Understanding Avaya Coverage Paths: A Comprehensive Guide

By Tom Callahan | Created on 2025-10-20 12:58:53

Written with a informative tone 📝 | Model: qwen2.5-coder:14b

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Avaya coverage paths are essential components in the operation of phone systems. They determine how calls are routed and answered based on specific criteria such as call type, station status, or user preferences. This guide will explain what coverage paths are, their structure, and provide a step-by-step explanation of how they work using an example from a discussion thread on the Avaya CM/Aura (Definity) forum.

What Are Coverage Paths?

Coverage paths in Avaya systems define the order in which calls are routed to different stations or extensions. They consist of a series of criteria that determine when and how a call should be forwarded to another coverage path. Each coverage path includes several elements, such as:

Coverage Criteria: Defines conditions under which the path is active.
Next Path Number: Specifies the next coverage path in the sequence.
Coverage Points: Lists extensions or hunting groups to be called.

Structure of a Coverage Path

To understand how coverage paths work, let's examine the structure using an example from the discussion thread. The user is trying to configure two coverage paths (100 and 101) that should alternate when a call is not answered.

Coverage Path 100

```plaintext Coverage Path Number: 100 Cvg Enabled for VDN Route-To Party? n Hunt after Coverage? n Next Path Number: 101 Linkage 100 101 COVERAGE CRITERIA Station/Group Status Inside Call Outside Call Active? y y Busy? y y Don't Answer? y y Number of Rings: 1 All? n n DND/SAC/Goto Cover? y y Holiday Coverage? n n COVERAGE POINTS Terminate to Coverage Pts. with Bridged Appearances? y Point1: h17 Rng: 1 Point2: h17 Rng: 1 Point3: h17 Rng: 1 Point4: h17 Rng: 1 Point5: h17 Rng: 1 Point6: h17 Rng: 1 ```

Coverage Path 101

```plaintext Coverage Path Number: 101 Cvg Enabled for VDN Route-To Party? n Hunt after Coverage? n Next Path Number: 100 Linkage 101 100 COVERAGE CRITERIA Station/Group Status Inside Call Outside Call Active? y y Busy? y y Don't Answer? y y Number of Rings: 1 All? n n DND/SAC/Goto Cover? y y Holiday Coverage? n n COVERAGE POINTS Terminate to Coverage Pts. with Bridged Appearances? n Point1: h22 Rng: 1 Point2: h22 Rng: 1 Point3: h22 Rng: 1 Point4: h22 Rng: 1 Point5: h22 Rng: 1 Point6: h22 Rng: 1 ```

How Coverage Paths Work

To determine how coverage paths function, let's analyze the criteria and structure of the example paths provided.

Criteria Analysis

Coverage Criteria: Both coverage paths have identical criteria: they are active for both inside and outside calls when the station is busy, not answering after one ring, and DND/SAC/Goto Cover is set to "y". The difference lies in how each path handles unanswered calls.
Next Path Number: Coverage path 100 points to coverage path 101 as its next path, while coverage path 101 points back to coverage path 100. This creates a loop where calls will alternate between the two paths until they are answered or reach their maximum ring time.
Coverage Points: Coverage path 100 includes four h17 extensions, while coverage path 101 includes four h22 extensions. These are the specific stations that will receive calls under each respective path.

Call Routing Example

Here's a step-by-step explanation of how a call would be routed using these two coverage paths:

The user initiates an incoming call to the Avaya system.
The first coverage path (100) is activated based on its criteria.
Call attempts are made to each of the four h17 extensions listed in coverage path 100.
If none of the h17 extensions answer within one ring, the call moves to the next path (101).
Call attempts are made to each of the four h22 extensions listed in coverage path 101.
If none of the h22 extensions answer, the call returns to the first path (100), and the process repeats until an extension answers or the maximum ring time is reached.

Key Takeaways

Coverage paths in Avaya systems are crucial for managing call routing and answering. They consist of several elements that define when, how, and to whom calls should be forwarded. The example provided illustrates a simple yet effective use of coverage paths to alternate call routing between two groups of extensions.

Criteria: Coverage paths are activated based on specific criteria such as station status or call type.
Next Path Number: The next path in the sequence is determined by the Next Path Number setting, allowing for complex routing scenarios.
Coverage Points: Specific stations or extensions are defined to receive calls under each coverage path.

Conclusion

By understanding the structure and functionality of Avaya coverage paths, administrators can optimize call routing in their systems. The example discussed demonstrates how coverage paths work together to create flexible and efficient call handling processes.

References

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