System Tools - Outspeed Docs

Overview

System tools are pre-built tools that run on Outspeed’s servers. They handle common conversation management tasks and require no implementation on your part - simply enable them in your session configuration. System tools help agents manage conversation flow intelligently:

Server-side execution: No client-side implementation needed
Automatic decisions: Agents call tools based on conversation context
Override capabilities: Customize tool behavior with custom descriptions
Zero maintenance: Tools are maintained and updated by Outspeed

Available System Tools

Skip turn

Allows agents to intelligently skip their speaking turn when users aren’t directly addressing them. Use Cases:

User is singing or humming
Background conversations
User talking to someone else
Self-talk or thinking aloud

👉 Learn about Skip Turn →

End session

Enables agents to gracefully terminate conversations when users explicitly say goodbye. Use Cases:

User says “goodbye”, “bye”, “farewell”
Clear conversation conclusion
Explicit requests to end the call

👉 Learn about End Session →

Basic sonfiguration

Enable system tools in your session configuration:

const sessionConfig = {
  // rest of config...
  system_tools: [
    { name: "skip_turn", enabled: true },
    { name: "end_call", enabled: true }
  ],
};

Override tool descriptions

You can customize how system tools behave by overriding their descriptions:

const sessionConfig = {
  // rest of config...
  system_tools: [
    {
      name: "skip_turn",
      enabled: true,
      description: "Skip turns more conservatively - only when user is clearly singing or talking to others",
      parameter_descriptions: {
        reason: "Specific reason for skipping (singing or talking to others only)",
      },
    },
    {
      name: "end_call", 
      enabled: true,
      description: "End calls only on very explicit goodbye phrases like 'goodbye' or 'bye'",
      parameter_descriptions: {
        farewell_message: "Brief, professional farewell message",
        reason: "Specific goodbye phrase that triggered the end",
      },
    }
  ],
};

Best practices

When to enable

Skip Turn: Recommended for most applications to handle natural conversation flow
End Session: Essential for applications where users initiate call termination

Override examples

More Restrictive Skip Turn:

{
  name: "skip_turn",
  description: "Only skip when absolutely certain user is not addressing the agent",
  parameter_descriptions: {
    reason: "Very specific reason with high confidence",
  },
}

More Permissive End Session:

{
  name: "end_call",
  description: "End calls when users show any sign of wanting to conclude",
  parameter_descriptions: {
    farewell_message: "Warm, understanding farewell",
    reason: "Any indication user wants to end conversation",
  },
}

Troubleshooting

Tools not working

Check configuration: Ensure tools are properly enabled
Verify session: Confirm tools are included in session config
Review logs: Check for error messages in session events

Unexpected behavior

Monitor context: Review conversation context when tools trigger
Adjust descriptions: Override tool descriptions to fine-tune behavior
System prompt: Ensure your system prompt doesn’t conflict with tool usage

Performance impact

System tools have minimal performance impact
No client-side processing required
Server-side execution is optimized and fast

​Overview

​Available System Tools

​Skip turn

​End session

​Basic sonfiguration

​Override tool descriptions

​Best practices

​When to enable

​Override examples

​Troubleshooting

​Tools not working

​Unexpected behavior

​Performance impact