I'm
sure the answer lies in the log file. I have been able t manually read the
log
file created by Capitel int a video screen in HomeVision. The problem is
telling HV when t do this and als removing the file once it has been
read.
I
do
now have the ability t have Capitel running on several machines on the
network
through a network CAPI program, so that is some improvement. Als I am
pretty
confident that I could build an ASP page that read the file and
incorporated the
information int a web site so I could view it from anywhere on the
Intranet, then it is simply a case of scheduling a refresh to pick up the
info.
S
the
only real problem is getting caller id t appear on the TV/projector
screen. One
option that I think would work is for HV t read, display and delete the
file
based upon the receipt of an IR code. S the scenario would be: Phone
rings,
person watching TV presses a button on the remote, signal is fed back t HV
and
triggers a macro, macro reads the capitel log file, displays it on a video
page
(and probably sends a command t switch the TV channel), HV deletes (or
renames)
the log file.
This
does have the advantage of me being able t decide that I don't want my
movie t
be interrupted regardless of who's calling and therefore choosing not t
display
the information at that time. It als means that if I have been out and
missed
calls I can simply turn on a TV and press the IR button and the list would
be
displayed.
The
disadvantage is that by the time I have found the remote and pressed the
correct
button in a darkened room and decided that the call needs answering and got
t
the phone, the answer machine may have kicked in.
It
would be nice t mute the HiFi, turn off the hoover etc when the phone
rings,
but only if I am alone in the house. For example if I am up in the office
on the
top floor and the phone rings, my cleaner who is hoovering the ground floor
carpet is not going to want t suddenly loose power. Als if I am listening
t
music or watching a film in the lounge and Orla is in the office, then I am
not
going to be happy for everything to be muted when she is able t answer the
phone. The trouble is that if this is really automated then HomeVision
needs t
understand whether or not other noise is going to prevent all occupants of
the
house from hearing the phone, now we are getting in t knowing who is in
the
house and where they are in the house and where the sources of noise are in
the
house (how would it know where the hoover was for example?). All in all I
don't
think this feature is a requirement for me (though flashing of lights when
the
phone rings might be OK) so I will concentrate on the caller id
distribution.
In
summary (I didn't intend t ramble on so much) I think I will try to
develop the
IR triggered processing of the Capitel log file, I'll keep you all
posted.
____________________________________
Automated Home UK
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
____________________________________
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