What is a Call Control?

Call control refers to the process of managing and controlling telephone calls within a telecommunication system. It involves the manipulation and coordination of various call-related functions, including call setup, call routing, call termination, and call features.

Key aspects and functions of call control

• Call Setup: Call control manages the process of establishing a connection between the calling party and the called party. It handles the signaling protocols, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or Signaling System 7 (SS7), to initiate the call and exchange call setup information between network elements.
• Call Routing: Call control determines the most appropriate path or route for call traffic based on predefined rules, policies, or routing tables. It considers factors such as call destination, caller preferences, cost, quality, availability, and other parameters to direct the call to the desired endpoint.
• Call Termination: Call control oversees the process of ending a call or terminating the communication session. It ensures that the call is properly disconnected and any necessary call termination procedures are executed.
• Call Features and Services: Call control enables the activation and management of various call features and services. This includes call hold, call transfer, call forwarding, conference calling, call recording, caller ID display, call waiting, and other telephony features. Call control manages the configuration and execution of these features during a call.
• Call Admission Control: Call control can enforce call admission control policies to manage call traffic and ensure optimal resource utilization. It determines whether a new call can be accepted based on available network resources, bandwidth, QoS (Quality of Service), and other factors.
• Call Monitoring and Analytics: Call control systems may include monitoring and analytics capabilities to track and analyze call-related data. This can include call duration, call quality metrics, call volumes, call patterns, and other performance indicators. Call control systems provide insights into call traffic and help optimize network performance.
• Integration with Communication Platforms: Call control integrates with communication platforms such as PBX (Private Branch Exchange), IP-PBX (Internet Protocol PBX), UC (Unified Communications) systems, or contact center solutions. It ensures seamless call handling and integrates with other communication features and applications.

Call control is a critical component in telecommunication systems, enabling efficient call setup, routing, and termination while providing a range of call features and services. It ensures proper coordination and management of voice communication within networks and telephony systems, enhancing productivity, user experience, and overall call management capabilities.