What is mean by Action => 'ping' using send_action in Asterisk Manager Interface script?

Question

I have started to read about Asterisk::AMI module. In that module if we want to send the action to the AMI server,we need to use the Action with action name using send_action method. In that module they mentioned about Action => 'Ping' within send_action method. Here what is the use of Action => 'Ping'.Can anyone explain me about it.

    send_action({   Action => 'Ping',
                    CALLBACK => \&method,
               });

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The Asterisk Manager Interface (AMI) allows a client program to connect to an Asterisk instance and issue commands or read events over a TCP/IP stream

Action: A packet sent by the connected client to Asterisk, requesting a particular Action be performed. There are a finite (but extendable) set of actions available to the client, determined by the modules presently loaded in the Asterisk engine. Only one action may be outstanding at a time

Action => Ping  

gives Keep alive packet to be sent from the client to Astersik