Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System Kevin Trainor Tue, 24 Oct 2000 11:45:48 -0500

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All:

Does anyone have a code example that uses the serial-byte item to control a
device?  If so, would you be willing to send me a copy so that I can get a
clearer idea of how to use it?

Thanks.

Kevin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Trainor" <kevin@thetrainors.com>
To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System


> Mark:
>
> I think that my biggest problem is that I have a difficult time reading
the
> program documentation for ECS.  Features that are obvious to you and your
> more experienced followers are not seeming so obvious to me.
>
> I have two reservations about using the serial-byte interface.  First, it
> isn't clear to me how the reading of the serial port works.  I can't tell
> whether I get data a byte-at-a-time or if I get an entire message when I
> access the port.  Second, I don't see much support for character string
> manipulation in ECS.  I don't see the usual substring functions and I
don't
> see an array capability that would allow me to pick through a string and
> create substring functionality myself.  I have fairly high confidence that
I
> will be able to issue commands to the access control system from ECS.  I
> have low confidence that I will be able to recongnize the message that has
> been transmitted to ECS by the access control system so that I can
determine
> where I am in the dialog.
>
> If there is an example of someone having coded this kind of interface
using
> serial-byte, it would be a great help to me if I could see it.  Can you
> suggest any place to look for that kind of code?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Kevin
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Gilmore" <omnip@usit.net>
> To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 7:50 AM
> Subject: Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System
>
>
> > 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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