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In this article you will learn the basics of Action Sets and their capabilities beginning with a quick review of basic call routing, look at the Action Set components, reveal the steps to create an Action Set, and finally follow the Action Set processing step-by-step.

Basic SBC Call Routing

Stored Information Elements (IEs)

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When a call arrives at SBC, the information contained in the incoming message (called number, calling number, name, etc.) is stored into variables within SBC. These variables are called Information Elements, a nomenclature lifted from ISDN definitions. So, for example, when a SIP call arrives, the number in the FROM header is stored in SBC's Calling Number IE. All arriving SIP headers or ISDN messages are similarly stored.

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With the IEs stored, we need a way to compare and manipulate those IEs as a function of routing calls. Within the SBC, Transformation Tables provide this functionality. For instance, in a Tranformation Transformation Table, called numbers can be matched and changed, caller's names can be looked up in AD and recorded in the Calling Name IE, or diversion headers can be added. This Transformation Table functionality works the same regardless of whether it is called from a Call Route or Action Set. However, there is a difference in Actions Sets and the Call Router when it comes to the persistance of persistence of manipulations. We'll talk about that in a second.

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Once some Actions are created, you need a way to use them. That's where Action Sets come into play.

Action Set Table

An Action Set Table contains the list of entries that are executed when that particular Action Set is called (from the ingress SG). Unlike a Call Route Table, the entries in an Action Set are not necessarily processed in sequential order. Instead, by using Action On Success, Action on Failure, or Execute If (in any combination), you can control which Action Set entries are processed.

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Execute If:

When an Action Set is executed, the execution of individual Action Set entries is controlled by the Execute If.  Call Route entries can only be Enabled or Disabled, but the execution of Action Set entries can be controlled based on success or failure of the previous entry.

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Configuring an Action Set

Much like the configuration of Call Routes, there are a number of inter-dependecies dependencies in configuring Action Sets. The diagram (below) will help guide you through the process. Basic steps are below, refer to Creating and Modifying Entries to Action Set Tables for details.

1. Create a Transformation Table to be used by the Action Set.
2. Create a Transformation Table to be used by the Call Route.
3. Create a Call Route Table and add any Call Route entries required to complete the calls.
4.  Add any desired Actions in the Action Configuration table.
5.  Add an Action Set table and populate it with whatever entries are required to complete the desired IE processing.

How Action Sets Process a Call

The processing of an Action Set call includes the following steps: 

1. Call arrives at ingress port.
2. Ingress Signaling Group sends the call to the configured Action Set. Note that the Call Routing Table configuration is ignored when an Action Set Table is defined.
3. The first entry in the Action Set Table executes.
4. The associated Transformation Table is processed.
5. If the Transformation Table fails, the call is disconnected per the Action on Failure configuration. If the transformation succeeds, the call is sent to the Lync Routes Call Route Table.
6. The Lync Routes Call Route Table executes.
7. The associated translation table is processed.
8. The call is sent to the egress Signaling Group.
9. The call is sent to the destination SIP Server.

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Next Steps

SBC AD Integrated Application Solutions using Action Sets details a real-world application of Actions Sets to:

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