IBM Distributed marketing demonstration

IBM Distributed Marketing provides marketing organizations with the ability to distribute the execution of centrally managed marketing campaigns throughout the enterprise. Based on new IBM Distributed marketing Rest APIs, I have designed a standalone Web application illustrating what can be a Distributed Marketing application for Store manager. That application lets an end-user (without marketing or IT skills) to create a local campaign addressing a part of their customers.

Login page

Menu with options

List of On-Demand Campaign templates

Campaign creator

Segmentation

In addition to that, I have added Weather information coming from IBM Weather APIs and also a list of products relevant for customers based on the weather forecast.

Weather Forecast

Product recommendations

Last but not least,  I have added cognitive capabilities to be able to interact with Distributed Marketing with Natural language instead of an UI.

Watch this video to have more details about custome...

IBM Silverpop integrated in a Business Application

In a previous article (IBM Interact & Mobile Push Notification), I have illustrated how you can leverage IBM Mobile Push Notification service APIs to contextually send push notification on mobile from a web front-office application.

I have now extended my front-office application to allow a customer advisor to send newsletter (promotion, new offering,...) leveraging IBM Silverpop APIs.
IBM Silverpop is a digital marketing technology provider that offers email marketing and marketing automation solutions.

IBM Silverpop APIs: 

IBM Silverpop’s API library provides an efficient mechanism to accomplish many automation and integration tasks. You can use more than 120 API commands for:

• Session Management
• Database and Contact List Management
• Relational Table Management
• Template and Mailing Management
• Dynamic Content
• Reporting

[Lab] Polycom Conference Manager for Google Chrome

[UPDATE]: New UI with version 2.0

Two weeks ago, I illustrated how to develop a PHP (server-side) application, leveraging Polycom DMA APIs, to easily control a Polycom on-going conference (here). That app doesn't require admin credentials, so an end-user can use it via its own credentials, but he needs to have a PHP server.
So, to simplify the use of that service, I adapted that aplication to be usable as a Google Chrome App. So, now anhy end-user can install that "local" app on its Google Chrome browser, and uses it.

Click on that icon to install it on your Google Chrome.

That application provide the following features:

• List of meeting participants (audio, video, content)
• Start/stop recording
• Lock/unlock conference
• Mute/unmute a selected person (or a list of people)
• Mute all participants except chairperson
• Unmute all participants
• Add/remove participants.
• Save/retrieve your meetings details (DMA FQDN, username, login...)

Some screenshots of that application:

Just retrieved my previous settings

Validate my meeting number of my ongoing conference

List participants

Just clicked on "Begin Recording"

Just locked my conference

Selection of several people who attend the meeting

Just muted selected people

Unmuted the conference

Live Demonstration:

[Lab] Video Meeting Tracker

To drive a better user adoption and to improve customer satisfaction, it could be interesting in retrieving feedback from users. Based on Polycom APIs, you can track meeting activities like when a meeting starts, stops, who is the owner and participants.

I have design a small app, tracking meetings and sending an email recap at the end of the meeting to the owner, with a link to a survey.

[Lab] Conference Management via APIs

During the last two years, I have demonstrated Polycom APIs infrastructure value through several examples like VMR-user Management, CloudAXIS scheduling, IBM Sametime integration, but I only played with REST APIs. But, I had a request - display a message during the conference, I can't solve via DMA or Resource Manager API, I had to use Polycom Collaboration Server (RMX) ---- XML-based API.

I have designed a Web application (using PHP) allowing an end-user to fully control his on-going conference. The user will be able to list all meeting participants, start/stop the meeting recording, lock/unlock conference and different mute options, you can also invite/disconnect a participant.

Web Page of the app.

A short recording about the different capabilities of the app:

All features are accessible via only end-user credentials, but if you want to different text message during the conference, you need DMA & RMX admin credentials.

[UPDATE]

That application has now a new user interface leveraging Bootstrap.

[UX Series] Easy Meeting Mobile Application

One of my leitmotiv at Polycom is the User Experience (UX) and how APIs can improve the UX for end-users even more. In the past, I have develop some app like a "Chrome Extension for Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS" or show you how to leverage Human Capital (IBM Kenexa) with Polycom technology.

I love the Steve Jobs' approach, he believed that 'the only way to truly capture the full value of technology is to adapt the technology to fit the way we live our lives instead of requiring that we adapt our lives to fit the way the technology works.'

This week, I have develop a new mock-up based on a mobile application and NFC technology. The purpose is to simplify the initialization of a call on Polycom Group Series to a video meeting room (VMR). Out of the box, Polycom Endpoints can retrieve and display calendar information coming from a Microsoft Exchange server. But, you have to have booked the endpoint.
Imagine you have an Open Access room policy or video-kiosk.You have to join a call in 2 min, you have find a free system, but you are not always familiar with the system.
Via your mobile, you can tap the NFC tag to start the call. The android app will retrieve from your calendar meeting details like video meeting id and send the launch command to the Group Series.

Technologies Used:

For that mock-up, I have used all of these technologies:

1/ A NFC Tag - It stores Group Series information.

2/ An Android Tablet or Smartphone
3/ Android Calendar Provider API (here) - I parse the calendar entry to retrieve the VMR number via a specific pattern.
4/ Android NFC API (here) to read the content of the NFC tag in the room.
4/ Polycom Group 500 (here)

New Sametime SDK & Sametime 9 Phonebook Management

IBM just published a new release of IBM Sametime 9.0 SDK I won't list all new APIs or features.
I will just focused my article to the updates of IBM Sametime Telephony Toolkit.

Link to download Sametime Standard V9.0 SDK IFR 1 Multiplatform: here
(The date on the site for the ePackage doesn't properly reflect that, but IBM just uploaded it.)

That is a comparison between the list of public objects we have in S9 & S9 IFR1 SDK:

IBM Sametime 9 has introduced IBM Softphone which allows you to place and receive voice and video calls from your computer. To place call, IBM Sametime Phonebook, is very useful if you don't want to remember all telephone number, SIP URI or h323 dial string. The only way to provision the phonebook was a plugin I described two years ago, leveraging your IBM Notes contacts. Same thing to export or backup, there was no way of exporting or backing up your Sametime Phonebook or call history data from the Sametime client user interface (UI).

Via these new objects,you can now easily manipulate the content of IBM Sametime Phonebook  by creating, deleting entries. I have designed a Sametime plugin to export Polycom endpoints details from a flat file (csv) or from a Polycom Resource Manager.

Hope it will help you to leverage the power of IBM Softphone, especially with Polycom infrastructure.

[Lab] Google Chrome App for Polycom DMA

In the last two articles, I demonstrated you how to leverage Polycom DMA & CloudAXIS APIs within Google Chrome App & Extension.

Now, I will show you how to create your first Chrome Application to list all users and create a new user on your Polycom DMA.

The main advantage of a Chrome Application is you can develop via Web technology without a web server, and do easy demo very quickly. You will work from the skeleton of a Chrome Application. You can download the application from here and you want to unzip it.

Installation of the application

1. Open your Chrome browser
2. Extensions that you download from the Chrome Web Store are packaged up as .crx files, which is great for distribution, but not so great for development. Recognizing this, Chrome gives you a quick way of loading up your working directory for testing. Let's do that now.
3. Visit chrome://extensions in your browser (or open up the Chrome menu by clicking the icon to the far right of the Omnibox. and select Extensions under the Toolsmenu to get to the same place).
4. Ensure that the Developer mode checkbox in the top right-hand corner is checked.
5. Click Load unpacked extension… to pop up a file-selection dialog.
6. Navigate to the directory in which your extension files live, and select it.

Access to Chrome Apps

1. In a new Chrome tab, type chrome://apps
2. You should now see a new icon with the Polycom logo.
3. Click on it, you will see a new web page with just a title

We will now start to work on the user interface of the application.

Part 1: Retrieve the list of users

We will only work on two files – index.html, app.js. In a first time, we will work on the user interface (UI) of the application.

• Open, with your preferred source code editor (in my case Notepad++), index.html. 

We will have a form to let the user enter Polycom DMA hostname and the credentials.

• Add the following lines in the section “Retrieve the list of users”:

<form>

DMA Hostname: <input type="text" name="dma" id="dma" ><br>

Login: <input type="text" name="login" id="login" ><br>

Password: <input type="password" name="password" id="password"><br>

<input type="submit" value="Retrieve info"></input></br>

Your DMA users: <span id="room_id"></span> <br /><br>

</div>

</for>

• Go back to the Web page with the blank application and right-click on the page and choose “Reload App” or if you have closed the app, reopen it. The application has been updated with three inputs fields and on button.

But, if you click on the button “Retrieve Info”, nothing will happen, because we don’t have written the business logic, yet.

We will write the business logic using Javascript.

•  Open the file app.js which will contain all the business logic.

The file is not empty, because I have already set up several variables we will use the rest of the code, and a function to encode in Base64 the authentication string.

• Add the following code in the section “Code to retrieve users”

var form = document.querySelector('form'); //define the object Form we have created in the HTML page.

form.addEventListener('submit', function(ev) {

                //Definition of variables to retrieve the info you put in the form

                dma = document.getElementById('dma').value;

                login = document.getElementById('login').value;

                pass = document.getElementById('password').value;

                user_id = document.getElementById("room_id");

                // URL Definitions

                url_init="https://" + dma + ":8443";

                url = url_init + '/api/rest/users';

   

               

                var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();

                xhr.open('GET',url);

                auth = make_base_auth(login,pass);

                xhr.setRequestHeader("Authorization", auth); //Authentication Header

                xhr.send(); // send of the REST Command

                xhr.onreadystatechange = function() {

    if (xhr.readyState === 4) {

                                   if (xhr.status === 200) {

                               

                                var items = xhr.responseXML.querySelectorAll("username"); //Selection of Username elements in the XML File

                                var name = "";

                                for (var n = 0; n < items.length; n++) {

                                                if(name=="")

                                                {

                                                name = items[n].textContent; // Retrieve the value of the Username element

                                                }

                                                else

                                                {

                                                                name = name + ", " + items[n].textContent;

                                                }

                                                user_id.innerHTML=name; //Display of the list of users

                                                }

        } else

{

            console.error("Something went wrong!");

}

    }

                console.log("Nom : " + name);

};

});

• Go back to the Web page with the blank application and right-click on the page and choose “Reload App” or if you have closed the app, reopen it.
• Enter your Polycom DMA hostname and Admin credentials.

Congratulations, you have written your first Web-like application leveraging Polycom DMA APIs.

Part 2: Create a new user on Polycom DMA

Now, we will enhance the application, the user will be able to create a new user on Polycom DMA. Like, we just did, you have to modify the Index.html file (UI) and app.js (Business logic). I will let you do it by yourself.

• Modify Index.html and app.js with the following codes

HTML Code:

<div style="color: white; font-size: 15px;">

New user Creation:<br /><br>

<form name='myForm2' id='myForm2'>

First Name: <input type="text" name="first_name" id="first_name"><br>

Last Name: <input type="text" name="last_name" id="last_name"><br>

Username:&nbsp <input type="text" name="username" id="username"><br>

Password:&nbsp&nbsp <input type="text" name="password2" id="password2"><br><br>

<input type="submit" value="Create user"></input></br>

<span id="Update_good"></span> <br />

</form>

</div> 

Business Logic:

var form2 = document.getElementById('myForm2');

                form2.addEventListener('submit', function(ev) {

                dma = document.getElementById('dma').value;

                url_init="https://" + dma + ":8443";

                var url_final_user = url_init + "/api/rest/users";

               

                var first_name = document.getElementById("first_name").value;

                var last_name = document.getElementById("last_name").value;

                var username = document.getElementById("username").value;

                var password = document.getElementById("password2").value;

                login = document.getElementById('login').value;

                pass = document.getElementById('password').value;

                auth = make_base_auth(login,pass);

//Creation of the XML Message wichi contains all information about the new user you want to create like username, password           

                var XML_Message =

                                "<plcm-user xmlns=\"urn:com:polycom:api:rest:plcm-user\">\r\n" +

                                "<username>"+ username +"</username>\r\n" +

                                "<first-name>"+ first_name +"</first-name>\r\n" +

                                "<last-name>"+ last_name +"</last-name>\r\n" +

                                "<password>"+ password +"</password>\r\n" +

                                "</plcm-user>\r\n";

               

                                var req = new XMLHttpRequest();

                                req.open('POST', url_final_user);

                                req.setRequestHeader("Content-Type","application/vnd.plcm.plcm-user+xml");

                                req.setRequestHeader('Authorization', auth);

                                req.withCredentials = true;

                                req.send(XML_Message);

                                req.onreadystatechange = function() {

                                if (req.readyState === 4) {

                                                if (req.status === 201) {

                                                                Update_good.innerHTML="User Created :) ...";                                                                               

                                                } else {

                                                                console.error("Something went wrong!");          

                                                }

                                }

}

});

• Go back to the Web page with the blank application and right-click on the page and choose “Reload App” or if you have closed the app, reopen it.
• Enter your Polycom DMA hostname, Admin credentials and user details, then click on “Create User”

PS: POST instead of GET

In that code, we send data to the Polycom DMA describing the user (username, password…). 

Most of the type, POST Call contains a XML content describing the object we want to create like a conference room, conference or a reservation on RPRM.

Congratulations, you have improved by adding a new function to create a new user.  

Chrome Extension for Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS

I became a fan of Google Chrome development capabilities. Last week, I have developed two Google Chrome Apps, leveraging Polycom DMA APIs Now, I have tested Google Chrome Extension, using Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS APIs.

The purpose of that extension is to be able, from the Google Chrome UX, to create an ad-hoc and scheduled meeting. I have published that extension in the Google Chrome WebStore.

If you have new feature idea, don't hesitate to comment that app.

Chrome App for Polycom VMR Management

That is why I think APIs are very important... In previous articles, I already showed several examples of development leveraging Polycom DMA REST APIs for VMR Passcode management using Java or HTML/ Web Development.
Today, I have tested a new approach: a Chrome App.
The main advantage I have leverage my previous piece of code (Web dev), but without the need to have a Web Server. It is very easy and fast to design...

Chrome Extension

That video will show you the user experience of that Chrome extension.

I have also published that application on Chrome Web Store : here
Don't hesitate to share your comments on that app...

Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS & Salesforce.com

How to put a face on your sales force... With the Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite, sales teams are now more empowered to connect with customers and bring in the resources they need to support them.
RealPresence CloudAXIS extends Polycom’s HD video collaboration to anyone, regardless of application, system, or device. Connecting customers face to face with sales people or subject matter experts—no matter what system they are using—is now a cinch.

But:

1. How could you have something integrated into your business processes? APIs
2. Where are stored your customer contacts? Probably in a CRM system...

I built a prototype to illustrate a potential integration between Polycom CloudAXIS Suite and Salesforce. This portotype has been developed to demonstrate how video can be integrated into applications to simplify workflows and make video part of a complete experience (CEBP, UC etc).
Contextual integration drives more usage...

• In a first part, it shows you how to directly export your SFDC contacts into RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite.
• In a second part, it shows you a way to invite all your customers with whom you have opportunities in progress. For example to organize a marketing campaign...

To design that prototype, I just leverage Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS APIs and Salesforce.com APIs. Salesforce provides programmatic access to your organization’s information using simple, powerful, and secure application programming interfaces.

*Disclaimer: That prototype is not an application currently sold by Polycom/Salesforce or planned to be productized by Polycom/Salesforce.

Polycom Conference Control App

I have covered Polycom Infrastructure APIs several times in my blog. Polycom set of APIs is a very prowerful driver for UC and Video Adoption. It could allow you to quickly develop applications (Web, desktop, mobile…) to interact with Polycom RealPresence platform. This application could be IT-centric or end-user-centric.

“Polycom Advanced Services” has developed an application to easily manage Polycom Conferences. This application is accessible via a simple web browser (from your PC, Tablet or Mobile devide). After the authentication sequence, you can access to several key features to control active or inactive conference like:

• Create new personal VMR,
• Manage meeting participants,
• Mute/unmute, lock/unlock conference,
• Update VMR passcodes for Chairperson and Attendees,
• …

If you are interested by this application, we can provide you a trial version of this app to see the value of it in your environment. Please contact me or your local Polycom SE for the trial details and the cost.

Screenshots:

Login Screen

List of personal active VMR

Creation of VMR

Edition of VMR passcodes

 

Management of a running meeting room

Add participant screen

 This application is also available via a tablet or a smartphone.

Polycom VVX & Conference Management...

Today, I would like to share with you my last prototype.
You probably know I love the concept of "Contextual Service", it provides access to a service depending on a context. This concept drives user adoption by providing a seamless integration and the easiest access to a service.

Last week, I have a discussion with one of my colleague, who is specialized on Polycom Voice Portfolio, about Polycom Business Media Phone VVX and its Web browser.
So, I have imagined a new service: Having access to Conference management capabilities directly from the phone, like retrievinf his VMR info, changing chairperson and attendee passcodes...

Demo:

Architecture:
To design that prototype, you just need to have a standard application server to host the Web page.
In my case, I have used a J2EE Websphere Application Server. The app does all REST API requests against Polycom DMA to retrieve all VMR details and update passcodes.

 As you can see, that is pretty straightforward and very powerful...

IBM Notes & Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite APIs

Disclaimer: That is not a Polycom official solution. It is a prototype illustrating two integrations with IBM Notes Client. Polycom Global Services or Polycom / IBM Business Partners can do this kind of development.

Last year, Polycom has introduced a set of REST APIs for its infrastructure. It was a major step forward in its vision to help drive the adoption, delivery, and management of UC and video collaboration for enterprises, governments, and organizations focused on healthcare, education, and manufacturing, with a rich new suite of open APIs that facilitate the development of custom applications and extend the value of the Polycom® RealPresence® Platform.

Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite is no exception.

The Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite Services Portal API enables developers to integrate the Services Portal functionality into their own applications; this includes Services Portal server initialization, user account management for creating and managing accounts, user authentication, conference creation and management, core services control, and contact list management.

 The Services Portal API is based on the Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture and is accessed via standard Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request methods.

I have developed two prototypes to provide a contextual integration of Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite within IBM Notes. The purpose of the first one is to schedule a CloudAXIS meeting directly from an IBM Calendar entry. That integration has been done via a RCP plugin. When you click on the button, the plugin retrieve all information you have put on the calendar entry like Subject, list of participants, date & time, and send an API command to Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite with these information. When the meeting is created, the meeting details (a.k.a url) is put in the location field.

Then, I have designed another plugin. Polycom CloudAXIS allows you to store participant contact information in the portal Address Book for future invitations. When you click on the button “Export IBM Notes Contacts”, it retrieves all your personal contacts in names.nsf file and copies it into Polycom RealPresence CloudAXIS Suite Address Book.

IBM Notes plugin for Polycom CloudAXIS:

IBM Notes Contacts Export for Polycom CloudAXIS: