Caller ID Plugin and C++

[CodeMonkey]

Sub:

I came up with some old Caller ID code that I had that's in C that uses TAPI. I was thinking of 'converting' it to C++ and making a plugin now that we can post test to the TV screen Do you have a framework/sample I could use for a plugin in C++?

Thanks.

[sub]

No, I dont - sorry.

[jorm]

Don't know if it will help but what about http://sunflowerhead.com/software/yac/. The plugin could just be a listener that will receive the caller id messages and display them to the screen. This solution would require the yac process. But probably a fast solution as well. Might be able to use the code though.

I have found a bunch of code in VB. I guess maybe if the plugin or the logic was abstracting in VB net

[CodeMonkey]

That looks pretty cool Jorm. I was thinking of the server style solution yac already has. They telll you how to write a network listener easy enough, and we can do that in C#. I am going to start playing with this code and hopefully have the gbpvr plugin ready in a week or 2.

Thanks for the link.

[CodeMonkey]

Sub:

This callerid plugin is a little unique in that it really has nothing to display on a screen of it's own.  Outside of a config screen, the only output of this plugin will be via ShowMessage().  Is there a way to have gbpvr not put a entry on the menu for this plugin (and thus not have it selectable), yet have it active so it can do its job?

Also, whats the max string length I can display via ShowMessage?

And since I'm already asking for stuff, it would be nice to be able to enable/disable calerid display via the remote.  Any way to achieve this?


Jorm:

I built that app and tried it.  It works well.  I haven't tried the server/listener aspect yet but I suspect that will work also.

[bryan]

I too came up with a small VB.NET callerID plugin, but I agree it wouldn't be practical to run it as a standard plugin.

Since we are in the asking mode, I had a couple of requests also. One is to make sure the CallerID information is visible on the MVPs and not just the PC. I plan on having the PC in a wiring closet and use MVPs for all the interaction with GB-PVR.

The second thing is to try to make whatever approach is used, to be general purpose. I think it would be great to have the ability to write a invisible plugin that is executing along with other GB-PVR functions(mainly video playback). When a specific key sequence is received by the client, control is passed to the plugin but, as an example, video playback would continue. Then the invisible plugin would respond to keys and decide what to overlay on the screen(like the green or blue button functions do currently). I would use this with my home automation plugin, so that I could do things like turn lights on or off without stopping the video.

Sub, thanks as always for considering our requests.

Bryan

[jorm]

The plugin sounds great.

Perhaps when you select the plugin from the menu it would show the last X number of callers.


The plugin sounds cool. Does the app allow you to run the server piece on a different machine. (My new machines does not have a modem, I can always add one). That could be cool. You can run it at home and have it show you at work whom is calling.

Looking forward to the plugin.

[sub]

The ShowMessage API is compatible with all GB-PVR clients including MVP, but its up to the developer to make sure the message is routed to all the relevent clients. e.g If you call ShowMessage in a plugin, it'll only show up on that specific instance of GB-PVR. If you need to it appear on all MVPs currently running, you'd need to come up with your own mechanism for managing this.

I cant commit to the keystoke thing at this point, but will try and add something like this in a later release.

[CodeMonkey]

Quote[/b] (jorm @ Oct. 24 2004,07:54)]The plugin sounds great.

Perhaps when you select the plugin from the menu it would show the last X number of callers.

The plugin sounds cool.  Does the app allow you to run the server piece on a different machine.  (My new machines does not have a modem, I can always add one). That could be cool.  You can run it at home and have it show you at work whom is calling.

Looking forward to the plugin.

I thought of displaying the call log.  But when running the server on a different box, there will be no call log on the gbpvr box.    We could create our own log on the gbpvr box I suppose.  But I will wait for version 2 for that


Yes, you can run the server on one box and as many listeners as you like on others on your network.  I envision the gbpvr box being a listener so you don't have to run a phone line to it.  But, you could also run all on one box if you like.

Sub, whats the max string length for ShowMessage() ? And is there a way to run as a plugin but not show up on the menu, or at least not put up a display?

[sub]

You can make a plugin that just implements the IEventNotification interface. This wont have a menu button.

I dont think there is maximum length at the moment, but it'll probably get clipped at a line or two. Its a bit ugly, but I got the feeling this was going to be one of those features some asks for and spend heaps of time implementing... but it never gets used. If you guys actually end up using this, then make it a bit nicer in the next release, and maybe allow additional graphics or more control over the general look of it (number of lines of text etc).