MS-1e and live inter-world paging

MS-1 vs. MS-1e

The MS-1 was Biamp's original Vocia Message Server, and the MS-1e is a hardware update to the original MS-1 and directly replaces the MS-1 in the product line. The MS-1 is no longer available. The MS-1e became available in October 2015.

The MS-1e features a solid state HDD, more RAM, and a faster processor than the MS-1. As a result, it can handle 16 CobraNet lines vs 8 on the MS-1, and the MS-1e can support live inter-world paging to up to 50 other MS-1e assuming it is running Vocia firmware version 1.7 or higher (released February/March 2016).

The original MS-1 model does not support live inter-world paging. To enable live inter-world paging in the Universe, all MS-1 devices in the Universe must be MS-1e models running Vocia 1.7 or higher.

The original MS-1 (up to Vocia FW 1.6.x) runs on Linux 10.0.4, Vocia version 1.7 will update this to Linux 14.0.41 LTS. Biamp manages and maintains the operating system updates in conjunction with Vocia firmware updates. There are no “independent” updates to patch or modify Linux on the device outside of the Biamp firmware updates. We recommend maintaining the devices on a network with adequate firewall and network security to prevent malicious external attacks.

The MS-1 and MS-1e are hybrid network devices which have 4 LAN (or NIC) ports which must each connect to unique networks. The need for separate networks is rooted in conflicts which can arise in the operating system if it finds multiple NICs in the same subnet.

• LAN-1 is an Ethernet control network connection. (LAN-1 of the MS-1e may optionally be used for both the Control and Live Streaming Interworld Paging connection.)
• LAN-2 is a CobraNet connection to devices in the local World.
• LAN-3 is an Ethernet connection for the VoIP trunk port. It is connected to the VoIP network. (LAN-3 is disabled when Live Streaming Interworld Paging is enabled.)
• LAN-4 is an optional Ethernet connection for Live Streaming Interworld Paging between MS-1e devices. (LAN-1 is the other choice for the Live Streaming Interworld Paging connection.) LAN-4 is unused on the original MS-1.

Telephone paging options

Overview of paging and hardware options:

• The Vocia VoIP-1 and POTS-1 support both Live Paging and "Store and Forward" paging within a single World. An MS-1 / MS-1e is not required to take advantage of these features. A single caller can be active per phone line.
• The VoIP-1 and POTS-1 support "Store and Forward" paging between Worlds within a Universe with an MS-1 or MS-1e in each World.
• The MS-1 / MS-1e supports "Store and Forward" paging between Worlds within a Universe for up to 20 simultaneous callers on up to 1000 extensions.
• Live Streaming Interworld Paging via phone requires a VoIP-1 or POTS-1 in the World initiating the live inter-World page, as well as at least one MS-1e in every World in the Universe. (No legacy MS-1 units can be present in the system.) Note: For live inter-World paging, any Paging Station (Desk Station, Wall Station, VoIP-1, or POTS-1) will work as the initiating device.

Telco hardware

The VoIP-1-2 / VoIP-1-4 offer a SIP endpoint which can have up to 2 dedicated phone numbers per VoIP card. The VoIP-1 can be ordered with 1 or 2 VoIP cards installed. It is a CobraNet device that can make real-time Live Paging or “Store and Forward” pages locally within its own World, or send “Store and Forward” pages to other Worlds via the MS-1. It works the same as a Paging Station (DS-4 / DS-10 or WS-4 / WS-10, etc.) The VoIP-1 is utilized when real-time VoIP Live Paging is required within a World. In conjunction with the MS-1e and Vocia 1.7, live paging across two or more Worlds (Live Interworld Paging) is possible with the VoIP-1.

The POTS-1 provides the same functionality as the VoIP-1 but is for use with analog phone lines.

The MS-1 / MS-1e VoIP connection is a SIP trunk which can take up to 20 simultaneous calls to up to 1000 extensions to trigger pre-recorded announcements which are stored on the MS-1 / MS-1e. It can also do “Store and Forward” of a Live Page made from an inbound VoIP call, recording the incoming RTP stream and forwarding it to the desired zones(s). These pre-recorded page messages can be played in the local World and can be delivered to one or more Worlds. Within the local World it is sent to other devices via CobraNet; when delivered to other Worlds it is sent via TCP/IP to an MS-1 / MS-1e in the remote World where it is played out over CobraNet to the local Vocia devices.

The MS-1 / MS-1e VoIP trunk must record an incoming VoIP page in its entirety before it can begin playback (up to 120 seconds, as defined by the Max Page Length value in the Universe properties). If you use the VoIP-1 in conjunction with the MS-1e you can have real-time VoIP paging ability within the local World (or across Worlds).

With the introduction of the MS-1e and Vocia 1.7, you have the ability to do Live Streaming Interworld Paging. This is achieved using standard SIP protocols. Live Streaming Interworld Paging will require all of the Message Server devices in the Universe to be the new MS-1e models. Live Streaming Interworld Pages are transmitted and received via either LAN-1 or LAN-4 on the MS-1e (the selected port is user defined). It will require a VoIP-1, POTS-1, or other Paging Station to be the source of the live page content.

The MS-1e VoIP functionality is disabled when Live Streaming Interworld Paging is enabled. Live Streaming Interworld Paging initiated through VoIP is supported with the use of the VoIP-1, which will have similar behavior to a Paging Station when initiating a live page.

MS-1e: Store & Forward or Live Streaming?

There are two modes to send audio to other Worlds with the MS-1e.

The first way is VoIP paging using Store & Forward: World-1's MS-1 / MS-1e records and packages the Page event TCP stream from the inbound VoIP call >>> Transmits it to World-2’s MS-1 / MS-1e via TCP/IP >>> World-2’s MS-1 / MS-1e unpacks and plays the Page event audio over CobraNet to connected CobraNet endpoint devices in the local World (World-2). 

The second way is Live Interworld Streaming (LIS). With Live Interworld Streaming a single Page will be able to be heard live in multiple Worlds at the same time (excluding delays caused by transmission of the audio, encode/decode time, jitter buffers, etc). It is broadcast out to multiple Worlds using SIP protocols. The page may be initiated by a paging station, VoIP-1, or POTS-1.

• The non-'e' variant of the MS-1 will not support Live Interworld Streaming.
• You can choose to use either MS-1e SIP trunk VoIP paging or Live Streaming Interworld Paging but not both (this is configured at the Universe level and applies to all MS-1e in the Universe).
• If there are any legacy MS-1’s (non-‘e’) in any of the Worlds, it will prevent the use of Live Interworld Streaming.
• Live Interworld Streaming does not support the Store & Forward, Delayed Release and Auto Repeat options, they will not be selectable if a page code's options are set for "Stream Live to Remote Worlds"; however it is possible to configure the Infinite or Custom Interworld Page length.
• Live Interworld Streaming does not support Emergency Paging or related functions.

Terminology

Store and Forward

Store and Forward paging is available for any live pages from Paging Stations. It provides the ability for individual Vocia paging stations to temporarily store a Live Page for later release.  A Live Page of up to 120 seconds long can be stored for up to 120 seconds.

e.g.: The VoIP-1 is a real-time live paging device with "Store and Forward" functionality (i.e. it is normally live, but if the Zone is busy with a higher priority page it will be recorded and placed in to the device's memory until the Zone is free, it will be dropped (deleted) after 2 minutes if the Zone does not become available).

User Recorded Live Page

Caller makes a verbal page announcement to an extension on the MS-1 / MS-1e VoIP trunk, this is recorded and immediately played out after the recording is completed. If Live Streaming Interworld Paging is enabled in the Universe then this function is disabled.

Pre-recorded announcement

A call to a user-defined extension on the MS-1 / MS-1e VoIP trunk triggers playback of a previously uploaded recording by the MS-1 / MS-1e.

Live Interworld Streaming (LIS) / Live Streaming Interworld Paging

Live page streaming between Worlds via MS-1e is initiated by a Live Page from a Paging Station. A single Page will be able to be heard live in multiple Worlds at the same time (excluding delays caused by transmission of the audio, encode/decode time, jitter buffers, etc).

Paging Station

A paging station allows the user to speak and have their voice captured for use in a paging message. The term 'paging station' encompasses the desk station (DS-4 and DS-10), wall station (WS-4, WS-10, EWS-4, EWS-10), VoIP-1, and POTS-1 hardware.

Live Paging

Real time playout of a page made from a Paging Station (desk or wall variant), VoIP-1 or POTS-1.

Delayed Release

Delayed Release paging is available for any live pages from Paging Stations. It enables a Page to be recorded and then played out after a short delay. Delayed Release paging can be useful when Live Paging into a Zone is problematic due to high levels of background noise or feedback or if the user wants the option to cancel the page before it goes out to the live system.

Enabling Live Interworld Paging

Select "Enable Live Streaming Interworld Paging" in the Universe settings.

Choose the desired LAN for Live Streaming Interworld Paging on the MS-1e in each World. Ensure the MS-1e's can communicate with one another over the WAN.

Note that multiple LAN ports of a single MS-1e should not be placed on the same network.

You will see that VoIP functionality has been disabled in the MS-1e once Live Streaming Interworld Paging is enabled in the Universe.

Select the paging option "Stream Live to Remote Worlds" for any page codes which need to support Live Interworld Paging. Store & Forward, Delayed Release and Auto Repeat are not available if a page code is set for "Stream Live to Remote Worlds". Assign page zones in the remote worlds to your page codes.