Dev wanted

Not sure if I am allowed to post this question here. I am looking to hire a python dev who is interested of developing an add-on for XBMC. The add-on should create an interface between an homeautomation system and XBMC. I was thinking of having a pop screen in XBMC where you could control your lights etc. in the house.
Please write me for details.

What home automation system? I've been looking into OpenAMI and considering going with it for my HA system. Of course I couldn't live without xbmc integration lol

Hi,

Well the system is a simple and cost efficient brand from the Czech republic. It has all the important actors to control your home and the programming is done based on a PLC. I am actually a programmer from the PLC field and the software is up and running what I would like is to integrate the Interface into XBMC so as to have one control application( Media & Home control). Right now I am switching applications on my IPad to control XBMC and then back to control my HA but this solution is not very elegant and also does not offer me any signal exchange with XBMC.

So if any Python Programmer is interested please do let me know, about the budget for this project we can talk as soon as we see the work involved to achieve the target.

Regards,

What type of communication format is there between the XBMC and the HA system?

Hi giftie,

There are 3 possibilities of communication.
- Via RS232 ( I would not prefer this communication)
- Via TCP/IP connecting to the PLC and using Function Blocks from the internal ComLib library with SendTo and RecvFrom functions.
- Via TCP/IP connecting to the PLC but using the top layer direct communication via the EPSNET Protocol.

Model information would be really helpful.

Hi,

I am sorry...I tought i wasn´t allowed to post any products here... You right tough some more info would help )
...so here is a PDF Link.

Here are some Info about the PLC( The one we are using is the Foxtrot CP1014)
http://www.tecomat.com/wpimages/other/DO...PLC_en.pdf


And here are some Info about the EPSNET protocol. (starting from page 146)
http://www.tecomat.com/wpimages/other/DO...l32_en.pdf


Hope this helps...

Well, I've seen worse. Looks like everything can be done by UDP datagrams. The biggest roadblock would be the need for physical access to the hardware. Building UDP packets is easy enough, but testing communication can be a pain

Here's tow of the easiest ways I can think of...

If you use Windows take a look at EventGhost... it has plugins that might already do what you want so the flow would go:
XBMC Python Script for EventGhost --> EventGhost -- > your HA system

I think the easiest, and smartest, would be to integrate them at the control point. Building a system inside of XBMC for this one point solution does not seem like an easy thing to support as XBMC changes - and your HA system changes.
There are a few apps that already control XBMC and can also be setup to send commands to your HA system... on the iPad. Hopefully your HA system can received HTTP commands (most can, if yours cannot, you might want to consider a different HA system)

best of luck.

No need to involve EventGhost, that needlessly ties things to Windows. According to the datasheets linked above, the thing can be controlled over the LAN with UDP packets. Now it's down to building a python script send those commands. Xbmc is just a gui at this point