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mike0999
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Posted: June 26 2015 at 18:22 \| IP Logged

The far field voice recognition on this device is very good. Seems like it could offer some really cool integrated voice control functionality - good voice control of devices in the home.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-throws-100-million-devel oper-tools-to-open-echos-alexa-ecosystem/

smarty
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Posted: June 27 2015 at 10:11 \| IP Logged

Link from above

There is a group on another board working to leverage the voice commands so that they could act as a incoming event to trigger the local (PowerHome for me) HA system.

I will be watching this with great interest.

Edited by smarty - June 27 2015 at 10:20

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syonker
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Posted: June 29 2015 at 08:39 \| IP Logged

I totally agree, we have Echo (Alexa) and its far-field recognition even without training is phenomenal. It already has *basic* (on/off/dim) zone-control of Phillips HUE lighting built in, but I would like to be able to integrate it to PH so it can control scenes, and really any "user-input event" in PH. Man that would be AWESOME!

For now, I'm working on a new set of "panel controls" for the house using cheap ($20) droid tablets, some creative "frames" cut on the CNC, McGibbage's PHCA application, and a new set of landscape renders for the platform (see below for an example).

SIDE NOTE FOR DAVE: It was mentioned a while back and I don't know if anyone has yet tackled the programming, but I was wondering if either the features to control HUE have even been added, or more to the point, whether a plug-in that adds the capability might have been developed.

-S

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smarty
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Posted: July 01 2015 at 07:59 \| IP Logged

Looks like some folks have got the Echo to work with CQC.

Link Here

As for PH, I am not sure how the HTTP trigger set up would work....anyone have ideas?

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Jaaay
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Posted: July 02 2015 at 12:35 \| IP Logged

Couldn't we just use the PH socket server to send the
Http request to?

syonker
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Posted: July 02 2015 at 13:10 \| IP Logged

Jaaay,

I was thinking the same thing.

I signed up to the HUE developer community and got access to the full API and tools (anyone can do this).

After that, I did some research on the HUE API, and with another instance of the socket server it could be done reasonably easily with the use of some creative functions/scripts in PowerHome.

It would not be as "pretty" as an auto-sensing interface, etc. but if one sets up their HUE bridge with a static or reserved IP, one should be able to send what is needed to get it working seamlessly.

I intend to explore it much further once I'm done with my new panel renders...not a trivial task. Once I get something working, I'll post whatever I come up with back whether it's a standalone plug-in, or (more likely first run) use of PowerHome's native functions.

-S

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Jaaay
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 14:31 \| IP Logged

syonker.. I have powerhome working with my echo.. Just
did a simple front lights group on!!

I setup the HA Echo Bridge running on the same server
as powerhome using the same setup from here.

http://www.charmedquark.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?
t=11787&page=8

But I just replaced the on/off parts when setting up
the devices in the bridge with
http://localhost:8080/ph-cgi/formula?
formula=ph_macroparm(Enter your info)

Here is my full device example:

Code:

http://localhost:8080/ph-cgi/formula?

formula=ph_macroparm('Light Control','GRP FRONT 

LIGHTS',1,'status_front_lights',1,0)

http://localhost:8080/ph-cgi/formula?

formula=ph_macroparm('Light Control','GRP FRONT 

LIGHTS',0,'status_front_lights',1,0)

Code:

{

"name" : "Door Lights",

"deviceType" : "switch",

"onUrl" : "http://localhost:8080/ph-cgi/formula?

formula=ph_macroparm(%27Light%20Control%27,%27GRP%20FR

ONT%20LIGHTS%27,1,%27status_front_lights%27,1,0)",

"offUrl" : "http://localhost:8080/ph-cgi/formula?

formula=ph_macroparm(%27Light%20Control%27,%27GRP%20FR

ONT%20LIGHTS%27,0,%27status_front_lights%27,1,0)"

}

Yes you have to setup each device in the Echo Bridge
but I will enjoy it until there is something better..

Also note the bridge doesn't like spaces, and
apostrophes so you will need to convert those by
inserting the full http command into your chrome
browser then cut and past that into the Onurl/offurl

Alexa, please turn the sprinkler zone 1 one.

syonker
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 16:11 \| IP Logged

JAY! You da man! I'm so totally trying this as soon as I can break away from building a phone company! 8(]

-S [

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syonker
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 18:27 \| IP Logged

Ok Jaaay,

I'm close, but missing some critical pieces...here are the things that are "suspicious" to me:

1) On the java install, it just "hangs". The log looks I *think* ok, but not really sure what "complete" is.

2) Doesn't look like anything is running on 8080 or 50000...all connection attempts are actively refused by the server.

3) 1900 seems to be fine.

4) Missing just *how* this connects to the *real* HUE bridge...there doesn't seem to be any connection. Are you supposed to hit the activate button while it's installing or something?

5) Submitting a fully-qualified URL (with codes) yields "No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it x.x.x.x:8080"...followed by a ton of socket, request, and callback errors.

So in technical terms: "HUNNH??!?"

That said, I *think* I have a nice shortcut since all of my functions are basically already setup as a result of PHCA and I'll just re-use the macros from that already established app. Hoping that the rest of this is just something easy.

Puhlease (insert "Bambi Eyes" and glowing smile here

) help a guy out...it would be *REALLY* cool to have Alexa deal with sprinklers, and other goodies that are outside of the HUE world. ;)

-S

Edited by syonker - July 25 2015 at 18:28

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Jaaay
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 23:25 \| IP Logged

syonker

See if these instructions clear things up.
This is the actual steps I used as it was simpler to
me.

I hope it helps, I should have posted both..

http://tinsley.io/2015/06/control-your-items-using-
the-amazon-echo-openhab/

just remember the bridge and powerhome are running on
the same server so I just use localhost as the ip
address.

I did need to make sure the port 1900 was open on my
windows server. and that powerhome was not running on
the same 8080 port. The hue-echo-bridge defaults to
8080.

I also learned today that I could only add 21 devices.
before the Echo app would stop seeing everything.. I
think this is a bug.

Jaaay
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 23:53 \| IP Logged

Also note the Hue-Echo-Bridge.jar is being used in place
of the actual HUE Hardware Bridge. I'm just using it as
a virtual bridge/service to send Powerhome the Http
commands for on and off.

Echo <----> Hue Bridge --On--Off--> Powerhome

I don't have any Hue hardware or lights, not sure if
this could replace the hue hardware.

syonker
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Posted: August 07 2015 at 06:43 \| IP Logged

Dave, we have a AUTO-SPAMMER on the board!
Aaaaauuuuuggghhh!

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dhoward
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Posted: August 12 2015 at 19:23 \| IP Logged

This device is pretty interesting. I don't have one yet
but would like to look into acquiring one and adding
native support to PowerHome. It wouldnt be until the z-
wave version is release though.

Kudos for getting something working though. Ive done
some high level overview of the SDK and I think
something will definitely be doable.

Dave.

kemporama
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Posted: November 17 2015 at 08:14 \| IP Logged

Just curious is anyone has had any new experiences/luck with getting the Amazon Echo to work with PowerHome since the last post here in August. Smarthome is running a sale today where if you order an Echo you get a free Insteon Hub. I think I've read on here before that some people also use a Insteon Hub with their PowerHome installs? How does that work? Do you need to add your devices to both PH and the hub and administer both of them, do the 2 talk with each other somehow, etc? I like the idea of voice control thru the Echo for my Insteon devices, but don't think I would use it for much else.

Thanks.

dhoward
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Posted: November 17 2015 at 21:08 \| IP Logged

Kempo,

I now have an Echo and have been looking into what would be necessary to add support. As others have posted here, they're using a "virtual" Phillips HUE bridge (software) to send commands
to PowerHome. I took a look at this approach and to the best of what I could tell, it requires you to do a fair amount of configuration on the virtual bridge side to tell the bridge the
available devices you have in PowerHome and to setup the appropriate web commands for PowerHome to control those devices. I didnt like this (someone correct me if Im wrong) so looked at
some other approaches.

Another approach is to create your own Alexa skill that would interface with PowerHome. I started playing with this approach and created my own PowerHome alexa skill and hosting in
Amazon's Lambda system. Ive had mixed results. I don't have to do any real pre-configuration or anything but there are other issues. For one thing, using a "skill" requires you to define a
keyword to activate that skill (I used "PowerHome") and you'll say something like: "Alexa, tell PowerHome to turn the kitchen light on". You will always have to say "Tell PowerHome" or
"Ask PowerHome". This annoyance aside, Alexa seems to have a hard time "picking" up on my keyword and instead seems to favor the internal smarthome controls (it hears things like "turn on"
or "turn off" and will sometimes favor that instead of the keyword). The turn on/off is actually what the virtual HA bridge method is using. Since I don't have a bridge or actual Smart
interface configured, Alexa will say I don't see any smart devices configured for you system or something like that. Its been VERY aggravating and not sure how best to handle it short of
telling Amazon that if I don't have a smart interface setup and configured then DON'T try to interpret my commands using that method and instead look for the appropriate keyword.

Another drawback to this method is that you have to setup a developer account through Amazon and do a fair amount of configuration on the Lambda side and everything (its all free for up to
a million transactions a month). Ive seen another method where someone is monitoring in real time the Alexa recognition log which sounds like it would be good except you have to end every
utterance with the word "cancel" (so Alexa won't actually TRY to execute the command or complain that it has no idea what you're asking). Not so sure if I like that approach either.

Another possibility is they have finally opened the ability for developers to create their own smart interfaces (like the Phillips HUE or the Insteon Hub) but that looks like alot of setup
as well so don't think that will work either.

Since Ive started down this odyssey, I have been working on a special natural language recognition function for PowerHome so that you can pass a natural language phrase to PowerHome and it
will do its best to interpret and execute your desire. Telling PowerHome something like: "Set the first floor thermostat cool setpoint to 74 degrees" would do just that. This function will
scan the available devices, macros, etc. and applies a weight to all possibilities and then performs the most likely action using a fuzzy matching algorithm. In testing, its been working
well so far and will be available in the next release.

One last thing Im thinking of investigating is actually writing my own "virtual" bridge for the Insteon hub. It appears that the hub smart interface (being the most recent one) seems to
have the most support. If I monitor the incoming and outgoing requests to this and replicate this in my virtual (this is essentially what was done by the HA bridge but with the HUE
interface), this might be the best option. Since I will be creating the virtual hub specifically for PowerHome, I would have it automatically define the available devices direct from the
PH database without having to pre-define them.

One last thing...the newer version of the Insteon Hub (the one that comes with the Echo) is NOT compatible with PowerHome (PowerHome will not be able to use it as an Insteon PLM
controller). Earlier versions of the hub are actually able to act just like a PLM (this is what Im currently using as my Insteon controller) but they removed this capability in the newer
hub (the square one...the older rectangular one will work). If you were to get the Echo and the new Insteon hub, you would not do any direct interfacing with PowerHome. You could link the
hub to your PowerHome PLM so PowerHome could "see" the Insteon communication going to/from the hub (and even setup triggers to do stuff) but it would pretty much be working stand-alone.
You would need to add any Insteon devices you want the hub to control to the hub. You *may* be able to use PowerHome to create and maintain these links (Im not sure as Ive never tried it).

Anyways, Im continuing to play with the Echo and trying to see what kind of voice integration I can add as it is a fairly decent active array VR microphone.

If anyone else has had anymore luck/success than I have with the Echo, please post and let me know.

Dave.

mike0999
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Posted: November 17 2015 at 22:44 \| IP Logged

You might try providing the feedback to Amazon. They typically
actually really listen to it.

Jaaay
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Posted: November 21 2015 at 13:58 \| IP Logged

Hi Dave, Thanks for your update on your venture into
connecting the Echo to power home.

I wanted to comment on 2 of your thoughts

1. Virtual smart-home bridge - With this option would
you be bound by Commands setup by smarthome/insteon..
(on,Off,Dim, etc)? Example.. "Alexa Open the family
room drapes" "Open" is not a command in the Hue
interface. So, I need to use "turn on/off family room
drapes" This is just an example. Yes, it would be very
nice to have all the devices populated.

2. Your own smart interface- With this option, I would
think you have more control of the actual Commands
Alexa knows. Like in the example above, you could
program in "Open","Set". Or does Amazon control these
main commands?

I just noticed this morning the Echo and IFTTT can now
use "trigger" as the command "Alexa, trigger Find My
Phone" I will be playing with this today. I would
think this is a Smart Interface, But I am not sure.

Just as a note.. I don't use Dim.. I am not sure if
that is actually a command used in Hue. Syonker might
be able to comment on that, as I think he uses it.

Those are my thoughts for this morning

Let me know if you need any testing, help figuring
anything out.

Jaaay

jeffw_00
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Posted: November 24 2015 at 19:47 \| IP Logged

Hey Dave - very much liking the idea of moving my powerhome system to voice commands - plant a couple of Echos around the house and get rid of most of the ControlLincs. So Kudos! Looking forward (patiently) to what you come up with when you get there.

BTW - if you really -need- to talk to someone at Amazon and all else fails, I used to work with the VP of their HW division (Lab126) and I could probably arrange an introduction if needed.

best
/j

smarty
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Posted: November 25 2015 at 10:03 \| IP Logged

Let me start by saying that I HAVE NOT DONE this...I don't own an Echo ...yet...

But, why couldn't you set up the Amazon Echo to use an IFFFT recipe to send a "web hook" to your PowerHome machine?

In IFFT, you set up the Echo's triggering phrase, then have it trigger the "Maker" channel to send out a custom web request (that corresponds to the trigger phrase) that PH would receive and decode. Devil is in the details, but it looks promising to me.

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smarty
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Posted: November 26 2015 at 10:02 \| IP Logged

Amazon is offer $30 off the Echo for Black Friday. Just picked one up....

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