---
title: "Feature Categories Module Documentation"
description: "Documentation for Feature Categories"
---

## Table of Contents
1. [Module Overview (Technical)](#1-module-overview-technical)
2. [Module Overview (Commercial/Business)](#2-module-overview-commercialbusiness)
3. [Module Overview (End User/Administrator)](#3-module-overview-end-useradministrator)
4. [Configuration Fields Reference](#4-configuration-fields-reference)
5. [Common Scenarios & Examples](#5-common-scenarios--examples)
6. [Model Context Protocol (MCP) AI Integration](#6-model-context-protocol-mcp-ai-integration)
7. [Limitations & Important Notes](#7-limitations--important-notes)
8. [Troubleshooting Tips](#8-troubleshooting-tips)
9. [Glossary](#9-glossary)
---

## 1. Module Overview (Technical)

### What Are Feature Categories?

Feature Categories organize **feature codes into logical groups** that can be assigned to Class of Service. This provides a layer of abstraction between individual feature codes and CoS permissions, making it easier to manage feature access across the organization.

### Architecture

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              Feature Categories System                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                 │
│  ┌─────────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────────┐            │
│  │   Feature Codes     │    │  Feature Categories  │            │
│  ├─────────────────────┤    ├─────────────────────┤            │
│  │ *67 - Block CallerID│───▶│                     │            │
│  │ *69 - Call Return   │───▶│  "Basic Features"   │            │
│  │ *70 - Disable CW    │───▶│                     │            │
│  └─────────────────────┘    └─────────────────────┘            │
│                                      │                          │
│  ┌─────────────────────┐             │                          │
│  │ *72 - CF Activate   │───▶         ▼                          │
│  │ *73 - CF Deactivate │───▶  ┌─────────────────────┐          │
│  │ *74 - CFB Activate  │───▶  │ "Advanced Features" │          │
│  │ *92 - DND Toggle    │───▶  └─────────────────────┘          │
│  └─────────────────────┘             │                          │
│                                      │                          │
│                                      ▼                          │
│                            ┌─────────────────────┐              │
│                            │  Class of Service   │              │
│                            ├─────────────────────┤              │
│                            │ "Standard Employee" │              │
│                            │  └─ Basic Features  │              │
│                            │                     │              │
│                            │ "Manager"           │              │
│                            │  └─ Basic Features  │              │
│                            │  └─ Advanced Features│              │
│                            └─────────────────────┘              │
│                                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

---

## 2. Module Overview (Commercial/Business)

### Business Value

Feature Categories simplify **feature access management**:

| Without Feature Categories | With Feature Categories |
|---------------------------|------------------------|
| Assign features individually | Assign groups of features |
| Repetitive per-CoS config | Reusable categories |
| Hard to track permissions | Clear groupings |
| Changes require per-CoS edits | Update category once |

### Use Cases

1. **Basic vs. Advanced Features**
   - Basic: Call return, DND, call waiting
   - Advanced: Call forwarding, conferencing

2. **Role-Based Access**
   - Receptionist: All call handling features
   - Executive: All features including spy modes

3. **Tiered Service**
   - Bronze: Basic features
   - Silver: Basic + forwarding
   - Gold: All features

### Feature Highlights

| Feature | Benefit |
|---------|---------|
| **Grouping** | Organize related feature codes |
| **Reusability** | Assign same category to multiple CoS |
| **Shuttle Control** | Easy feature selection UI |
| **Enable/Disable** | Toggle category without deletion |

---

## 3. Module Overview (End User/Administrator)

### What Can You Do?

- Create categories grouping related feature codes
- Assign/remove feature codes to categories
- Enable/disable categories
- Assign categories to Class of Service

### Navigation

1. Navigate to **PBX Engine → Class of Services → Feature Categories** in the main navigation menu.
2. The **list view** displays all configured feature categories, including Name, Description, and active status.
3. Click the **+ Add** button in the top toolbar to create a new category.
4. Click any category row or edit action to adjust name, description, or assigned feature codes using the dual shuttle list.

![Feature Categories List View](/screenshots/pbx/class-of-service/feature-categories-list.png)

### Administrator Workflow

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              Creating a Feature Category                        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                 │
│  Step 1: Basic Information                                      │
│  ├─ Name: "Basic Features"                                     │
│  ├─ Description: "Standard calling features for all users"    │
│  └─ Enabled: ✓                                                 │
│                                                                 │
│  Step 2: Select Feature Codes                                   │
│                                                                 │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐    │
│  │  Available Features     │     Enabled Features         │    │
│  │ ┌─────────────────────┐ │   ┌─────────────────────┐    │    │
│  │ │ *72 CF Activate     │ │   │ *67 Block Caller ID │    │    │
│  │ │ *73 CF Deactivate   │──▶  │ *69 Call Return     │    │    │
│  │ │ *74 CFB Activate    │ │   │ *70 Disable CW      │    │    │
│  │ │ ...                 │ │   │ *92 DND Toggle      │    │    │
│  │ └─────────────────────┘ │   └─────────────────────┘    │    │
│  └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘    │
│                                                                 │
│  Step 3: Save                                                   │
│                                                                 │
│  Step 4: Assign to Class of Service                             │
│  └─ Edit CoS → Select Feature Category: "Basic Features"      │
│                                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Quick Tips

> [!TIP]
> **Logical Grouping**: Group features by operational function (call handling, forwarding, voicemail, executive spy).

> [!TIP]
> **Meaningful Names**: Use descriptive names like "Executive Features", "Call Center Agents", or "Standard Office".

---

## 4. Configuration Fields Reference

![Feature Category Configuration Form](/screenshots/pbx/class-of-service/feature-categories-form.png)

### Basic Information Fields

| Field | Description | User-Friendly Tooltip | Example | Notes |
|-------|-------------|----------------------|---------|-------|
| **Name \*** | Unique identifier for the feature category | A descriptive name for the feature code category | `Basic Features`, `Executive Features` | Required. Unique per domain. |
| **Description** | Contextual notes and operational scope | Detailed description of this category's intended use | `Standard daily calling features for office extensions` | Optional. |
| **Enabled \*** | Operational status of the category | Whether this feature category is currently active | `Toggle (On/Off)` | If disabled, extensions cannot execute features linked via this category. |

### Feature Code Shuttle (Dual-List Assignment)

The dual-list transfer interface provides an intuitive mechanism to control feature code availability:

| Section | Description | Operation |
|---------|-------------|-----------|
| **Available Features** | List of all system feature codes (*XX) not currently included in this category. | Click items or use arrows to select and move to Enabled. Includes search filter. |
| **Enabled Features** | List of feature codes (*XX) explicitly authorized for extensions under this category. | Selected codes can be moved back to Available to revoke access. Includes search filter. |

---

## 5. Common Scenarios & Examples

### Scenario 1: Tiered Feature Access

**Categories:**

| Category | Features |
|----------|----------|
| Basic | *67, *69, *70, *92 (Caller ID, Call Return, CW, DND) |
| Call Forwarding | *72, *73, *74, *75 (CF features) |
| Advanced | *80, *82, *83 (Conferencing, Spy modes) |

**CoS Assignments:**

| CoS | Categories |
|-----|------------|
| Bronze | Basic |
| Silver | Basic, Call Forwarding |
| Gold | Basic, Call Forwarding, Advanced |

### Scenario 2: Department-Specific Features

**Categories:**

| Category | Features |
|----------|----------|
| Reception Desk | All call handling, parking, paging |
| Sales Team | Call recording, conferencing |
| Support Team | Call queues, callback features |

### Scenario 3: Security Levels

**Categories:**

| Category | Features |
|----------|----------|
| Standard | Basic calling features |
| Supervisor | + Spy modes, barge-in |
| Admin | + All system features |

## 6. Model Context Protocol (MCP) AI Integration

Ring2All exposes dedicated Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools for **Feature Categories (Feature Code CoS)**, enabling AI agents and Copilots to query feature permission packages, inspect permitted dialpad star codes (*XX), and safely provision or update feature profiles while enforcing dependency validation against active Class of Service profiles.

### Available MCP Tools

| Tool Name | Description | Key Parameters |
|:---|:---|:---|
| `list_feature_categories` | Lists all feature code categories in the domain, including names, descriptions, and the count of permitted feature codes. | `search` (optional string) |
| `get_feature_category_status` | Retrieves full configuration and the list of permitted feature codes (names, default numbers, custom numbers) inside a specific category. | `name` (required) |
| `create_feature_category` | Provisions a new feature code category profile. | `name`, `description`, `enabled` |
| `update_feature_category` | Updates an existing feature category name, description, or active status. | `name`, `newName`, `description`, `enabled` |
| `delete_feature_category` | Deletes a feature category after verifying it is not referenced by any Class of Service (`assertCanDeleteFeatureCategory`). | `name` (required) |

### AI Agent Operational Examples

#### Querying Permitted Features in a Category
```json
{
  "tool": "get_feature_category_status",
  "arguments": {
    "name": "Standard Agent Features"
  }
}
```

#### Provisioning an Executive Feature Category
```json
{
  "tool": "create_feature_category",
  "arguments": {
    "name": "Executive Full Features",
    "description": "Full access to barge-in, call eavesdropping, recording toggle, and all star codes",
    "enabled": true
  }
}
```

### Recommended Natural Language Prompts
- *"List all feature categories configured on this PBX and show how many star codes each allows."*
- *"Show me which feature codes are enabled inside the 'Reception Features' category."*
- *"Create a feature category called 'Basic Callers' with description 'Only DND and Call Forwarding allowed'."*

---

## 7. Limitations & Important Notes

### Technical Limitations

> [!WARNING]
> **Category Assignment**: Each CoS can only have one feature category assigned.

> [!WARNING]
> **Cascading Changes**: Modifying a category affects all CoS using it.

### Best Practices

1. **Plan Categories**: Design categories before creating
2. **Document Purpose**: Use descriptions
3. **Test Changes**: Verify after category modifications
4. **Minimize Overlap**: Avoid duplicate features across categories

---

## 8. Troubleshooting Tips

### Common Issues

| Symptom | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---------|---------------|----------|
| Feature not working | Not in assigned category | Add to category |
| Category not visible | Category disabled | Enable category |
| Changes not applied | CoS not updated | Verify CoS assignment |

### Diagnostic SQL

**List categories:**
```sql
SELECT id, name, enabled,
       (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM public.feature_code_cos_members 
        WHERE cos_id = c.id) as feature_count
FROM public.feature_code_categories c
WHERE domain_id = [domain_id];
```

**Check category features:**
```sql
SELECT f.default_number, f.name
FROM public.feature_code_cos_members m
JOIN public.feature_code_numbers f ON m.feature_code_id = f.id
WHERE m.cos_id = [category_id]
ORDER BY f.default_number;
```

---

## 9. Glossary

| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| **Feature Category** | Grouping of related feature codes |
| **Feature Code** | Dialpad code for PBX features (*67, *72, etc.) |
| **Class of Service** | Permission profile assigned to extensions |
| **Shuttle Control** | UI for moving items between lists |

---

*Documentation last updated: January 2026*