Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 12:24 PM
To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com
Subject: More X-10 software available. Examples of intermittent
real-time device control from VMS.

All,

I've posted more software in the X10_MONITOR series to Encompasserve,
(http://eisner.encompasserve.org) VMS conference topics 3064.31 to 42.
You'll find source code, documentation and everything you need to get 
up and running.  This system has been controlling several lights in my
home for the past month and been problem-free.  I highly recommend 
Marrick Ltd's LynX-10 controller; however, the software can be easily
modified to function with other types of controllers employing a
serial computer interface.  

You will also find examples of calling many system service and RTL 
routines from both C and COBOL languages (see cross-reference in the
README.TXT file).  Also how to use a simple Oracle Rdb database, pre-
compiled SQL, DCL, AST routines, mailbox devices, etc., along with
nicely-written C and COBOL code :-)  The following text gives a more
complete overview. I hope you find this software to be useful!

=====================================================================
X10_MONITOR and companion application X10_TIMER comprise a powerful, 
flexible system for monitoring and controlling X-10 and other types
of real-time control devices employing a serial port interface from
your OpenVMS system.  Functional diagram:

                  User Interface
                        |
  +------------+        V             +-------------+
  |            |-> Input mailbox  --> |             | <---> Terminal
  | X10_TIMER  |                      | X10_MONITOR |       Serial
  |  Process   |                      |   Process   |       Port
  | (optional) |<- Output mailbox <-- |             |      (Built-in
  +------------+                      +-------------+       or LAT)
        ^
        |           +----------+
        |           |  [Rdb]   |
        +---------->| X10MONDB |<-----> User Interface
                    | Database |      
                    |(optional)|
                    +----------+

Major components:

  - X10_MONITOR is a "message switch" application run in the context
    of a detached process.  It handles the routing of commands and
    messages between two mailbox devices and a user-defined terminal
    port (built-in or LAT). The monitor can operate without the timer
    component and is easily customized for multiple applications.  

  - Optional component X10_TIMER also runs in the context of a
    detached process.  At a user-defined interval it queries an Oracle
    Rdb relational database for scheduled events.  Selected events are
    sent to X10_MONITOR's input mailbox for routing. The Timer's
    secondary function is to log timestamped message activity to a
    database table for user interface querying and reporting.  Current
    status for each module is maintained based on controller message
    activity.

  - Supplemental programs for interacting with the monitor, defining
    the database, populating database tables, generating scheduled
    events, testing, startup and shutdown, etc., are included in this
    package.

Modules are written in C, COBOL, DCL and SQL.  They are a good example
of employing many OpenVMS Run-Time Library and System Service
routines, ASTs, etc. to handle intermittent real-time monitoring and
control.  A cross-reference list can be found in the README.TXT file.
Refer also to the documentation file and program source code for more
information.

The author of all modules in the X10_MONITOR package is:

   Jason Brady
   Lynnwood, Washington USA

Programs were written and tested on an Alphaserver 300 4/266 running 
OpenVMS AXP 7.2, Compaq C 6.0-1, Compaq COBOL 5.5 and Oracle Rdb
7.0-4.
========================================================================