iRule - Page 43

Originally Posted by Rich Gibson

Thanks for the reply. I'm aware of the columns and rows in the lower left as well as the button dimensions. So how many column and rows do you use?

Rich

Originally Posted by mflanagan

Yep 1.72 is out!!! Just downloaded it! Also I can now copy a page to another panel now!!! Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by Glimmie

What is there to download? It's a hosted application.

Isn't the latest version what everybody gets?

Does the user have any choice what version they use?

Am I missing something? I would live to be able to download the developement app and work offline but I didn't think that was possible.

Originally Posted by RichardU

Is anyone familiar enough with MCEController to tell me why this command does not give the focus to XBMC? Specifically, XBMC starts fine, but the taskbar is still visible and further commands do not go to XBMC until I use a mouse to select it. Thanks.

Originally Posted by trenter33

Ok can someone break it down for me? I need a place or some to map out or outline what to do.

Originally Posted by Mizell


And have you tried simply deleting and rebuilding one of the Gateways from the menu? It's a computer, afterall, so it does have the ability to corrupt files...

Originally Posted by barrygordon

Okay, iRule 101.

iRule consists of a system that allows you to build an application that can control things using an iPad or iPod touch as the engine, and a program that runs on the engine to interpret what is to be controlled and how to control it. Because of the engine chosen, the iRule system is very graphic oriented. and relies on the user touching things on a screen to indicate what is to be done.

The engine communicates to the real world using TCPIP over Wi-Fi. In most of todays homes we can (will) assume there is a functioning Ethernet network running at least TCPIP with a wi-Fi media (wireless radio) access point. The iRule system can only DIRECTLY communicate with devices on a reachable Ethernet network that runs at least the TCPIP Protocol. A "Reachable Network" means it can find it and talk to devices on it. We will assume that a homes Local Area Network (LAN) is reacheable, and at least some of its devices (hosts) are directly reachable.

In the real world there are many devices that we wish to control or interact with that do not meet the above condition of reachability. Many (almost all) A/V components provide for control using IR streams (not directly reachable), newer A/V devices may also provide hard wired control via RS232 or Ethernet (not directly reachable), Some of the newest A/V components allow for TCPIP control but sometimes only Wired, not wireless and therefor may not be DIRECTLY reachable from the iRule engine (iPad or iPod touch). Most lighting, HVAC, and Security systems are not directly reachable although thay have been crafted with automation as part of their design.

Fortunately third parties have sprung up to provide what many call "Glue" and are referred to as "Gateways in iRule parlance. Gateways provide a media and or protocol conversion between two disparate systems. For example between TCPIP (wired/wireless) and IR emissions; between TCPIP (wired/wireless) and RS232, Between TCPIP and Thermostats, lighting controls, Pool systems, and more devices evrey day.

For iRule to properly work it must be able to first find the gateways that the particular application needs. There may be multiple gateways several of the same type or of several different types. Each gate way will have a uniquue address on the newtwork. The application must know how to deal with each gateway to effect the total communication to the end device (e.g. TV set). The iRule system has an immense amount of data that supports this capability, basically how to communicate using IR or TCPIP or RS232, but the world is very large and things keep changing.

As an example, lets say the application desires to control a set top box, specifically the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 DVR. This STB only communicates using unidirectional IR. That is, it accepts commands using the IR medium, but never replies. We need to install at least one gateway to perform TCPIP (Wifi) to IR so the iRule's engine can send data out over wifi, the gateway (perhaps a global cache iTach) can undetstand what it gets and convert it to IR to present to the STB's IR receiver.

If you are going to go into this world of automation, do not kid yourself. It is a sophisticated world where not evreything works as designed or desired. Can you build a robust system that fails very infrequently and be used by unsophisticated users (spouses, children, guests) yes; but it is non trivial. Can you have a lot of fun doing this and get immense self satisfaction YES!. Can it wind up being expenive? Yes as all hobbies can. There is another way of course, hire someone to do it for you [I do not do contract work].

About me. I have been a professional digital engineer for over 50 years. I have extensive experience in all facets (hard,soft and muddy) of information technology. audio design and video systems. I was part of the original GPS development team in the 1960's, today I am retired and do consulting for several A/V manufacturers.

I will try to help any who contact me, but my primary goal is to teach so you can solve your own problems since they will be there long after I am gone. My Web site is the-gordons.net, my name is barry so my eMail address should be easily discerned. There are many interesting documents at my web site including pictures of my home and theater and many tools that should be useful when dealing with iRule.

I am just recovering from Open Heart surgery so I am a liitle sluggish so please excuse funny typing.

Originally Posted by FlyingCheese


I looked into this just now and there's an option in the 'Advanced Serial Settings' under whatever port you're trying to configure - look for the 'Allow multiple systems to connect simultaneously' checkbox. You can also control how many simultaneous connects are allowed if that's of any interest.

I upgraded my firmware straight away to the latest version, so I'm not sure if this was added in a later version. I'm running the following versions:

Firmware: 82000684_U3 12/19/2009
POST: 82000685_G 02/02/2006

If you tried and it failed, you might have downloaded the wrong firmware - the first version I tried was actually for a different piece of equipment with a similar naming convention. I also believe you need to update the POST prior to updating the firmware.

Originally Posted by pglover19

Maybe it is just me, but when I launch the IRule app on my IPad, it is no longer taking me to my Home Panel/Home Page. The new version is taking me to the last Panel/Page that I was on.

Can others please confirm....

Originally Posted by Steve Goff

I have not found it necessary to use nextCommand to send the message, nor have I tried the SetForegroundWindow command. I just use the StartProcess command to start XBMC and it starts and takes focus. I then use XBMC Lite to control XBMC directly. Do you have the task bar set up to hide automatically? Information on the XBMC forum says that the class name is XBMC. I don't know whether capitalization is important.

Originally Posted by Valdhor

I think you may be out of luck with the TAG McLaren stuff. From a Google search you need the programming cable (An RS-232 to RS-485 adapter with a TAG microcontroller) and these are very hard to get. Also, you would need to understand the messaging protocol (Which is not part of the documents you supplied) to see if control is available. I would go with IR control of these devices.

You would need to check with the other manufacturers what control options they have. Ethernet controlled would be best followed by RS-232 and finally IR.

So, depending on your needs you are probably looking at a GC-100 of some type (IR and RS-232 ports) or, if you need multiple client access (GC-100's can only have one client access at a time) then you will need multiple iTach devices.

If you go the iTach route, I would recommend the hard wired route (ethernet as opposed to Wifi) as it is more reliable.


HTH.

Originally Posted by osupike99

You have 4.2.1ios installed? If so you are multitasking. Double tap the home button which will bring up the open apps. Press and hold the rule icon as if you were deleting the app and hit the "X". Done.

Alex

Originally Posted by osupike99

You have 4.2.1ios installed? If so you are multitasking. Double tap the home button which will bring up the open apps. Press and hold the rule icon as if you were deleting the app and hit the "X". Done.

Alex

Originally Posted by dzirkelb

Do you mean the ToggleDevice from the tenserver that integrates with Homeseer? If so, I couldn't get that one to work at all using direct urls on my network.

I am using UPB lighting, but I do have one set up for x10...probably goign to get rid of it though, too flaky.

Originally Posted by BudCrow

Hi guys,

Just wondering, with delays are they cumalative or do they start from the beging of the commans?

For exaple, if I have seven comands and comand 6 has a delay of 50 seconds, if I want the next comand to be 53 seconds from when the button is pressed on the ipad do I put the delay for the seventh comand as 53 seconds or 3 seconds?

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by Pieter-Jan

Tnx for the reply. I have a TAG programming cable, so that's no problem.
Only the messaging protocol I don't have .

Originally Posted by Couch Potatoe

This thread is now way too long (~7000 posts !) and no longer useful as an information source:-(


I think it's time to get a forum area for iRule so that there are lots of independent threads on the topics covered - especially as the documentation doesn't cover all the features of the application.

As a new user it is very frustrating trying to find answers to questions.

K

Originally Posted by RichardU

I'm using Windows 7 and XBMC does not take focus. In fact if there is anything else running, XBMC loads behind it. I tried capitalization with the same result. I have tried SetForegroundWindow. Seems that there is a lot of chatter about how this command is flaky. Still no answer.