Generic HomeAutomation Buttons (Community)

Generic Home Automation Buttons

The Generic Home Automation Buttons Driver implements a generic protocol for communicating with devices in programmable Home Automations systems like Crestron, Control4, Savant, AMX, etc.

The Home Automation Controller opens a TCP/IP Server on selected port and responds to Ping/Pong messages as requested by the BLI driver.

The Protocol is structured as a comma seperated ASCII protocol with a Carrige Return terminator as following:

Type,ID,Data/x0d

The following Types are referenced by number as following:

  • Type 0 = Resource
  • Type 1 = Button without LED
  • Type 2 = Button with LED
  • Type 3 = Dimmer
  • Type 4 = Shade
  • Type 5 = HVAC

Here are a few Example Strings:

0,0,0\x0d = Ping/Pong from BLI to HA:

When the HomeAutomation system receives this command it should emediately within 1 sec respond with 0,0,0\x0d

This is the Ping/Pong messages that the BLI (or BLGW) uses to indicate if the connection is alive and working

0,0,1\x0d = Request resources from BLI (or BLGW) to HA:

When the HomeAutomation system receives this command, it should respond with all resources to be added to the BLI (or BLGW) like so: 0,1,Bedroom Lights/x0d

This will add a Button with ID 1 and Name Bedroom Lights to the BLI (or BLGW) config, repeat for all resources as needed

0,0,2\x0d = Request all status updates from BLI (or BLGW) to HA:

When the HomeAutomation system receives this command, it should respond with state update for all resources, this command is used to Sync status

  • 2,3,1\x0d = example of string sent from HA to BLI (or BLGW) (Button type with LED feedback, ID Number 3, Press)
  • 2,4,0\x0d = example of string sent from HA to BLI (or BLGW) (Button type with LED feedback, ID Number 4, Release)
  • 3,4,90\x0d = example of string sent from HA to BLI (or BLGW) (Dimmer type, ID Number 4, 90%)

General control commands from BLI (or BLGW) to the HA controller follows the same protocol, here are a few examples:

  • 2,3,1\x0d = example of string sent from BLI (or BLGW) to HA (Button type with LED feedback, ID Number 3, Press)
  • 2,4,0\x0d = example of string sent from BLI (or BLGW) to HA (Button type with LED feedback, ID Number 4, Release)
  • 3,4,90\x0d = example of string sent from BLI (or BLGW) to HA (Dimmer type, ID Number 4, 90%)