Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System Kevin Trainor Thu, 26 Oct 2000 19:58:59 -0500

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Bill:

Thanks for your help.  I will give it a try.

Kevin

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Walters" <wtwalters@earthlink.net>
To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 7:00 PM
Subject: Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System


> Kevin,
>
> Take a look at the archive site:  ftp.gallops.com  where I have a sample
> program using serial byte type to capture touchtones dialed from a Weeder
> device.  Look for the file BWweeder.txt.  I also posted a change when Mark
> modified how serial bytes are captured/tested in version 4.3 (I think?).
> Anyway, look around the archive and you'll find it.
>
> Bill Walters
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kevin Trainor <kevin@thetrainors.com>
> To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 11:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [ECS] Creating ECS interface to my Access Control System
>
>
> > 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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