Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Commands by email Mark Gilmore Mon, 25 Sep 2000 12:50:10 -0400

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You would use POSTIE to periodically/passively check for mail.
When found, you could run EDM to search the email for an
ECS command (e.g. "ECSCMD:..."). If found, EDM would write
the command to a "mailbox" file (e.g. "ECSCMD.TXT").
If NOT found, EDM would just exit.
ECS would periodically check for the existence of ECSCMD.TXT.
When found, it would read the bytes from the file into a TEXT Item,
act on the command, and DELETE ECSCMD.TXT.

Or something like this :-).
-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://omnipotencesoftware.com
423-745-0026
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-8PM/EST


"A.J. Griglak" wrote:
> 
> 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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