Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] Commands by email A.J. Griglak Mon, 25 Sep 2000 12:26:31 -0400

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I hadn't thought of all the security issues.  I have a seperate email
address that ECS monitors.  I was thinking that the email address alone and
the syntax of the message would be my security.

My wife constantly forgets to hit her "Home/Away" button on the way out, and
consequently, the A/C will run all day while no one is home.  I know I could
have her check in to the ECS web page, but I'd rather not have her messing
around in there  ;-)  Besides, it would be too much for her to change her
Home/Away Status.  She doesn't have the patience to hit more than one button
;-)

I was thinking of a simple message sent to ECS like this:

Command:Wife Away:True

could be interpreted by ECS to change the variable.

I haven't really thought too much about how to get from the email into ECS,
and was wondering if anyone else had already done this.

-=A.J.

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Danks [mailto:sdanks@ci.tulsa.ok.us]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 10:24 AM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
Subject: Re: [ECS] Commands by email


Hi A.J.

Yes I thought of this.  Especially with the new two way pagers that can send
and receive email.  I was thinking that you could enclose a code number and
the command, then when received, it could be processed by the file item and
read through and check the different items in the email message.  Then you
could send back an email to the pager and you would have a control console
in you hands.  I saw that there is a new two way pager that Motorola is
making that is only about $99.  (Saw it advertised at office depot).  Maybe
if I get some money someday. . . .
I also was thinking that you could build the code number as a function of
the current date and time.  This would have a code number change every
minute for security.  It would have to be something that you could calculate
in you head and only you would know the formula.  Then you could check for a
window of +-1 minute + allowing for the time it takes to get an email
through.  Anyway, just a thought.  There is a company that makes a product
called secureid.  They use the little credit card calculator technology to
display a number that is added on to you password, and it changes every
minute.  Kind of expensive to buy, but easy to use the idea with a palm
pilot etc.  OR you could have a line that is the current time and a code
that matches it, somehow and then it doesnt matter when the email gets
there.

>>> "A.J. Griglak" <aj@griglak.com> 09/22 4:06 PM >>>
Has anyone implemented or thought about sending commands to ECS via email?
Just looking for some concepts, standards, and ideas on how to do this...

-=A.J.

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