Home automation
Asterisk is still too much of an über-geek’s tool to be able to serve in the average home, but with no more than average Linux and Asterisk skills, the following things become plausible:
Monitoring the kids
Parents who want to check up on the babysitter (or the kids home alone) could dial an extension context protected by a password. Once authenticated, a two-way audio connection would be created to all the IP phones in the house, allowing Mom and Dad to listen for trouble. Creepy? Yes. But an interesting concept nonetheless.
Locking down your phones
Going out for the night? Don’t want the babysitter tying up the phone? No problem! A simple tweak to the dialplan, and the only calls that can be made are to 911, your cell phone, and the pizza parlor. Any other call attempt will get the recording “We are paying you to babysit our kids, not make personal calls.” Pretty evil, huh?
Controlling the alarm system
You get a call while on vacation that your Mom wants to borrow some cooking utensils. She forgot her key and is standing in front of the house shivering. Piece of cake; a call to your Asterisk system, a quick digit string into the context you created for the purpose, and your alarm system is instructed to disable the alarm for 15 minutes. Mom better get her stuff and get out quick, though, or the cops’ll be showing up!
Managing teenagers’ calls
How about allocating a specific phone-time limit to your teenagers? To use the phone, they have to enter their access codes. They can earn extra minutes by doing chores, scoring all As, dumping that annoying bum with the bad haircut—you get the idea. Once they’ve used up their minutes... click... you get your phone back. Incoming calls can be managed as well, via Caller ID. “Donny, this is Suzy’s father. She is no longer interested in seeing you, as she has decided to raise her standards a bit. Also, you should consider getting a haircut.”
page 199 of Asterisk: The Future of Telephony (1st Edition) / page 326 of Asterisk: The Future of Telephony (2nd Edition)
==============================
Asterisk is the world’s leading open source telephony engine and tool kit. Offering flexibility unheard of in the world of proprietary communications, Asterisk empowers developers and integrators to create advanced communication solutions...for free. <www.asterisk.org>
I've browsed over the 1st edition months ago but I haven't noticed this part. Reading this section made me smile. I thought these high-tech applications could only be seen on the cartoon series "The Jetsons".hehe. It reminded me of a local telecom's tagline "making great things possible". Though sometimes it's too good to be true. :)
"For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37, NIV)
Asterisk is still too much of an über-geek’s tool to be able to serve in the average home, but with no more than average Linux and Asterisk skills, the following things become plausible:
Monitoring the kids
Parents who want to check up on the babysitter (or the kids home alone) could dial an extension context protected by a password. Once authenticated, a two-way audio connection would be created to all the IP phones in the house, allowing Mom and Dad to listen for trouble. Creepy? Yes. But an interesting concept nonetheless.
Locking down your phones
Going out for the night? Don’t want the babysitter tying up the phone? No problem! A simple tweak to the dialplan, and the only calls that can be made are to 911, your cell phone, and the pizza parlor. Any other call attempt will get the recording “We are paying you to babysit our kids, not make personal calls.” Pretty evil, huh?
Controlling the alarm system
You get a call while on vacation that your Mom wants to borrow some cooking utensils. She forgot her key and is standing in front of the house shivering. Piece of cake; a call to your Asterisk system, a quick digit string into the context you created for the purpose, and your alarm system is instructed to disable the alarm for 15 minutes. Mom better get her stuff and get out quick, though, or the cops’ll be showing up!
Managing teenagers’ calls
How about allocating a specific phone-time limit to your teenagers? To use the phone, they have to enter their access codes. They can earn extra minutes by doing chores, scoring all As, dumping that annoying bum with the bad haircut—you get the idea. Once they’ve used up their minutes... click... you get your phone back. Incoming calls can be managed as well, via Caller ID. “Donny, this is Suzy’s father. She is no longer interested in seeing you, as she has decided to raise her standards a bit. Also, you should consider getting a haircut.”
page 199 of Asterisk: The Future of Telephony (1st Edition) / page 326 of Asterisk: The Future of Telephony (2nd Edition)
==============================
Asterisk is the world’s leading open source telephony engine and tool kit. Offering flexibility unheard of in the world of proprietary communications, Asterisk empowers developers and integrators to create advanced communication solutions...for free. <www.asterisk.org>
I've browsed over the 1st edition months ago but I haven't noticed this part. Reading this section made me smile. I thought these high-tech applications could only be seen on the cartoon series "The Jetsons".hehe. It reminded me of a local telecom's tagline "making great things possible". Though sometimes it's too good to be true. :)
"For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37, NIV)
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