Subject: From: Date:

Re: RE: [ECS] ECS + Fax? Scott Danks Fri, 19 May 2000 14:05:34 -0500

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 Fri, 19 May 2000 14:05:34 -0500
O.K.  ... favorite event.  (I wanted to chime in, but I never remember to bring the
events with me.)  But since we are doing some FUNCTIONAL descriptions. . . 

Mine does not do a lot of stuff, but it was complicated enough for me that I had to
do some flowcharts (which I never do) to make it work.  

Call comes in and is checked against the lookup table to see what range of numbers they
are listed in.  Then, if it is found with a specific entry, it loads the special greeting
recorded just for them.  If they are in the range, but do not have a special greeting,
they are played the "in this range message" (i.e. friends, family, unknown, solicitors
(or collectors)) (yes we all get those even if to collect on a debt you don't agree
you owe)  then, if they are not in the lookup range, they are played the general end
of the line greeting.  I worked for several days on the logic because it parses a text
file that contains information in columns like "4005   Mom Dad  9185551212   mom.rpc"
 I was planning to add the after hours stuff to filter calls after-hours, but mom developed
cancer and is fighting it well now, but If I were called from the hospital at a particularly
important moment, and I missed the call and something happened, I would not forgive
myself for a long time.  So, I have not worked on that part.  I use the 14400 zoom,
and it does not work with allowing you to answer the phone and put in a security code
to get through.  The ringing problem some of you addressed earlier, I think could be
fixed by turning the ringers off on each phone and playing the ringing signal through
the whole house audio.  I have loud speakers behind the air intake grills and power
them with a car stereo amplifier that is powered from a 12 volt supply.  this is connected
to output of the audio card. there are three toggle switches so I can turn on the speakers
upstairs, downstairs, and in my computer closet (which is under the stairway)  I also
have a switch to turn off the phone line to all the other phones in the house for testing
the phone functions late at night (which is when I usually program).  I turn off all
the other phones and leave the one in the computer room on for the testing.

I also have been working on the interface card to the house to monitor doors opened
and closed or locked/unlocked and motion sensors and fire sensors, and etc.   I am working
on a way to do telephone message playback when we get home instead of the every five
minutes reminder.  I have fried the inputs to a couple of the chip inputs, and will
have to fix that.  I am also designing a bank of relays to control other things.  I
will need to etch a board, and drill and solder it for this part of the project.  

O.K. so now I have given you some discussion stuff.  I also have been surfing all the
HA sites and gathering ideas from them.  My son suggested a RED light that comes on
in the hallway in the middle of the night when motion is sensed so it doesn't ruin your
night vision.  I wish we had a repository of ideas for home automation somewhere.  I
know there is a code repository, but we need an idea repository too.

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