Wake iPad remotely for automation

[raymondh]

I would like to mount a iPad in the wall to control Insteon (ISY system) and Elk.  I would like to remotely wake the iPad's screen from the ISY.  
 
For example, when I come home and violate a Elk zone, I would like the iPad to wake up and show me the alarm keypad so I can disarm.
 
Does anyone know how to do this?  

 

[az1324]

Jailbreak?  Electromagnet?  Headphone button? Remove/apply power? Push notification?
 
I have a feeling it would be 1000x easier on an android device.

 

[ano]

Ummmm.. You could press the sleep/wake button with a simple solenoid
 
If your talking about programming, a newsstand app. can run code in response to push notification, and this code can wake an iPad.
 

I have a feeling it would be 1000x easier on an android device.

 
How so?  Both iOS and Android are designed for battery operated devices, and as such they have to be very careful when using power to wake up.  Typically you don't want to wake a device unless a human is using the device, since this uses battery power and most people aren't fond of discovering that their tablet has a dead battery since it was "doing things" when they weren't even around.

 

[drvnbysound]

I wouldn't suggest to use any smart-device as the primary interface for a security system. If your wireless network is down, you wouldn't be able to disarm the panel.

 

[az1324]

Ummmm.. You could press the sleep/wake button with a simple solenoid
 
If your talking about programming, a newsstand app. can run code in response to push notification, and this code can wake an iPad.
 
 
How so?  Both iOS and Android are designed for battery operated devices, and as such they have to be very careful when using power to wake up.  Typically you don't want to wake a device unless a human is using the device, since this uses battery power and most people aren't fond of discovering that their tablet has a dead battery since it was "doing things" when they weren't even around.

 
Solenoid would add a point of mechanical failure.
 
Yes well that is exactly the point.  Android is more capable for customization to redefine what a device is intended to do with available source code, custom roms, rooting.  In fact it's probably already part of Tasker and may just require root.  iOS is somewhat capable of that through jailbreaking but not as straightforward. 

 

[ano]

Solenoid would add a point of mechanical failure.

I guess if the solenoid goes bad, there always the backup, YOUR FINGER.
 
As drvnbysound has stated, a bigger problem is possible failure of your wired network, or the Wi-Fi router, or the tablet.
 
Another option is just don't let it go to sleep, and make sure its always powered. Then you don't have to wake it up.

 

[az1324]

Yeah,... after you disassemble the wall mount and remove the solenoid and/or tablet.
 
Failure of the network is a concern, but there are ways to interface to a wired serial port from both android and iOS.
 
It is true that iPad has kiosk mode if you want to keep a certain app open and always on.
 
But android is better when advanced customization is needed.

 

[drvnbysound]

If I'm going to use a smart device to disarm my system, I'd probably end up doing it from my car after I pull into the driveway. That way the system would already be disarmed (and I'd know it), before I opened the door.

 

[az1324]

That doesn't look as good on camera.  Kim DotCom would never settle for that.

 

[ano]

Yeah,... after you disassemble the wall mount and remove the solenoid and/or tablet.

 
Actually the iPad front button will also wake a sleeping iPad. No disassembly is required.

 

[az1324]

Yeah but the home button showing isn't the best aesthetic either.

 

[auger66]

I use ScreenDimmer (requires a jailbreak) and interrupt the power supply with an Insteon module.
 
ScreenDimmer turns off the backlight so the screen goes dark, but the iPad is really on all the time. The power supply interrupt was a simple solution someone suggested on UD forum--so simple it escaped me.
 
I suspect this could be done with OpenSSH and Activator (also requires a jailbreak,) but I haven't looked into that. Plus, I don't know if it's even possible to send a command from the ISY to OpenSSH. I think it could be done fairly easily with a computer, though.

 

[roussell]

I use "Dim to Black Screen" which sounds like ScreenDimmer in that it turns off the backlight and a single tap to the screen "wakes" the iPad allowing me to completely hide the Home button if I wanted but I also use Activator which allows me to re-map the home button into what ever I want it to do. I like the appliance module trick, didn't think of that one.
 
Terry

 

[drvnbysound]

I use "Dim to Black Screen" which sounds like ScreenDimmer in that it turns off the backlight and a single tap to the screen "wakes" the iPad allowing me to completely hide the Home button if I wanted but I also use Activator which allows me to re-map the home button into what ever I want it to do. I like the appliance module trick, didn't think of that one.
 
Terry

 
I read this last night on my iPad (Tapatalk, which I don't do all that often). After reading it I searched the App store for "Dim to Black Screen" and found nothing. I also got no results when I searched "Dim". Is this an App, or just a iOS setting?

 

[roussell]

 
I read this last night on my iPad (Tapatalk, which I don't do all that often). After reading it I searched the App store for "Dim to Black Screen" and found nothing. I also got no results when I searched "Dim". Is this an App, or just a iOS setting?

Sorry I should have mentioned it's on Cydia. Like auger66's solution, mine also requires a jailbroken and rooted iPad.

Terry