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Humanzee
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 519
Location: Seattle, WA |
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 NEEDS DEVELOPER: Event Ghost integration |
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Event Ghost integration would expand vCrib's capabilities to automate other PC operations.
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| Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:06 pm |
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CribKeeper
Site Admin
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 652
Location: Overland Park, KS |
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I agree, just move this to sticky please.
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the Crib Keeper
www.vcrib.com |
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| Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:20 pm |
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CollinR
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
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BTT
This would be super cool!
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| Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:12 am |
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Humanzee
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 519
Location: Seattle, WA |
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Ok, so I've been trumpeting on about EventGhost but I never really explained what it does. So here goes.
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EventGhost is an open-source automation tool for MS Windows, that can be extended through plugins. It can use different input devices like infrared or wireless remotes to trigger macros, that on their part control a computer and its attached hardware. After the user has configured everything to its needs, the program will run silently in the system tray and waits for an event to arrive. So it can be used to control a Media-PC with a normal consumer remote for example. |
Essentially this is very similar to the way that vCrib works. An event occurs, such as a button press on a remote control, that event then triggers an action contained within a macro. You can then add in other objects and code to control how that action is performed. Typically the actions are contained within a plug-in which contains all the controls for your targeted application or device.
So essentially a vCrib plug-in for EventGhost could be quite minimalistic in that vCrib Events just need to be turned into EventGhost events. Then EventGhost could simply duplicate a desired event and insert it back into the vCrib events processor to trigger actions etc. You could also add the command and action lists from vCrib into an the plug-in for EventGhost to use directly with out the event logging.
Two challenges I see.
1. The plug-ins for EventGhost are written in Python, so we need somebody to learn that. NEVERMIND.
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Plugins can be written in any language that can produce DLLs, like C, C++, Delphi and Visual Basic. But of course they can also easily be written in Python |
We have our own dll now so this might be easier than I thought.
2. Adding new objects / events / commands / actions may require a rebuild of the plugin for EventGhost. I don't know if you can yous a live set of DB records to populate the possible events and actions for a plug-in. I envision a button in the Admin.exe that would output a compliant python script file. (not sure about this as I havn't built any plug-ins for EG)[/i]
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vCrib Tester #1, Forum moderator, using INSTEON devices, X10 sensors and remotes via W800RF, All doors are wired with contact closures.
vCrib Wiki |
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:18 am |
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CollinR
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
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Ideally whenever an Event is written to the database it would also be sent to EventGhost. I would guess using the TCP (Network Event Reciever plugin) would probably be the easiest way to get events into EventGhost.
This is a simple php script that can be used to trigger events.
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<?
function sendMsg($args)
{
$fp = fsockopen($args["host"],$args["port"], $errno, $errstr, 10);
if (!$fp)
{ //Something didn't work....
echo "ERROR: $errno - $errstr\n";
return FALSE;
} else {
// First wake up the server, for security reasons it does not
// respond by it self it needs this string, why this odd word ?
// well if someone is scanning ports "connect" would be very obvious
// this one you'd never guess :-)
fputs($fp, "quintessence\n\r");
// The server now returns a cookie, the protocol works like the
// APOP protocol. The server gives you a cookie you add :<password>
// calculate the md5 digest out of this and send it back
// if the digests match you are in.
// We do this so that noone can listen in on our password exchange
// much safer then plain text.
$cookie = fgets($fp, 400);
// Trim all enters and whitespaces off
$cookie = trim($cookie);
// Combine the token <cookie>:$args[pword]
$token = $cookie . ":" . $args["password"];
// Calculate the digest
$digest = md5($token);
// add the enters
$digest = $digest . "\n";
// Send it to the server
fputs($fp, $digest );
// Get the answer
$res = fgets($fp, 400);
// If the password was correct and you are allowed to connect
// to the server, you'll get "accept"
if ( trim($res) != "accept" )
{
fclose($fp);
return FALSE;
}
if (isset($args['payload']))
{
if (is_array($args['payload']))
{
foreach($args['payload'] as $key => $value)
fputs($fp, "payload " . $value . "\n");
}else
{
if ( $args["payload"] <fputs> $value)
if(strcasecmp(substr($key, 0, 3), 'pld') == 0)
$args['payload'][] = urldecode($value);
sendMsg($args);
if(!isset($_GET['REFERER']))
$_GET['REFERER'] = "index.php";
header("Location: http://".$_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']
. dirname($_SERVER['PHP_SELF'])
."/".$_GET["REFERER"]);
}
?>
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You would then call it like:
EG-Action.php?event=FrontPorchLightOff
adding a
&REFERER=index.php?Location=MasterSuite
will kick you back to whever you like once it's sent.
Can't help ya with getting events from EventGhost into vCrib.
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:51 am |
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Humanzee
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 519
Location: Seattle, WA |
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Can't help ya with getting events from EventGhost into vCrib. |
Vaughn released the SDK on the 10/15/2008 so hopefully that will help when building a plug-in.
I've just started to experiment with EG myself and have some IR blasters on order to expand my capabilities. In just a few hours last night I could tell that EG is quite powerful. I'm probably going to try and re-write one of the serial port plug-ins so that its specific to my AVR equipment.
_________________
vCrib Tester #1, Forum moderator, using INSTEON devices, X10 sensors and remotes via W800RF, All doors are wired with contact closures.
vCrib Wiki |
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:39 pm |
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SnyperBob
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 629
Location: Illinois |
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Can't help ya with getting events from EventGhost into vCrib. |
I've just started to experiment with EG myself and have some IR blasters on order to expand my capabilities. |
What are you using in terms of hardware for IR blasting?
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:30 pm |
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SnyperBob
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 629
Location: Illinois |
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From what I understand, you can use EventGhost with simple key presses. Sounds similar to how Girder can work. Wouldn't it be easier to have vCrib simulate key presses for now, just so we can play with EventGhost? I think keypress simulation to send feedback to EventGhost would be faster to implement than figuring out the actual Events stuff.
I dunno
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:33 pm |
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Humanzee
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 519
Location: Seattle, WA |
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What are you using in terms of hardware for IR blasting? |
USB-UIRT, what I ordered was additional IR emitters and a stereo to dual mono splitter so that I can control 2-3 devices.
_________________
vCrib Tester #1, Forum moderator, using INSTEON devices, X10 sensors and remotes via W800RF, All doors are wired with contact closures.
vCrib Wiki |
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:37 pm |
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Humanzee
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 519
Location: Seattle, WA |
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From what I understand, you can use EventGhost with simple key presses. Sounds similar to how Girder can work. Wouldn't it be easier to have vCrib simulate key presses for now, just so we can play with EventGhost? I think keypress simulation to send feedback to EventGhost would be faster to implement than figuring out the actual Events stuff.
I dunno |
The power would come via a a full plug-in, It may not be that hard to build. Just needs some focused attention.
_________________
vCrib Tester #1, Forum moderator, using INSTEON devices, X10 sensors and remotes via W800RF, All doors are wired with contact closures.
vCrib Wiki |
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| Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:42 pm |
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SnyperBob
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 629
Location: Illinois |
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Cool! Let us know how it turns out
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| Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:39 am |
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CollinR
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
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Can't help ya with getting events from EventGhost into vCrib. |
I've just started to experiment with EG myself and have some IR blasters on order to expand my capabilities. |
What are you using in terms of hardware for IR blasting? |
Right now I use a USBUIRT but I just got an ocelot last week so we'll have to see what I end up with.
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| Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:30 pm |
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SnyperBob
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 629
Location: Illinois |
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| Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:43 am |
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SnyperBob
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 629
Location: Illinois |
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Brian! Is this something you would be able to do? Humanzee and I have been looking into getting something like this for vCrib.
Basically, if you could find a way to have vCrib talk to Homeseer software, vCrib would then be able to interface with tons of stuff. I don't think this would be that complicated, but I don't know how to program.
Homeseer I think uses events to initiate actions. You can use Homeseer for media management (NetRemote, j River, etc), along with some elegant hardware stuff. IR blasters, custom IR stuff, etc...
I'd be willing to get you a copy of Homeseer if you think you could tackle this.
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| Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:36 am |
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hobbes487
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 266
Location: Boston, MA |
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Brian! Is this something you would be able to do? Humanzee and I have been looking into getting something like this for vCrib.
Basically, if you could find a way to have vCrib talk to Homeseer software, vCrib would then be able to interface with tons of stuff. I don't think this would be that complicated, but I don't know how to program.
Homeseer I think uses events to initiate actions. You can use Homeseer for media management (NetRemote, j River, etc), along with some elegant hardware stuff. IR blasters, custom IR stuff, etc...
I'd be willing to get you a copy of Homeseer if you think you could tackle this. |
Are you saying there is an Event Ghost plugin for Homeseer and if there was one for vCrib, they would be able to talk via EG?
After reading the thread I think it would be pretty easy to create a vCrib plugin that emulates key presses. This in turn could trigger event in EG?
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Brian |
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| Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:44 am |
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