ISY Portal Geo-Fence Help

[apostolakisl]

I am trying to set up a geo-fence.  I follow the wiki instruction and via the portal website try to create a geo-fence.  It gives me an error saying "node server is not configured".  I go to ISY to look for a geo-fence node to setup under "node servers", but nothing along those lines is there.  It appears I can setup a custom node, but what am I supposed to enter?

[paulbates]

Did you set up the node server,under configure? The ISY should reboot when that completes

[apostolakisl]

Aha.  I was assuming I needed to set it up in ISY.  I see now that the portal is where that gets triggered.  Seems like it would have been a good idea to put that little bit of info in the wiki.

[paulbates]

The good news is that its a one time step and done. This "cloud based" nodeserver capability will be used for additional Portal based node servers in the future. 

[apostolakisl]

I got the node created.  I guess you are saying that this one node server will then be used for any number of things between ISY and the portal?  I'm going to call it quits on the geo-fence for now. . . .waiting for UD to respond to my email requesting the android app.  thanks.

[apostolakisl]

I added the new udi mobile geofence app to my phone, setup the geofence, and synced my phone with the provided code.  First try around everything worked except the most important thing . . .status as in/out kept saying "unknown".  I created the nodes on the portal and synced to my phone.  The nodes showed up on my ISY (Java) dashboard.  But status was listed as "unknown" in the portal and blank on the java dashboard.  This is after manually hitting the "update" button on the phone and having the phone report success.  I tried manually using the url listed on the portal in my webbrowser and this did set the status on the java dashboard.  So the com between the phone and portal appeared to be missing something.  Phone showed the geofence but said something to the affect that geofence not setup despite having set the location on the map multiple times.  I ended up deleting everything/unlinking phone/uninstalling app and starting from scratch.  Still didn't work, the phone now had a blank page under geofences.   I then unlinked and then relinked my phone . . . now it showed up, I set my location and the portal received the in/out status correctly.  I still have seen an error message pop up on my phone that says "invalid token" or something to that affect.  Not sure what that means.

Question:

The portal creates a geofence node (ie "home") and then another sub node (ie "home/android").  It lists both "home" and "home/android" as "in".  I don't understand this.  I am assuming that "home" is the location and that I would then put multiple phones under "home".  But then why does "home" get a status?  What if two devices are under "home" and one is in and one is out?

[Michel Kohanim]

apostolakisl,

If you can send us a screenshot of the actual error, it would help a lot.

With kind regards,
Michel

[apostolakisl]

6 hours ago, Michel Kohanim said:

apostolakisl,

If you can send us a screenshot of the actual error, it would help a lot.

With kind regards,
Michel

The error about the token only pops up for a second or two, so I truly doubt I would ever catch it on a screen shot.

Can you explain how the parent node status is determined?  In other words, two phones under the heading "home", what is the status of "home"?  Is it a boolean  type of thing where they are "or'ed".  I'm trying to understand what the purpose of its status is and how it might be used.  If indeed it is an "or" situation, then I could use "home true" to simply indicate that home is occupied by at least one device, meaning that theoretically there is someone at home.

 

EDIT:  I just ran the log from today and tracked all the in/out events.  It does appear to be a boolean "or" situation but I am working on limited number of events.

[OneClicktoControl]

Hi apostolakisl, you are right.

It is a boolean "or" for geofence occupancy (ie. home geofence and android/iphone devices):

 

home - IN

home/android - IN

home/iphone - OUT

 

home - IN

home/android - OUT

home/iphone - IN

 

home - OUT

home/android -  OUT

home/iphone - OUT

 

[apostolakisl]

I have been home now for about 30 minutes and it still hasn't updated true.  I finally opened the app and after scrolling around in the app (not hitting update) it finally updated the server.  Is this expected behavior?  My wifes phone still hasn't updated (she got home at same time as me). 

 

EDIT:  I just left my wife's phone to itself.  It finally updated at 11:15pm.  Roughly an hour after entering the geo-fence.

[Michel Kohanim]

apostolakisl,

That's not normal. Is it possible that your phone has this app under power saving mode?

With kind regards,

Michel

[apostolakisl]

On 7/15/2018 at 11:57 AM, Michel Kohanim said:

apostolakisl,

That's not normal. Is it possible that your phone has this app under power saving mode?

With kind regards,

Michel

I don't know how a battery saving mode would be set one way or the other.  I left work today about 60 minutes ago and checked my status just now.  It still says I am at work even though I have been home for more than 45 minutes.  Both the time interval and distance were set to their minimum of 1 meter and .5 minutes in the app.  After I opened the app, it updated pretty quickly.  I didn't choose 1 meter and .5 minutes, it seems those were defaults (and a bit overkill).  I'm using a galaxy s8.

 

EDIT:  I found in Android where I can tell the phone to not put apps to sleep and added UDI mobile.  I also changed it to 5 minutes which is all I need.  I'll see what happens.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello @apostolakisl,

@OneClicktoControl developer (who developed the app) was here yesterday. He said that this issue will be fixed by the end of this week.

Thanks so much for your patience.

With kind regards,
Michel

[apostolakisl]

Awesome.  Thanks.

[MWareman]

Michel,

Do you happen to know that if the Android version on the phone supports it - does the app make use of the OS provided geofencing functionality (https://developer.android.com/training/location/geofencing) - or does it poll for location and implement its own?

Michael.

[Michel Kohanim]

@MWareman,

No, I am depending on @OneClicktoControl … 

With kind regards,
Michel

[apostolakisl]

Just FYI, I checked my geo fence today on ISY.  It said I was at home.  I'm at work and have been here for 8 hours.  As soon as I opened the app, it immediately updated.  But I had to open the app.  Hoping this update will fix things.

[apostolakisl]

Any word on this getting fixed?  The geo-fence just doesn't update unless I open the app.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi apostolakisl,

Not yet. Sorry.

With kind regards,

Michel

[apostolakisl]

I have taken a different approach to this since the UDI geo-fence app simply isn't working in its current form.  I have set Tasker's (android app) http post function to issue the url provided by the portal, to the portal to execute the in/out state of my phone for my two geo-fenced locations (home/work).  Instead of using gps location, Tasker is triggered by my phones wifi status.  Connecting to my work wifi sets my work geo fence as "true", Disconnecting does the opposite, and the same for my home wifi.  I have used it for 2 days now and it has worked properly.  It also has a borderline zero battery draw whereas gps geo-fencing is not insignificant.  

To add to the fun, I have an ISY program which triggers upon home becoming true/false which sends a network resource command to my PC running EventGhost.  EventGhost runs an Autohotkey script which opens Google Voice on the computers web browser and sets my calls to forward/not forward to my home phone as appropriate.  Unfortunately, I used to have a plugin for Tasker which would directly tell Google Voice to forwared/not forward, but Google changed the API and kept it secret . .. so Autohotkey pretending to be a real live person web-surfing is it for now.

To summarize:

phone wifi -> Tasker -> ISY Portal -> ISY Node change -> ISY Program runs network resource  -> Event Ghost -> Autohotkey -> Google Voice

All that just to get a phone to ring or not ring. 

[Michel Kohanim]

@apostolakisl,

This is wonderful. I sincerely apologize for not fixing UD Mobile app. 

With kind regards,
Michel

[DonM]

On 8/14/2018 at 12:27 PM, apostolakisl said:

I have taken a different approach to this since the UDI geo-fence app simply isn't working in its current form.  I have set Tasker's (android app) http post function to issue the url provided by the portal, to the portal to execute the in/out state of my phone for my two geo-fenced locations (home/work).  Instead of using gps location, Tasker is triggered by my phones wifi status.  Connecting to my work wifi sets my work geo fence as "true", Disconnecting does the opposite, and the same for my home wifi.  I have used it for 2 days now and it has worked properly.  It also has a borderline zero battery draw whereas gps geo-fencing is not insignificant.  

To add to the fun, I have an ISY program which triggers upon home becoming true/false which sends a network resource command to my PC running EventGhost.  EventGhost runs an Autohotkey script which opens Google Voice on the computers web browser and sets my calls to forward/not forward to my home phone as appropriate.  Unfortunately, I used to have a plugin for Tasker which would directly tell Google Voice to forwared/not forward, but Google changed the API and kept it secret . .. so Autohotkey pretending to be a real live person web-surfing is it for now.

To summarize:

phone wifi -> Tasker -> ISY Portal -> ISY Node change -> ISY Program runs network resource  -> Event Ghost -> Autohotkey -> Google Voice

All that just to get a phone to ring or not ring. 

I have been trying to use the tasker approach that is outlined in the wiki.  I can get the at-home to work to set a variable in the ISY, but the away from home can not seem to communicate with the ISY.  I have tried all manner of this, but keep getting an error message in Tasker for a socket error that the connection was refused.  If have tried to connect both via the portal (which I can use for Alexa) and directly.  Any suggestions on this?

 

Don

[Michel Kohanim]

HI DonM,

Have you tried the UD Mobile?

https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Node_Server_Occupancy_V2_%26_UDI_Mobile_app_Instructions

With kind regards,
Michel

[DonM]

Michel,

I have tried UD Mobile and have had the same problems as others - it only seems to work when you send it a command from the application.  It does not update automatically.  I understand that you are aware of the issue and are working with the app developer on a fix.

Don

[apostolakisl]

10 hours ago, DonM said:

I have been trying to use the tasker approach that is outlined in the wiki.  I can get the at-home to work to set a variable in the ISY, but the away from home can not seem to communicate with the ISY.  I have tried all manner of this, but keep getting an error message in Tasker for a socket error that the connection was refused.  If have tried to connect both via the portal (which I can use for Alexa) and directly.  Any suggestions on this?

 

Don

Did you setup the node in ISY for occupancy?  I would use this over a variable.  It does not require authentication aside from what is in the post itself and it is a node, much nicer than a variable (intuitive and easily accessible for programs and status checks).

Did you copy and paste into Tasker as a "post" the https://my.isy.io/api/occupancy2/ . . . /in(or out) that the portal lists as the trigger for changing your occupancy node status?

I also put a "wait" command into Tasker on the exit from wifi of 5 seconds to allow my phone enough time to establish its data connection upon dropping the wifi.  It is worth noting that my wifi connection is my geo-fence indicator.

This has been working flawlessly for me.