X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => SDK => Third Party Add-Ons & Software => Topic started by: vincentb on February 19, 2011, 04:12:06 AM
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Introducing MyServant - the ultimate 3rd party addon for AHP. And to celebrate the launch, I'm offering 50% off for a limited time...
Q: What is MyServant?
MyServant is a suite of software apps that transforms your house into a virtual servant. MyServant integrates with AHP, and allows you to control your home from a visual floorplan, as well as adding a wide range of intelligence to your lights simply by ticking checkboxes. This combined with a plethora of features (as listed below) will enhance your home automation to a whole new level. Check out the following features...
(http://www.futuretouch.com.au/images/myservant/software/screenshots/forforums/original.jpg)
Q: What comes with MyServant?
MyServant comes with the following software components:
- Server app: this imports your AHP devices & sensors, and processes all requests from interfaces apps over your network. The server app also performs all of the logic (eg: lighting intelligence).
- Interface app: runs on the same PC / networked PCs, providing the visual interface for your home. The interface includes features such as:
* touch screen support
* control your home from a visual floorplan
* view power usage graphs
* select servant characters (with Viseme voice animation)
* set alarm clocks per occupant (which announces the time, weather info, upcoming appointments & more)
* access your calendar
* access your contacts list
* view weather forecasts and stats
* target music to a specific speaker
* set timers for anything from leaving the house on time to cooking the roast
* set reminders (eg: take the bin out on Fridays)
* view surveillance images
* leave notes for other occupants
* enter shopping list entries
* track outstanding chores
* browse the web
* display a slideshow during no activity
* ability to change visual themes
* and sooooo much more!
- Exporter app: easily export the necessary files for the interface to run on another PC. Even export to a USB key and run it from work over the web!
- Outlook Integrator: run this app on a PC with Outlook and it will send all contacts and appointments over the network to the server
- Configuration Apps: to configure all the settings on the server and each Interface.
(http://www.futuretouch.com.au/images/myservant/software/screenshots/forforums/otherthemes.jpg)
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Download a free 45 day trial with the link below. Make sure you already have ActiveHomePro installed. MyServant is currently 50% off for a limited time.
www.futuretouch.com.au/MyServant.asp (http://www.futuretouch.com.au/MyServant.asp)
Need Support?
For common questions check out the FAQs at www.futuretouch.com.au/MSSupport.asp (http://www.futuretouch.com.au/MSSupport.asp)
If you have configuration questions or encounter any issues, please email support@futuretouch.com.au for quick personalised assistance.
I receive many emails from customers who already use MyServant as an addon for other X10-interface apps, where they share with me how much they absolutely love the app - and some tell me they rely on it so much that they can't imagine their home without it. I hope you get the same enjoyment :-)
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One other cool feature with this app I've discovered while beta testing this.
If you run it on Windows 7 it works well with the built in windows Voice Recognition.
;)
You can make any Face set, others or I've created work with this program as well!
If you simply have a face pic that you wish to use. My Servant will add lip sync capability to animate the single picture! :)%
>!
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Also, just to elaborate on what I mean when i say that MyServant offers a wide range of intelligence for your lights simply by ticking checkboxes ...
The Lighting Logic page makes it very easy to assign 1 or more sensors to a light (as motion triggers), and 1 or more lights to a 'logic' (whereby inteeligence settings can be configured). Here are some of the lighting intelligence available.. check them all out!
- Treat a sensor as a Motion Sensor
This causes the software to fake an OFF signal a few seconds after a sensor triggers on (ie: saving you having to physically program an MS13 to give an off signal at a desired interval). The sensor will also show a motion 'bleep' animation on the floorplan
- Auto Off Timer
configure how long a light stays on for when triggered by a sensor, before it auto turns off
- Restrict Trigger Times
configure what time of the day the sensor(s) will be active to trigger on the light
- Restrict Brightness Times
configure how bright the light should come on at certain times of the day. (Eg: don’t hurt my eyes in the middle of the night)
- Avoid False Triggers
configure a special timer that turns the light back off if it doesn't receive a 2nd motion within x seconds (eg: you just walked past the room and didn’t want the light to come on)
- Pre-Off Warning Dim
configure a warning, so that the light dims to y%, x seconds before it turns off, so you know to wave you hand and trigger it back on again (eg: you’re cooking in the kitchen and haven’t moved for a while to trigger a motion sensor, and don’t want to suddenly be in the dark)
- Overriding 'Trigger Disabler' Sensor
assign a 'disabling' sensor, which when its ON, it will disable all assigned sensors to a light (Eg: use a wireless wall switch button to turn off all motion sensors. Maybe the wife wants to take a relaxed bath without the bathroom lights constantly triggering on from motion)
- Auto Off Timer when manually Turned On
the ability to have lights auto turn off even when manually turned on (eg: you manually turned on the light in the bedroom, but then rushed out and forgot to turn it off)
- Motion detection on when manually Turned On
the ability to either ignore or accept sensors when a light is manually turned on (eg: maybe you don’t want a motion sensor to auto turn on the bedroom light, but once you manually turn it on, you want the motion sensor keep it on whilst you move around and turns it off when you leave. But people walking in/out of the room without manually turning on the light won’t have any affect on the motion sensor)
- Ignore Excessive Triggers
the ability to ignore a light’s sensors for x seconds each time a trigger-on occurs (eg: you’ve installed multiple MS13s in a room to detect entrance from any door, but you still want the ‘accidental-extinguish-timer’ feature to work.. so if you walked past the room and 2 motion sensors triggered MyServant shouldn’t think it was 2 triggers as if you’re walking around in the room)
- Allow Time to Get out of the Room
the ability to ignore a light’s sensors for x seconds after a light is manually turned off (so you've got time to get out of the room without accidentally triggering it back on)
Not only can logics be created and managed in the ServerManager app, but the logics can be modified 'on the fly' from within an Interface. Just click on a room, select the device, press the ‘More’ button, select the Logic Settings entry, and all of the logic is listed, with the ability to edit any settings.
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I have been trying out Myservant and like many other HA software - it's a good add on that improves on the areas of AHP where AHP falls down.
The features which I think add real value here are:
The ability to use a touch screen to control AHP and features such as Occupancy, leaving notes for other household members, shopping lists, intergrated music play list with touch control.
Of course there are many more features I have yet to use.
I especially like the star trek interface touch control.
I have just ordered a touchscreen to install so I can use it...
Add this to BVC, AHP and Bluewatch - and I think you would have the perfect HA software suite....
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Right on Aussie, now if you could only buy 1 software package that does it all, installs easily and is bug free..... wake me up I think I was dreaming... -:)
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ActiveHomePro already works with a touchscreen, I have an Elo touchscreen mounted in my kitchen wall and all I do is touch the switch in AHP and it toggles on or off!
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Yes DeejayT - AHP can work with a touch screen (and there are a number of x10 ones) - but just compare it to what Myservant can do..
Also look at the cost - you can get an "all in one" touch screen PC for less than $700 which is a lot cheaper than the Elo touchscreen. plus it does more...
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I looked at the touch PC's but I needed the size of a desktop PC to accept an 8 port video capture card for my cameras. I just downloaded the My Servant software and will try it out.
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DeejayT - I like the look of your setup and the way you have mounted the screen.
The touch screen I have ordered has a 16" screen.
There are many that have 21" or 22" screens.
We all have customised setups and its good to share ideas around.
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Hi guys,
I've been getting some great feedback in personal emails from this forum. And if you have any problems, just email me privately.
Just to point out - you can run the MyServant Interface component on up to 4 PCs simulataneously and they'll all connect back to the server component over your network. For those that want more than 4 interfaces, email me and you can purchase a special upgrade that allows the server to support up to 10 interfaces simultaneously (thats the only "feature" upgrade available. The price of MyServant includes all features as standard).
There's lots of features that people miss (unless you read the documentation thoroughly), so if i see common questions arising, I'll post some tips now & then. For example, MyServant can be set to give you various types of announcements:
- HOURLY TIME Announcement
an hourly announcement of the time (auto conforming to the silent-at-night-time-interval settings)
- TIME INTERVAL Announcement
the ability to have the time announced periodically between 2 times. Eg: If you usually leave for work at 7am, then set the periodic announcement to 6:30am - 7:05am, with 5 min intervals
- DAILY INFO Announcement
You can trigger the daily announcement manually (on the interface), via a sensor (eg: 1st time you walk into the bathroom for the day), or as part of an occupant's alarm clock. The daily announcement offers options of what to say, including: a greeting (based on the time of day), time, date, weather forecast, appointments today (or appointments whose pre-alert falls on today), anniversaires (eg: birthdays) this week, and outstanding tasks to be done (eg: clean the fish tank).
- TIMER Announcements
Trigger audible timers - whether manually on the interface or via a sensor. A timer - such as 'cooking the roast' or 'leave for work' will provide periodic notifications of how many minutes are left until the deadline is reached. The deadline can either be a specific time, or a number of minutes from now. An example is to set a sensor as a trigger-button in your bathroom that gives you 15 minutes to get ready to leave. Create a timer called "get ready to leave", assign the sensor and you're done. You can even configure it so that a successive press either stops the timer or adds another x minutes.
- REMINDER Announcements
Trigger audible reminders - such as take the bin out to the street on fridays. Unlike the timer announcement that tells you how many minutes are left, this one just keeps reminding you - until the 'completion' sensor is triggered (eg: an MS13 motion sensor with a tilt-switch wired to its light-detection sensor, to detect when the bin is tilted and taken to the street). With both timers and reminders you can target them to a specific speaker in the house, if desired.
- PERSONALITY Announcements
MyServant offers the ability for you to create your own personality for the servant. In ServerManager, the 'Personality' icon allows you to configure a 'Category' (eg: "greetings"), assign 'tolerances' to that category, and then random phrases to the tolerance. When the category is triggered (eg: via a sensor), MyServant will start with the 1st tolerance and pick a random phrase to say. It then starts an internal timer for that tolerance. If you re-trigger the assigned sensor before that timer expires, MyServant auto escalates the category to the next tolerance and selects from the different set of random phrases. Imagine tolerances as MyServant getting more and more annoyed at you triggering the same sensor. Once a tolerance's timer expires though, it will lower itself to the previous tolerance and start that timer.. until eventually the 1st tolerance is reached again. This can be AWESOME FUN when demoing it to friends, whereby MyServant appears to select an announcement that suits the current situation, with a suitable tolerance. You can also set random phrases to react to conditional moods (eg: early in the morning, close to Christmas, day of the week, etc).
So various audible announcements is just one of the many features in MyServant that people easily overlook when they're testing it out. I hope that gives you a little more insight into just how effective you can transform your AHP pc.
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I have installed a touch screen in my kitchen which is running the Myservant interface via a wireless network back to the PC that is running AHP.
I must say that this software is really good, the features it has really enhances and makes AHP much more reliable.
There are a few features that make it stand out from other software :
Firstly – The ability to use the personality feature as a part of the occupancy monitoring is something I have not seen before – it not just random replies – but replied based on other conditions – ie the weather or the time of day/night or year.
Then there is the feature of power tracking and reporting – it will track how long lights and other modules are on for and can tell you which lights are left on and how much they are costing you.
It also allows you to direct the playing of music or announcements to any PC on your home network. I don't know how it's done – but it means that you no longer need multi- zone amplifiers with complicated switching to turn speaker on and off.
The software does it all for you.
And the added bonus is as the touch screen interface is so simple and functional – the lady of the house actually likes it. (she keeps using the Myservant automated shopping list that sends my phone a txt message from the touchscreen).
Well done Myservant
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I looked at the touch PC's but I needed the size of a desktop PC to accept an 8 port video capture card for my cameras. I just downloaded the My Servant software and will try it out.
Hello DeeJayT;
I noticed in the first picture, it looks like you have a "main menu" setup.
How did you generate it?
The second screen looks like AHP is running with modules displayed for direct control?
Is this called from one of the "buttons" on the main menu?
I have a Planar PT150 touchscreen computer monitor that I got from a thrift store. It has the standard 15 pin video input and a serial port output for the touch screen interface. Is this the type of touchscreen that you are referring to and use? Yours though probably has USB for the touchscreen as mine is rather old.
Thanks.... Bill M
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I have downloaded and installed the MyServant software as an add-on to AHP. I am a little confused though on the Climate Control feature. Is this not available because of the lack of support from AHP? Is there any way I can implement/activate this feature, possibly running it as a standalone application as opposed to an add-on to AHP?
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Since this uses the SDK AHP it doesn't need AHP to work.
However it is called a addon as it adds function AHP doesn't have.
It wasn't designed to replace AHP, merly enhance it.
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Since this uses the SDK AHP it doesn't need AHP to work.
However it is called a addon as it adds function AHP doesn't have.
It wasn't designed to replace AHP, merly enhance it.
Tuice, the feature I was questioning was climate control. The software lists that it can control a thermostat, but it says that the HW-Provider must support it. My question was if it could control a thermostat when run as a standalone application and NOT as an add-on to either AHP or HAL2000.
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Dan.. be cool if it could run an insteon thermostat!
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You should be able to use the climate control but that would depend on the make.
if you supply the thermostate make model your trying to use vincentb could supply more detailed info.
As I stated before the Program uses the SDK and while bata testing I had Vince update the version of the SDK it was built with.
This enabled extended codes and some extras. The newest SDK can see and report things AHP can't. ;)
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You should be able to use the climate control but that would depend on the make.
if you supply the thermostate make model your trying to use vincentb could supply more detailed info.
I currently use an RCS TR-40 which is an RS-485 serial thermostat. I want to look into writing a driver that will take X10 signals and re-route them to the RS-485 for controlling the thermostat, but I would like to write the driver based on something that is supported already
As I stated before the Program uses the SDK and while bata testing I had Vince update the version of the SDK it was built with.
This enabled extended codes and some extras. The newest SDK can see and report things AHP can't. ;)
This is good to know and will help me in writing the driver code.
Dan.. be cool if it could run an insteon thermostat!
Glacier, if HAL2000 supports it, you may be able to find a way to use it. The documentation states that it can work if the HW-Provider supports it. If HAL2000 supports it, you may need to install that to gain the functionality, and unfortunately HAL2000 isn't exactly cheap.
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I downloaded the trial version and am having trouble getting it to operate on my Vista machine. Is there anything special need to pay attention to like derectory structure where located or anything? I wrote yesterday to support, and I realize 24 hours is not a lot of time, but thought I would plumb the knowledge base here as well.
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I never tested this on Vista But I did have issues installing on windows 7 64 bit durring the beta test.
Are you trying to install on a 32 or 64bit system?
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It is a 64 bit system.... my error message though is this:
"Failed to open software key: 'Software\Future Touch\MyServant\Settings' error (5)"
Was hoping to get a reply from FutureTouch support but haven't yet.
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dbemowsk - I designed MyServant to intergrate with existing home auotmation apps (namely HAL2000 and AHP) via the SDKs they offer. HAL2000's SDK offers full integration with climate control (whereby all of the hardware can be configured in HAL2000, and it exposes control of the HVAC via the SDK, such as turning on/off, temperature settings, etc). AHP's sdk doesnt provide HVAC control.
As Tuice correctly mentioned, MyServant is an ADDON for either HAL2000 or AHP; it's not designed to replace either of them, but instead adds to their features. It doesn't re-invent the wheel for hardware configuration - so it allows you to configure the X10 devices and macros in AHP And simply imports those settings whenever they change).. but then it extends their functionality by adding lighting intelligence, etc. I enhanced MyServant over the years to offer some features that are separate from HAL2000 or AHP (such as outlook integration, text-to-speech, music control, and much more) but hardware interaction is not attempted. So unless the parent application's SDK offers control for a type of hardware, MyServant won't be able to do it.
The document is the same for HAL2000 and AHP - so the climate control only applies to HAL2000, since it offers it in its SDK.
glacier991 - I did reply to your email, but i just got your 2nd one saying "Help?", so I presume you didnt receive my 1st email?? Sorry, I'll try again...
I've tested the installation on a 64 bit PC and it worked, but I'll do some more debugging to find out why you're experiencing issues when MyServant accesses the registry. by the way - please make sure you're running the application in Administrator mode.
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Vincent... thank you, I assumed it might be an email glitch.
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And... voila.... something as simple as that.... Now I have a slight learning curve ahead of me.... Thank you Vincent. #:)
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I am like a kid in a candy store now.... this is a pretty awesome interface. With this and BVC, I think one could make a pretty darned impressive voice conrolled, touchscreen interfaced HA system running on X-10 hardware. Much of what Vince adds here make HA more personal and user friendly. WOW.
(Not for the faint of heart if you really want to go all out like me - you need to clean up your powerline, understand phase coupling and avoid powerline command collisions and amplify commands and/or repeat them. But that done, the sky seems to be the limit. Dedicated and inexpensive older XP computers are helpful - more than 1)
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(Not for the faint of heart if you really want to go all out like me - you need to clean up your powerline, understand phase coupling and avoid powerline command collisions and amplify commands and/or repeat them. But that done, the sky seems to be the limit. Dedicated and inexpensive older XP computers are helpful - more than 1)
"Faint of heart"? In today's world, if you want X10 HA, this is an undocumented prerequisite. rofl
But with a "blow torch" repeater and a few filters, X10 achieves acceptable signal reliability AND is much less expensive than competing HA systems like; Z-Wave, UPB, even Insteon. From an economics stand point, as long as the DIYer learns the foibles, X10 is still the leader in Home Automation. Unfortunately "X10.com" site does a great job of making X10 HA sound like a simple setup, "plug-n-play" answer to HA. So beginners get quickly disillusioned and blame the products, the company, technical support, etc. when things don't turn on the other side of the house...and that is understandable.
This is an unpaid product endorsement with qualifications...... :D
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"From an economics stand point, as long as the DIYer learns the foibles, X10 is still the leader in Home Automation. Unfortunately "X10.com" site does a great job of making X10 HA sound like a simple setup, "plug-n-play" answer to HA. So beginners get quickly disillusioned and blame the products, the company, technical support, etc. when things don't turn on the other side of the house...and that is understandable."
Could not have said it better myself.
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VincentB,
I just downloaded the 45 day trial for my servant and and imported the ahp file. It is showing me my room but mot the modules that are in them. any ideas what I am missing. I would really apprecaite some help here as it appears to be an awesome program that I would like to add to me automation system.
>!
Thanks Kenrad
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I have figured out how to get it all set up and I have found this to be one of the best touch screen apps out for x10 so far as well as many of its other features. it is very user friendly once it is setup my 7 year old daughter can even control its functions and with the different user settings it really makes it nice ti work with. This with a combination pcc, bluewatch both versions , bvc, autom8 and x10 commander have helped me develop an amazing automation system.
Thanks to knightrider, dave x10_L, Tuicemen, Melloware, and VIncentb #:) >!
KenRad
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<blushing>
I just love it when someone gets as excited over new HA toys, as I do. Now if I could just get my wife on board.
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Knightrider
That is always the hard part. HAHAHA rofl
KEnRAd >!
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May be with a touch screen mounted on kitchen wall, I just might win over mine.
I wonder if iPad2 can be used as touch screen? Has any body tried it.
Have a nice day. It is rainy and high wind here.
IPS
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I down loaded the trial version and ran installed. It said install completed. But I don't see any icon. I have reinstalled 3 times but no luck. What am I missing?
I am running xp on ahp pc.
Thanks for you help.
IPS
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look in your program files when I installed it didnt give me an icon either I needed to create a short cut to get the Icon. I don't think that an Ipad2 will work as a touch screen because it runs differnt protocols then windows and MY servant is coded for windows. I installed multiple touch screen through out my house and I just used refurbished ones form kiosks that I found on ebay and built a wooden picture frame to support them. In an up stars hall way I even ran one as a second server to create zones in the house and cut a hole in the drywall and installed an aussie ebox and a cm15a in the wall with the monitor build in like a cabinet door to access the internal components if necessary.
My servant is very cool. Best of luck getting it up and running. If you are still having problems I would recommend emailing Vincent directly he is usually very responsive.
>!Kenrad
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Thank you Kenrad. I just got back so will try after some tea. In the mean time could you Redmond some touch screens that can be connected thro wi fi. I don't want to install any more PCs. Have four running and one exclusively for AHP.
Thanks again.
IPS
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I am still having the same problem. Can't install.
IPS
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Sorry for the second thread. I just realised I can only download Ahsdk_install.exe and not my servant. Has anybody gone through this and how did you resolve it?
Thanks.
IPS
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Good news is it is working. All is well. It is a great add on. I must congratulate Vincent and thank you all for your patience.
IPS
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Good to hear that you got it up and running
>!Kenrad
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Wish it had an Android interface so I can use my tablet as control rather than to fork up a few hundred bucks for a bulky touch monitor.
RDP does not work well with MyServant slow graphic rendering.