Skype Desktop API

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  • Viv
    Automated Home Ninja
    • Dec 2004
    • 284

    Skype Desktop API

    Microsoft have stated they no longer support the Skype Desktop API,
    preferring to support mobile and Windows Metro interfaces.
    They also say from September the Skype Desktop API will no longer work.
    This mean third party applications such as Cortex will no longer be
    able to use Skype to make or receive calls or send SMS messages.

    Skype will only offer a URI API.
    This does not appear to allow the contacts list to be found.
    Neither does it allow sending SMS messages.

    Not sure it will help but those who use Skype within Cortex might
    like to turn off automatic updates in Skype - Options | Advance | Automatic updates
    to prevent the downgrade.

    Viv.
  • djgrah
    Automated Home Jr Member
    • Jan 2010
    • 30

    #2
    Thanks for the warning Viv. This functionality is critical to the security set up for my house so security will be compromised without it to say the least. Are you aware of any other mechanism to allow Cortex to send SMS that I could try?

    Doug

    Comment

    • Viv
      Automated Home Ninja
      • Dec 2004
      • 284

      #3
      [QUOTE=Are you aware of any other mechanism to allow Cortex to send SMS that I could try?

      Doug[/QUOTE]

      Looking into it !

      Viv

      Comment

      • smoothquark
        Automated Home Sr Member
        • Oct 2009
        • 69

        #4
        This is why I am keen on open source and avoid windows! I have been trying to circumvent the Skype issue in my own set up, but unfortuantely, time is a major issue for me. I hate the Skype app on my android - although it works great fro Skype, I cannot limit it to wifi only nor have multiple accounts - I don't like my personal Skype account being active all the time, and use a separate account for the house, so that we get calls on both my wife's and my androids.

        Viv - have you thought about using a SIP stack - for example PJSIP (http://www.pjsip.org/) ? This will allow communication with a myriad of operating systems and devices as there is huge support for SIP. Not entirely sure if there is a SIP to SMS gateway - a quick google seems to suggest a large number of possibilities - not checked them yet. I believe there are SIP to Skype gateways as well, at least, the last time I looked for a totally SIP solution for our needs. Some of these links may help:

        Here is a list of products that can be used to connect non-PC devices to the Skype network.



        Windows XP will not get security updates from next April, and I really do not want to upgrade my current XP box running Cortex to a behemoth of an operating system. Perhaps time again to look at a linux based solution? There are tools available to convert Delphi code to linux. Perhaps Cortex can be divided into say 3 or 4 components:
        1. low-level communication and logic (free / low-cost) - this would be extremely resource light and could run on a raspberry pi and be housed in a IPS-002. Perhaps a http interface to save configuration files, etc.
        2. graphic set up and interface - keep this as a Delphi or convert to C#/mono - the generated file would be the configuration file into (1) above. Firmware updates and tweaking etc can be done using this, and obviously, continue with the current licensing.
        3. Graphical reporting and logs and trends - would require a graphical interface and continue with Delphi or C#/mono, and perhaps integrate into (2) above
        4. A http server version which would replace the current http server and provide the reporting functions etc.

        Not sure if others thing this would be a suitable model.

        Idratek is a wonderful piece of work and I have been using it since the first modules came out, but time to think about ditching windows! Next step would be a true andorid / ios interface, so that things like the door intercom just work (with video). The competition is increasing but still very, very expensive. With a bit more aggressive marketing, Idratek would be pretty successful.

        Comment

        • Viv
          Automated Home Ninja
          • Dec 2004
          • 284

          #5
          Originally posted by djgrah View Post
          Thanks for the warning Viv. This functionality is critical to the security set up for my house so security will be compromised without it to say the least. Are you aware of any other mechanism to allow Cortex to send SMS that I could try?

          Doug
          Cortex 26.7.0 has been released. See Update History in the Help | Auto Update | Update History, for a summary of new features.

          One item is a new SMS Control object. This allows the sending of SMS messages like Skype.
          However it uses a service from a company "TextAnywhere".
          This is normally for commercial companies but they have agreed to allow our customers to use the service.
          You will need to set up an account and need to put in a promo code.
          Create an object and look at the help for details.
          It is a chargeable service but cheaper than Skype.

          Viv

          Comment

          • djgrah
            Automated Home Jr Member
            • Jan 2010
            • 30

            #6
            Thanks Viv. I have signed up, just waiting for account activation to give it a go.


            Doug

            Comment

            • smoothquark
              Automated Home Sr Member
              • Oct 2009
              • 69

              #7
              Good to hear, Viv. Any thoughts about getting SIP to do away with Skype? PJSIP as per my link earlier seems good - I think just requires the DLL installed, but much easier with linux

              Comment

              • Viv
                Automated Home Ninja
                • Dec 2004
                • 284

                #8
                Originally posted by smoothquark View Post
                Good to hear, Viv. Any thoughts about getting SIP to do away with Skype? PJSIP as per my link earlier seems good - I think just requires the DLL installed, but much easier with linux
                We will look into it but don't hold your breath :-(

                Viv

                Comment

                • smoothquark
                  Automated Home Sr Member
                  • Oct 2009
                  • 69

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Viv View Post
                  We will look into it but don't hold your breath :-(

                  Viv
                  My Skype connection still seems to work (but then again, I don't think I have "upgraded" skype). Have had a free weekend and been playing... I have tried to use a SIP client but is there any way for Cortex to run an external program? I am using pjsua which is a very lightweight cli sip client but needs some keypresses to be sent to it. How do I "communicate" between Cortex and another program? I pretty much gave up windows programming 15 years ago and now concentrate on linux only!

                  Comment

                  • Karam
                    Automated Home Legend
                    • Mar 2005
                    • 863

                    #10
                    Yes for the moment it looks like if you don't upgrade then it still works but if you do upgrade then you will get messages saying it no longer works.

                    To run an external program from Cortex you can use the Shell command from a macro. To do something more elaborate then I guess it would be a matter of creating your own program, using the Cortex API to access Cortex objects and then presumably some kind of API for the other application in order to link these to its objects.

                    Comment

                    • smoothquark
                      Automated Home Sr Member
                      • Oct 2009
                      • 69

                      #11
                      Managed to figure it out and got the program running using the shell command from a suitable macro. My video capture card only has vfw drivers and is not WDM compatible - so not easy to transfer video via the sip client. I am also "playing" with the API. I have installed mingw which is a commandline compiler for c and works within a linux environment to compile windows programs. Planning to write a "API bridge" that will listen in to cortex. Next step would be an android app. As far as I can tell, the HTML5 server will not signal that the AUI button has been pressed ? I think there are 3rd party add-ons for HTML5 that can work as an intercom? Not sure how to integrate this into the webserver. If I can get this to work, then don't need to write an android app!

                      Comment

                      • marcuslee
                        Automated Home Ninja
                        • Dec 2009
                        • 279

                        #12
                        Having never gone with Skype on my install - what happened with this?

                        Did Skype's change indeed can making and receiving phone calls via Cortex?

                        Also if so, what was the last version of Skype where this was working (as I know old versions get cached in various places out there on the Net)?

                        Comment

                        • Karam
                          Automated Home Legend
                          • Mar 2005
                          • 863

                          #13
                          As far as I'm aware I think they changed their mind somewhat, perhaps temporarily, who knows what Microsoft plans these days ...Anyhow recent versions of desktop Skype still seem to be working ok with the relevant Cortex functions.

                          Comment

                          • marcuslee
                            Automated Home Ninja
                            • Dec 2009
                            • 279

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Karam View Post
                            As far as I'm aware I think they changed their mind somewhat, perhaps temporarily, who knows what Microsoft plans these days ...Anyhow recent versions of desktop Skype still seem to be working ok with the relevant Cortex functions.
                            Thanks for reply Karam!

                            Comment

                            • djgrah
                              Automated Home Jr Member
                              • Jan 2010
                              • 30

                              #15
                              Yes, Skype SMS is still working. I followed Viv's advice and resisted any Skype or Windows upgrades since last august but a couple of months ago Skype forced me to update. I figured this would break the sms functionality but I'm relieved to say that it didn't as I use this feature as the core of my home security system! Fingers crossed it stays this way!

                              Comment

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