Server-based Actions

If your module is set to a messaging mode, the ioBridge Server can cause actions and events to happen in the background.

Actions are your link to messaging, web services, events, and other channels and modules. Actions open up so many possibilities for Internet enabled projects such as micro-processor collaboration via the web, third-party API integration, data logging, and automation – both free and premium services in the future.

There are two types of actions. Actions that are server-based and actions that reside onboard the module. Onboard actions allow the module to process it's own logic without having to have a connection back to a server. Server based actions are created under the Actions Tab of your ioBridge account.

Once on the Actions tab the first thing to do before creating an action is to add an account. There are the accounts by which you will be noticed when an action occurs. They can include email address, txt messages, or twitter posts.

After creating a account to which your notification will be sent, click the Create Actions button.

Then select your action from the below options:

• Digital Input Messaging - Receive a message on digital state changes
• Analog Input Messaging - Receive a message when analog input passes a set trigger and/or reset point
• Pulse Count Messaging - Receive a message when a defined pulse count condition is met.

• Digital Input to Output Link - Control an output with a digital input on the same module or a different module
• Analog Input to Output Link - Control an output with an analog input on the same module or a different module

• Serial Link - Link any two serial smart boards together
• Input to Serial Message (Serial Smart Board) - Send input-based messages to a serial smart board
• Input to Serial Message (Digital Output) - Send input-based messages using the serial out on a digital output pin

• Digital Input POST - send a POST when a digital input is triggered
• Analog Input POST - send a POST when a analog input is triggered
• Pulse Count POST - send a POST when a pulse count is triggered

You have the ability to use multiple actions creating a stack. One switch on a digital input can cause a servo to move to a fixed position, turn on an X10 light, and send an email or post a Twitter message all at the same time.

There is so much to explore in the actions area of development and we look forward to seeing the projects that result.

The most simple project is digital input messaging. You can cause a Twitter to be sent when a digital input is set high or low. More intriguing scenarios are inter-module communication with serial smart boards. It's possible to link two modules together using the Serial Link action. The two modules can be anywhere on the Internet forming a virtual connection between them, making it possible to relay messages back and forth and having the ability to access the resources of ioBridge.

All ioBridge actions are based on channel messaging. By default the IO-204 does not relay input data to ioBridge. Set the channel messaging mode to cause the related action to execute.

Under the Module Configuration section, you can select the following channel messaging options:

• Send Message on Digital State Change
• Send Message on Analog Trigger
• Auto Message Digital Input
• Auto Message Analog Input

Data received by the Serial Smart Board is automatically messaged.

Before you can receive a message about an event you have to add an email account under the Actions page of your ioBridge account. The Add Account button can be found below all of the currently active actions. Action messages are sent as emails.

You can also receive notifications to an event as a text message by entering your cell phone's email address. Your cell phone number can be converted to an email address based on your service provider.

• AT&T: yournumber@txt.att.net
• Verizon: yournumber@vtext.com
• T-Mobile: yournumber@tmomail.net
• Sprint PCS - yournumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
• Virgin Mobile – yournumber@vmobl.com
• US Cellular – yournumber@email.uscc.net
• Nextel - yournumber@messaging.nextel.com
• Boost - yournumber@myboostmobile.com
• Alltel – yournumber@message.alltel.com

Note: ioBridge is not responsible for charges incurred by text messaging. Your standard text messaging rates apply with your mobile carrier.

ThingSpeak has a free Twitter proxy application called ThingTweet. All you have to do is associate your Twitter account with ThingSpeak and you can send status updates using simple API requests.

Here is how you connect ThingTweet to your ioBridge account.

• Link a Twitter user account to the ThingTweet App (Tutorial)
• Sign into ioBridge.com or ioBridgePro.com
• Click Actions
• Click Add Account
• Select the ThingTweet account type and click Next
• Enter the Twitter Account Label, the ThingTweet API Key, and click Add Account

Once you have your ThingTweet API Key setup as a messaging account on the ioBridge interface, you can create one of three type of messaging actions:

• Digital Input Message - Send a message associated with a digital state change
• Analog Input Message - Send a message based on the analog value of a channel
• Pulse Count Message - Send a message based on the pulse count of a channel

UberNote is free note taking service that is a replacement for Google Notes. UberNote allows email access to post new notes. Once you setup and account, an email that is linked to your account is created and listed under your settings page. If your action sends a message to the UberMail address, it will be automatically posted to your account. UberNote also supports tagging and public RSS feeds of notes.

UberNote