Cisco IPC Express Architecture Overview

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Cisco IP Communications (IPC) Express system architecture
• Cisco CallManager Express (CME) architecture
• Cisco Unity Express (UE) applications architecture

An IP Communications (IPC) Express system is a complete, integrated communications system for a small- or medium-sized standalone or networked office site. Fundamental to its architecture is the Cisco IOS router on which all the data and voice services offered by the system are based.

This chapter first explores the internal architecture of the Cisco IOS router on which Cisco CallManager Express (CME) is based. Then it takes a closer look at the internal architecture of the Cisco Unity Express (UE) application and its interaction with Cisco CME and the router. The packaged combination of Cisco CME and Cisco UE is called Cisco IP Communications (IPC) Express.

If you are already familiar with IP-based networks, you might approach your Cisco IPC Express system primarily as a Cisco IOS router with telephony capability. On the other hand, if you are looking at the Cisco IPC Express system as an integrated, single-box office communications system, the router technology included in the platform might be a secondary consideration for you. As covered in Chapters 1 and 2, Cisco IPC Express is supported on a range of low-end and mid-range router platforms. You can choose from among these to provide the appropriate level of connectivity and processing power for the services your office requires.

Cisco IPC Express is composed of two main components:

• The call processing engine, called Cisco CME (including communications endpoints, such as the IP phones)
• Optional applications such as automated attendant (AA), voice mail (offered by Cisco UE), and IP phone-based XML and Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) applications provided by external application servers

This chapter takes an architectural overview of these components and how they interact.