Re: X10 Computer Interface

["Paul Peard" <NOSPAMpaul_peard@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Dave" <dju@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1hvh41hqfmm0egibutoc75l01dtef7noug@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:59:25 GMT, shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net
> (Si Ballenger) wrote:
>
>>Just make it so it will run one or more user specified command
>>lines when motion is detected. That way when motion is detected,
>>the user can have applications run that operate x10 gizmos, send
>>email, grab pix, or do all sorts of other things. You can add
>>other fancy stuff later after the motion detection part is
>>developed.
>
> Would a command line to launch a .CMD or .BAT file be enough
> to make it useful? That would be real easy for me to add
> something like a program (or .CMD) file launcher.
>
> Will have to think about how to avoid feedback (blink on /
> off) in case the light (outdoor lights) are in view of the
> motion detector camera.
>
> To avoid turning the lights on in the daytime, I can keep
> track of time and when the program knows that the sun is up,
> it can launch a different command line or not launch
> anything. Seems like it's getting a little dirty if I have
> to keep track of daylight, though. Will need to figure that
> one out. It turns out that the computer can't tell day or
> night by looking at the camera image, unfortunately.
>
> I'll be back here when it's done to see if I can find any
> volunteers to help test it. The program already records
> video and the motion detector are complete. It has to be
> able to support as many capture input devices as possible
> and I'm afraid right now it only supports 3 of the 4 devices
> I tried to use with it. It won't support the Adaptec capture
> cards, but I've tried 3 other brands all successfully.
> Eventually I'd like to support IP cams but it only works
> with analog or digital (firewire or USB) video capture right
> now.
>
> Dave

Another 2 cents worth......

Launching command line is absolutly essential, but let the command line be
user configurable - so instead of putting in a cmd flie to run - allow the
user to specify "cscript trigger."whatever you favourite wscript supported
language is" - and pass as much info to the command as you can - something
like

trigger "which camera" "day or night" "date/time" "date time I last
triggered" "trigger count" "%confidence (did it move a little or a lot)" -
you need to pass the state information to the command line 'cos scripts
aren't good at being stateful.

I would like to then do some logic inside the cmd/script like...

trigger....

    if day and camera triggered triggered twice in 1 minute
    then
        a lot of activity outside - no lights but maybe ring an internal
chime to go take a look

    still more activity
        take pictures - email then to remote sites.
        if house empty then send pager message

    yet more
        trigger the panic alarm in the house

    if night then all the above plus the lights.......