Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:19:32 +0300 From: Dovid B Subject: Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer) To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion asterisk-users@lists.digium.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original ) Off-hook ) Dialtone ) Press ** (change to remote mode) ) To control the... ) Press 1 ) To change the vol... ) Press 1 ) To mut... ) Press 0 I am new to the whole controlling devices in your home from asterisk. Can anyone give me a URL to devices that I can connect to my box that can then connect to the lights, security system, TV etc ? This is a whole new area for me to play and get lots of sleepless nights ;) X10 control (Send data control signals over house wiring) I use an X10 Firecracker (CM17A) interface http://www.smarthome.com/1141.html which is a little radio transmitter the size of a DB9 shell and plugs into a serial port. The software that comes with it is for Windows and is very lame. However, there is a unix tool called bottlerocket which is a command line utility http://www.linuxha.com/bottlerocket/ to control the device. There are some smarter devices but that infers programming them within their constraints/user memory/etc. The command line one seems to work real well for me because the computer is far more capable than the other intelligent devices given the time to program it correctly. I have some code to calculate sunset so all my timings are relative to the correct sunset time so there is no altering for time of year or DST. This device can also send signals to more than one house code as I have two receivers. One for the lights stuff, and another for the sprinkler system. They don't make the one I have anymore, but here is a link to some others http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/wgl-irrigation// X10 Warning: Read up on the technology. There are some controllers that are BI-DIRECTIONAL which means the receiving device will tell you what it did/what its status is rather than assuming it did what you asked it. X10 can have difficulty sending to some devices depending on which side (leg) of the power circuit you are on. (There are bridges to fix this problem too). X10 themselves also make some of the ugliest wall switches I have every seen. Leviton make x10 switches that are _really_ attractive (spouse friendly in your decor). They also work _much_ better with more consistent (virtually perfect) control. A much more professional system but be prepared to pay for the wife-approved model. Depending on features some of the Leviton versions are well over $100. X10 is also being replaced by a newer technology called Insteon. Don't have any of these devices yet but it looks like X10 version 2.0 and is backward compatible. Manual wired versions You can also get I/O interface boards for your PC which typically plug into a serial port and provide signalling to turn on/off many outputs with varying voltage/load characteristics like this http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=20 PIC/Basic Stamp http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/products/basicstamps/basic_stamps.asp There are other intelligent devices like the PICs from Parallax called Basic Stamp modules. These are little computers designed specifically for I/O control type tasks. This is roughly the kind of little computers you might find in you microwave, etc. Only these ones are designed with an open-ended consumer programmable interface for creating general purpose devices. (These little guys also support a neat mode where you can create a master/slave network of many of them kinda like an RS485 industrial control bus. That means only one of these devices needs to connect to your PC but you could control hundreds of these in robotic control or data acquisition type scenarios. This is only the tip of the iceberg and I am certainly not the authority on this. But take a look at some of the links and let your imagination run wild. This is what got my daughter interested in programming. When she saw that you could get outside of the box and control real-world stuff from actions on the computer she was hooked. ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
On Fri, 31 Aug 2007, Dovid B wrote: I am new to the whole controlling devices in your home from asterisk. Can anyone give me a URL to devices that I can connect to my box that can then connect to the lights, security system, TV etc ? This is a whole new area for me to play and get lots of sleepless nights ;) I use an 1132u (http://www.smarthome.com/1132u.html) which evidently has been discontinued and replaced with an 1132cu (http://www.smarthome.com/1132cu.html). I use the Linux drivers available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/wish. Good luck, Steve Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED] Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST Newline Fax: +1-760-731-3000 ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Quoting Steve Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I'm using phidgets (www.phidgets.com) There are various sorts of them out there. I prewired the house with relays controlling every light, outlet, etc., and just hard wired them to low voltage switches initially, but all the control loops come back to the control room. now I am in the process of making every switch an input and every relay an output and breaking the actual hard wired loops. Right now the plan is a distributed system using nslu2's and several usb modules as controllers spread around. Normally they would take direction from a central box with a database for logging, playback etc, and a web interface. I am trying to figure out a good way though for them to fall back into dumb mode and be able to operate autonomously if the master controller is unavailable. I am also using 1wire sensors from dallas semiconductor for temperature sensing, and they adapt onto the usb bus - see owfs and other open source software to use them. On Fri, 31 Aug 2007, Dovid B wrote: I am new to the whole controlling devices in your home from asterisk. Can anyone give me a URL to devices that I can connect to my box that can then connect to the lights, security system, TV etc ? This is a whole new area for me to play and get lots of sleepless nights ;) I use an 1132u (http://www.smarthome.com/1132u.html) which evidently has been discontinued and replaced with an 1132cu (http://www.smarthome.com/1132cu.html). I use the Linux drivers available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/wish. Good luck, Steve Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED] Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST Newline Fax: +1-760-731-3000 ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users Jon Pounder _/_/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ Inline Internet Systems Inc. Thorold, Ontario, Canada Tools to Power Your e-Business Solutions www.inline.net www.ihtml.com www.ihtmlmerchant.com www.opayc.com This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
- Original Message - From: Steve Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion asterisk-users@lists.digium.com Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 7:13 PM Subject: Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer) Steve Edwards wrote: Personally, I hate voice recognition systems. Voice prompts are great, but don't take away my keypad. I never proposed to take away your keypad, I just wanted to add the voice option as well. What I do want to get rid of is the step below where you press ** to get into remote mode. What I think would be smoother is to have the extensions organized in such a way that the first button press (or voice utterance) is enough to determine whether the session is a phone call or an automation request. Then as soon as the phone is picked up you'd get into the automation context and the voice menu you gave would start right away. Then if it turned out that first button meant that the user really wanted to make a call, then Asterisk would shift into the normal call dialplan, but reprocess that already pressed key as part of the phone number to dial. I think that we can provide something more intelligent when the phone is first picked up than your basic dialtone and not require extra button presses to get into the right mode. Your desire is for speed and so is mine. Steve Maybe I'm too far out on the edge of the bell curve, but I CAN remember what Alison was prattling about long enough to be told which key to press. Also, keys are much faster, especially once memorized as will happen quickly for something as frequently used as the TV. Think of a task like muting the TV: ) Off-hook ) Dialtone ) Press ** (change to remote mode) ) To control the... ) Press 1 ) To change the vol... ) Press 1 ) To mut... ) Press 0 I am new to the whole controlling devices in your home from asterisk. Can anyone give me a URL to devices that I can connect to my box that can then connect to the lights, security system, TV etc ? This is a whole new area for me to play and get lots of sleepless nights ;) ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007, Steve Prior wrote: Steve Edwards wrote: To control the tv in this room, press 1. To control a tv in another room, press 2. To control the outside lights, press 3. To control the sprinklers, press 4, ... A while back I was thinking along the lines of using a phone as a home automation interface, though I was thinking of it in combination with a voice recognitition system such as Lumenvox. It occured to me that when you want to turn the lights on, you don't really want to pick up a phone, dial a special extension, and then start using menus. Personally, I hate voice recognition systems. Voice prompts are great, but don't take away my keypad. Maybe I'm too far out on the edge of the bell curve, but I CAN remember what Alison was prattling about long enough to be told which key to press. Also, keys are much faster, especially once memorized as will happen quickly for something as frequently used as the TV. Think of a task like muting the TV: ) Off-hook ) Dialtone ) Press ** (change to remote mode) ) To control the... ) Press 1 ) To change the vol... ) Press 1 ) To mut... ) Press 0 I'll be finished before you can say HAL, Computer, Zen or whatever. Thanks in advance, Steve Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED] Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST Newline Fax: +1-760-731-3000 ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Steve Edwards wrote: Personally, I hate voice recognition systems. Voice prompts are great, but don't take away my keypad. I never proposed to take away your keypad, I just wanted to add the voice option as well. What I do want to get rid of is the step below where you press ** to get into remote mode. What I think would be smoother is to have the extensions organized in such a way that the first button press (or voice utterance) is enough to determine whether the session is a phone call or an automation request. Then as soon as the phone is picked up you'd get into the automation context and the voice menu you gave would start right away. Then if it turned out that first button meant that the user really wanted to make a call, then Asterisk would shift into the normal call dialplan, but reprocess that already pressed key as part of the phone number to dial. I think that we can provide something more intelligent when the phone is first picked up than your basic dialtone and not require extra button presses to get into the right mode. Your desire is for speed and so is mine. Steve Maybe I'm too far out on the edge of the bell curve, but I CAN remember what Alison was prattling about long enough to be told which key to press. Also, keys are much faster, especially once memorized as will happen quickly for something as frequently used as the TV. Think of a task like muting the TV: ) Off-hook ) Dialtone ) Press ** (change to remote mode) ) To control the... ) Press 1 ) To change the vol... ) Press 1 ) To mut... ) Press 0 ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Quoting Steve Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED]: personally my favourite still is phone in intercom mode listening at all times, if you have something to say, say it. otherwise pickup and dial for control or to talk or whatever. nothing preventing you from ignoring one of the options if you don't like it, or have a phone that supports it. Steve Edwards wrote: Personally, I hate voice recognition systems. Voice prompts are great, but don't take away my keypad. I never proposed to take away your keypad, I just wanted to add the voice option as well. What I do want to get rid of is the step below where you press ** to get into remote mode. What I think would be smoother is to have the extensions organized in such a way that the first button press (or voice utterance) is enough to determine whether the session is a phone call or an automation request. Then as soon as the phone is picked up you'd get into the automation context and the voice menu you gave would start right away. Then if it turned out that first button meant that the user really wanted to make a call, then Asterisk would shift into the normal call dialplan, but reprocess that already pressed key as part of the phone number to dial. I think that we can provide something more intelligent when the phone is first picked up than your basic dialtone and not require extra button presses to get into the right mode. Your desire is for speed and so is mine. Steve Maybe I'm too far out on the edge of the bell curve, but I CAN remember what Alison was prattling about long enough to be told which key to press. Also, keys are much faster, especially once memorized as will happen quickly for something as frequently used as the TV. Think of a task like muting the TV: ) Off-hook ) Dialtone ) Press ** (change to remote mode) ) To control the... ) Press 1 ) To change the vol... ) Press 1 ) To mut... ) Press 0 ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users Jon Pounder _/_/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ Inline Internet Systems Inc. Thorold, Ontario, Canada Tools to Power Your e-Business Solutions www.inline.net www.ihtml.com www.ihtmlmerchant.com www.opayc.com This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Jon Pounder wrote: Quoting Steve Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED]: personally my favourite still is phone in intercom mode listening at all times, if you have something to say, say it. otherwise pickup and dial for control or to talk or whatever. nothing preventing you from ignoring one of the options if you don't like it, or have a phone that supports it. Computer: close bulkheads on Deck 40! Deck 40 does not exist. Uh oh. -Stephen- ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Steve Edwards wrote: Almost every room in my house has a phone -- if I could teach my kids to put them back where they belong. This could easily be extended to recognize which phone was used so it could control the Myth FE in that room. Also, it could/should be extended to control x10 devices as well... To control the tv in this room, press 1. To control a tv in another room, press 2. To control the outside lights, press 3. To control the sprinklers, press 4, ... A while back I was thinking along the lines of using a phone as a home automation interface, though I was thinking of it in combination with a voice recognitition system such as Lumenvox. It occured to me that when you want to turn the lights on, you don't really want to pick up a phone, dial a special extension, and then start using menus. What I was thinking about was what if instead of a dialtone you are brought directly to a home automation voice menu which works in parallel with your normal dial plan. If you wanted to make a call, just ignore the voice menu and dial normally. If you wanted to turn on the lights, just say lights on. or somesuch. Having a traditional dialtone seems unnecessary when you can get more function instead. The trick is doing this without giving up on the use of nice existing GUIs to manage the dialplan that we have now. I'd like some way of merging in the voice dialtone function with the existing dialplan such that initially both are active, but as soon as either a phrase is recognized or a button is pressed the system branches to one or the other, but that button or phrase is passed through to the rest of the processing and not just an extra prompt getting in the way. Does this spark anyone's imagination or ideas to implement? Steve ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Quoting Steve Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED]: shutting off the dialtone should be pretty simple, then what is really needed is an audio Bidirectional Tee almost like a 3 way call, well I guess exactly like a 3 way call but not dialed. you have the dsp that is going to process audio on the channel, yourself, and a listener/talker interface that listens for voice, recognizes it and then converts to touchtones and dials them into the dsp (possibly muting audio to you while its doing that.) this would allow the conventional dialplan logic to support menus etc for the control. maybe something like answer immediate, bridge 3 way call to an extension context that expects dialing along with an extension that does voice recognition in a 3 way call. Either one acts on what it gets and both hang up when you do. just don't call a real person and start talking about turning lights on and off :) Steve Edwards wrote: Almost every room in my house has a phone -- if I could teach my kids to put them back where they belong. This could easily be extended to recognize which phone was used so it could control the Myth FE in that room. Also, it could/should be extended to control x10 devices as well... To control the tv in this room, press 1. To control a tv in another room, press 2. To control the outside lights, press 3. To control the sprinklers, press 4, ... A while back I was thinking along the lines of using a phone as a home automation interface, though I was thinking of it in combination with a voice recognitition system such as Lumenvox. It occured to me that when you want to turn the lights on, you don't really want to pick up a phone, dial a special extension, and then start using menus. What I was thinking about was what if instead of a dialtone you are brought directly to a home automation voice menu which works in parallel with your normal dial plan. If you wanted to make a call, just ignore the voice menu and dial normally. If you wanted to turn on the lights, just say lights on. or somesuch. Having a traditional dialtone seems unnecessary when you can get more function instead. The trick is doing this without giving up on the use of nice existing GUIs to manage the dialplan that we have now. I'd like some way of merging in the voice dialtone function with the existing dialplan such that initially both are active, but as soon as either a phrase is recognized or a button is pressed the system branches to one or the other, but that button or phrase is passed through to the rest of the processing and not just an extra prompt getting in the way. Does this spark anyone's imagination or ideas to implement? Steve ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users Jon Pounder _/_/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/ Inline Internet Systems Inc. Thorold, Ontario, Canada Tools to Power Your e-Business Solutions www.inline.net www.ihtml.com www.ihtmlmerchant.com www.opayc.com This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
On 8/21/07, Steve Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Steve Edwards wrote: Almost every room in my house has a phone -- if I could teach my kids to put them back where they belong. This could easily be extended to recognize which phone was used so it could control the Myth FE in that room. Also, it could/should be extended to control x10 devices as well... To control the tv in this room, press 1. To control a tv in another room, press 2. To control the outside lights, press 3. To control the sprinklers, press 4, ... A while back I was thinking along the lines of using a phone as a home automation interface, though I was thinking of it in combination with a voice recognitition system such as Lumenvox. It occured to me that when you want to turn the lights on, you don't really want to pick up a phone, dial a special extension, and then start using menus. What I was thinking about was what if instead of a dialtone you are brought directly to a home automation voice menu which works in parallel with your normal dial plan. If you wanted to make a call, just ignore the voice menu and dial normally. If you wanted to turn on the lights, just say lights on. or somesuch. Having a traditional dialtone seems unnecessary when you can get more function instead. The trick is doing this without giving up on the use of nice existing GUIs to manage the dialplan that we have now. I'd like some way of merging in the voice dialtone function with the existing dialplan such that initially both are active, but as soon as either a phrase is recognized or a button is pressed the system branches to one or the other, but that button or phrase is passed through to the rest of the processing and not just an extra prompt getting in the way. Does this spark anyone's imagination or ideas to implement? Sparks my imagination thusly: Suppose you have a speaker phone in every room. When the phone is onhook, Asterisk automatically opens up a call to the speaker and places it in the automation context. When you pick up the phone, it grabs a different line, and drops the automation connection. Now, you can address Asterisk by saying, Computer, raise lights 20% and impress all of your trekkie friends when the lights turn up. ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007, David Gomillion wrote: Now, you can address Asterisk by saying, Computer, raise lights 20% and impress all of your trekkie friends when the lights turn up. Sorry - it's gotta be: [1] Zen, lights up. boing Confirm. But I guess not many leftpondians might appreciate that ;-) Gordon [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake%27s_7 ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Gordon Henderson wrote: On Tue, 21 Aug 2007, David Gomillion wrote: Now, you can address Asterisk by saying, Computer, raise lights 20% and impress all of your trekkie friends when the lights turn up. Sorry - it's gotta be: [1] Zen, lights up. boing Confirm. But I guess not many leftpondians might appreciate that ;-) Gordon [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake%27s_7 More of a Whovian here. Have been since I was a very little guy. I guess Dr. Who would use his sonic screwdriver or bang the TARDIS with a hammer. Thanks, Steve ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Re: [asterisk-users] phone as control interface (was 99 bottles of beer)
Steve Prior wrote: What I was thinking about was what if instead of a dialtone you are brought directly to a home automation voice menu which works in parallel with your normal dial plan. If you wanted to make a call, just ignore the voice menu and dial normally. If you wanted to turn on the lights, just say lights on. or somesuch. Having a traditional dialtone seems unnecessary when you can get more function instead. The trick is doing this without giving up on the use of nice existing GUIs to manage the dialplan that we have now. I'd like some way of merging in the voice dialtone function with the existing dialplan such that initially both are active, but as soon as either a phrase is recognized or a button is pressed the system branches to one or the other, but that button or phrase is passed through to the rest of the processing and not just an extra prompt getting in the way. Now that the idea is coming back to me a bit, here's a possiblity. When the phone is picked up it is auto-dialed into the voice driven/home control application AGI. At this point there are three options: 1. User utters a voice command. 2. User presses a touch tone which is meant for home control. 3. User presses a touch tone meant for the dial plan. option 2 vs 3 would be determined by internal extensions starting with a given number and dial 9 to reach an outside line, so other digits could be used for home control. As soon as option 3 is detected the voice AGI stuffs the touch tone back into the processing buffer, transfers to the normal diaplan, and exits. From there the normal dialplan handles the call normally. So, does anyone know if it is possible to stuff a touch tone event back into the processing stream so it can be handled by the new dialplan context? Steve ___ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
