
		print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: unable to find name with www411" 2\n);
		}
	}
else {
	print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: www411 lookup disabled" 2\n);
}

print qq(SET VARIABLE CALLERID\(name\) "$cidnum"\n);
print qq(VERBOSE "STATUS: Unknown name for $cidnum " 2\n);
exit(0); 

sub anywho_lookup {
	my ($npa, $nxx, $station) = @_;
	my $ua = LWP::UserAgent->new( timeout => 45);
	my $URL = 'http://www.anywho.com/qry/wp_rl';
	$URL .= '?npa=' . $npa . '&telephone=' . $nxx . $station;
	$ua->agent('AsteriskAGIQuery/1');
	my $req = new HTTP::Request GET => $URL;
	my $res = $ua->request($req);
	if ($res->is_success()) {
		if ($res->content =~ /<!-- listing -->(.*)<!-- \/listing -->/s) {
			my $listing = $1;
			if ($listing =~ /<B>(.*)<\/B>/) {
				my $clidname = $1;
				return $clidname;
			}
		}
	}
	return "";
}

sub google_lookup {
  my ($npa, $nxx, $station) = @_;
  my $ua = LWP::UserAgent->new( timeout => 45);
  my $URL = 'http://www.google.com/search?rls=en&q=phonebook:' .  $npa . $nxx . $station . '&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8';
  $ua->agent('AsteriskAGIQuery/1');
  my $req = new HTTP::Request GET => $URL;
  my $res = $ua->request($req);
  if ($res->is_success()) {
    if ($res->content =~ /<font size=-2><br><\/font><font size=-1>(.+)<font color=green>/) {
      my $temp = $1;
      my $clidname = "";
      if ( $temp =~ /(.+)<font color=green>/o ) {
        $clidname = substr($1, 0, -3);
      } else {
        $clidname = substr($temp, 0, -3);
      }
      if ($clidname =~ /<a href(.+)\//) {
        $clidname = $1 ;
        if ($clidname =~ />(.+)</) {
          $clidname = $1 ;
        }
      }
      return $clidname;
    }
  }
  return "";
} 

sub www411_lookup {
  my ($npa, $nxx, $station) = @_;
  my $ua = LWP::UserAgent->new( timeout => 45);
  my $URL = 'http://www.411.com/search/Reverse_Phone?phone=' .  $npa . $nxx . $station;
  $ua->agent('AsteriskAGIQuery/1');
  my $req = new HTTP::Request GET => $URL;
  my $res = $ua->request($req);
  if ($res->is_success()) {
    if ($res->content =~ /Location: <strong>(.*)<\/strong>/s) {
      my $temp = $1;
      my $clidname = "";
      $temp =~ s/&amp\;/&/g;
      $temp =~ s/%20/ /g;
      $clidname = $temp;
      return $clidname;
     }
  }
  return "";
}

This perl script will work well as an AGI script — checking AnyWho, Google, and then 411 for a caller’s name or location. If all else fails, the callerid name is set as the callerid number.

The perl script was designed to only use the Internet with minimal installation; so it will work without a database, Perl Asterisk module, or locally hosted NPA / NXX (phone number to region) file.

Team Forrest recommends using a subroutine context to get the callerid when needed; calling the script with either a GoSub or GosubIf command, such as:

exten => s,n,Gosub(cidname-lookup,s,1)
exten => s,n,dial(${PHONE},30,t)
...

...
[cidname-lookup]
exten => s,1,NoOp(looking up callerid name)
exten => s,n,GotoIf($["foo${CALLERID(NAME)}" = "foo" ]?getname)
exten => s,n,GotoIf($["${CALLERID(NAME)}" = "${CALLERID(NUM)}" ]?getname)
exten => s,n,NoOp(caller id name exists as ${CALLERID(NAME)})
exten => s,n,Return
exten => s,n(getname),AGI(calleridname.pl,${CALLERID(NUM)})
exten => s,n,NoOp(Caller ID Name is now ${CALLERID(NAME)})
exten => s,n,Return

Enjoy the file (download here) and remember, Team Forrest is here to assist you will all of your Asterisk, VoIP, or technical needs.

VoIP Tech Chat posted an opinion piece regarding Level 3’s handling of the outage. And, as with most opinion pieces from VoIP Tech Chat, we like to pass it on.

Enjoy.

Follow us on Twitter

TEAM FORREST constantly works to provide the best service possible. And with 2009, we look forward to launching some new products, new services, as well as continuing to work with our clients to exceed expectations.

To help communicate new services to our clients, potential clients, friends, and team, we provide several methods of contact, such as:

• RSS Feed for news / notices
• Twitter account for updates
• The Team Forrest Website
• e-mail newsletters
• not to mention… the telephone

So, if you’re not on Twitter, please consider getting an account and following us. It’s a great method to keep up to date on the latest events and happenings.

Asterisk is a registered trademark of Digium

Asterisk® (a registered trademark of Digium, Inc.) simply makes sense. Take one part open source software, one part VoIP, one part PBX, and combine. What do you have? A software so popular, more than 1.5 million downloads occurred in 2008 alone.

Team Forrest can help you implement an Asterisk solution to fit your exact needs. Popular implementations include:

• Integrating VoIP to save money on Telephone Services
• Using Asterisk to power Call Centers (both inbound and outbound)
• Easily integrating telecommuting / presence
• Creating a powerful, yet affordable, business class phone system

For more information on how Team Forrest can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.

Additional readings:

• VoIP Insider — Asterisk’s Popularity Continues to Grow
• VoIP Tech Chat — Asterisk, Over 1.5 million served
• Digium Press Release Announcing Asterisk Popularity

Secondly, don’t worry. From what we can tell, this is an old bug fixed in March of 2008. But, as always, you should run the most recent stable version of Asterisk. Not for the FBI warning; but mostly because it resolves other issues discovered. The nature of software is to find, fix, and update. Not a big deal. Again, if you’re concerned, contact Team Forrest today for a free evaluation.

For more info, please check out:

• VoIP Tech Chat discusses the Recent FBI Warning
• Garrett Smith discusses the Recent FBI Warning
• Michael Graves discusses the Recent FBI Warning

Asterisk (created and maintained by Digium) is free, open source software provided under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Asterisk is the most popular open source VoIP software available, with the Asterisk Community being the top influencer in VoIP.

• VoIP Tech Chat: University of Florida Fails to Protect Personal Information, Again

VoIP Users Conference

The VoIP Users Conference gathers weekly on Fridays to discuss all things VoIP. Free, and open to the public, participants can listen live or download archived recordings.

There are three main ways to access the live conference:

1. via SIP directly
2. via PSTN (see below for the number)
3. via the Talkshoe client

Recently, several participants experienced difficulties in connecting to the conference using SIP. The issue dealt with DTMF recognition and prevented the participant from entering the conference number and pin.

Thanks to the power of SIP, this problem can be circumvented using a SIP Header. Adding the SIP Header of Subject: <passcode>22622</passcode><pin>YOURPIN</pin> will bypass the DTMF needs and enter you into the conference automatically.

Using Asterisk, a SIP Header can easily be added to your dialplan. For example, if you wanted to dial *10 to reach the VoIP Users Conference, you would modify your extensions.conf to contain something like:

exten => *10,1,NoOp(VoIP Users Conference Fridays at 12pm EST. Replace YOURPIN with your talkshoe pin)
exten => *10,n,SIPAddHeader(Subject: <passcode>22622</passcode><pin>YOURPIN</pin>)
exten => *10,n,Dial(SIP/talkshoe@vuc.onsip.com)

The VoIP Users Conference meets every Friday at 12pm Eastern Standard Time. More information can be found by following these links:

• VoIP Users Conference
• VoIP Users Conference Ning Group
• Talkshoe
• PSTN –> Dial (724) 444-7444 and enter 22622# 1#

While many Residential users may want to use a simple service such as those provided by cable companies, we also believe some households can greatly benefit from their own networked VoIP system — such as Asterisk or Trixbox.

With telecomuting becoming a more accepted method of work, a local Asterisk solution can separate work calls from home, provide a powerful business presence, as well as saving money on regular household calls.

Plus, the use of a dedicated computer for your phone system can also provide your home with a centralized server for storage, media, and data back-up. Talk about a win / win.

For more information on how Team Forrest can help, please call +1 (212) 937-7844 today.

If you are attending AstriCon, please give Fred a call at 212-937-7844 x501.

AstriCon is sponsored by many big names in the VoIP industry, including Digium (the premier sponsor and creator of Asterisk). Asterisk is free, open source software provided under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Asterisk is the most popular open source VoIP software available, with the Asterisk Community being the top influencer in VoIP.