What is tapi?

Informations about the Windows Tapi interface

TAPI is an interface between the telephone functions of Windows and the telephone application.

TAPI puts the developer standard functions for the development of an own telephone application at disposal.

The TSP is the interface to the telephone hardware. It translates the requested TAPI functions in a language which is understood from the hardware.

Changes of the status of a telephone call are transferred from the TSP to the Windows TAPI.

All relevant messages of the TSP to the Tapi interface are transferred throug the corresponding topTapi events directly to the application.

Possibilities of the connection to TAPI

1st Party link

First Party (direct link)

Here it exists a direct link between telephone and PC (V.24 or USB). The Tapi device (TSP - Tapi service provider) of the telephone is installed at the PC. This device allows a Tapi compatible software the access on functions of the telephone (dial, hang up, accept, connect, display of the call number of the caller etc).

3rd Party link

Third Party
(link throug the network)

With a network link a Tapi server is connected to the telephone switchboard. (V.24, ISDN, TCP/IP) This Tapi server puts for all clients in the netzwork the Tapi device (TSP - Tapi service provider) at disposal.

The control of the telephone functions is at this point transferred through the Tapi server to the TK switchboard. The Tapi device is only installed on the Tapi server. The telephone functions can now be used at the workstations of the clients. (Dial, hang up, accept, connect, display of the call number of the caller etc).