Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System Mark Gilmore Mon, 23 Oct 2000 08:50:58 -0400

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I think this would make things QUITE complicated.
The SERIAL-BYTE Item would be MUCH easier.
-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://omnipotencesoftware.com
423-745-0026
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-8PM/EST


Kevin Trainor wrote:
> 
> Mark:
> 
> I have been wondering if I might be able to create a driver for this device
> using the Java interface to ECS.  I know that the Java interface works for
> applets.  I am wondering if it works for applications.  Since I need to get
> access to the serial port, I think that I would have to create an
> application.
> 
> What are your thoughts?
> 
> Kevin
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Gilmore" <omnip@usit.net>
> To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 5:12 PM
> Subject: Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System
> 
> > Hi Kevin,
> > Why not use the SERIAL-BYTE Item ?
> > It may be a bit tedious to program, but it should do the job.
> > Otherwise, if you send me the spec, I can give you an estimate.
> > --
> > Mark Gilmore
> > Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
> > http://omnipotencesoftware.com
> > 423-745-0026
> > Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM-8PM/EST
> >
> >
> > > Kevin Trainor wrote:
> > >
> > > I just bought an access control system for my house.  It controls
> > > electric door strikes based upon inputs from proximity card readers.
> > > I have been bench testing the system before installing it and, so far,
> > > everthing has gone well.
> > >
> > > What I want to do next is to interface this access control system with
> > > ECS.  The access control system is programmed and controlled via a
> > > serial port and terminal emulation using my PC.  The system has a
> > > character-based, menu-driven application that I access by using
> > > HyperTerm to emulate a VT100 terminal.  What I would like to do is to
> > > replace the HyperTerm program with a connection to ECS via a serial
> > > port.  Then, I would like ECS to querry the access control system to
> > > get its status.  Further, I want ECS to be able to issue menu commands
> > > that cause the access control system to ulock doors, disable readers,
> > > etc.
> > >
> > > The big question:  How do I do this with ECS?  When I look at the ECS
> > > Client/Server serial interface, it doesn't seem appropriate.  The
> > > stream of ascii text that the access control system puts out over its
> > > serial port is not structured for this kind of client/server dialog.
> > > As an alternative, I have considered using the ECS serial port
> > > interface that allows you to read and write to the serial port a
> > > charcter at a time.  While this seems promising, I think it would be a
> > > rather inelegant approach.
> > >
> > > Are there any other ways to do this?  Is it possible for me to define
> > > another device type and write a driver for it?  Or, can this only be
> > > done by Mark?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance to everyone for their comments and suggestions.
> > >
> > > Kevin
> >

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