Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Commands by email Mark Gilmore Mon, 25 Sep 2000 13:33:21 -0400

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I don't think so.
Even if it did, you could check it every n seconds.
-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://omnipotencesoftware.com
423-745-0026
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-8PM/EST


"A.J. Griglak" wrote:
> 
> I was thinking along those lines also...  The periodic check of ECSCMD.TXT
> wouldn't slow the system down, though, would it?
> 
> -=A.J.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Gilmore [mailto:omnip@usit.net]
> Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 12:50 PM
> To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
> Subject: Re: [ECS] Commands by email
> 
> 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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