Simple HTTP API Call to Play Favorite TV, Random TV, Movies

[AgileHumor 123]

So besides MediaBrowser, Vera Z-Wave home automation is my other time suck the last few months.  I was hoping to play music or random favorite tv episodes when a particular user comes home (determined by the pin that is entered on the Z-Wave door lock). 

 

Is there a simple way to get MB3/MBC to play content via a simple http get request?

 

Basically, I want to mirror the XMBC experience linked below that I discovered when I recently added voice control to my setup.

http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=1117.0

[ebr 14949]

The new remote control API we're implementing would make this theoretically possible.  No promises on any kind of date though.

[AgileHumor 123]

Coolio

[AgileHumor 123]

Hi, any new updates on letting a simple HTTP get request trigger playing (on MBC) a "Random TV Playlist (watched favorites)' or 'Next Up TV'.

 

I'd like my Home Automation System (Vera = VoxCommander) ask me if I want New TV, Rerun TV, or Music when I unlock the front door (when the home was in away mode).  

 

I can do everything but figure out a way to control MBC from HTTP calls.   

[ebr 14949]

Okay, I don't know how practical all that is but it is pretty darned cool - nice job.

 

As for your specific request - we'd have to implement some sort of custom remote control commands probably in MBC and then you'd have to be able to send those commands using the server API.  One trick will be the new security measures we're implementing so you'd have to be able to authorize the app making the calls.

[AgileHumor 123]

Sadly, that is is not me in the video (it's the author of VoxCommando).  He's interested in doing integration with MediaBrowser (just like XBMC and MediaPortal), but I don't think the remote API is fully baked.  Basically, you'll be able to play a movie/music/tv by voice search (and it limits speech dictionary to media names in your collection).

 

I do have some voice activated sample videos here: http://voxcommando.com/forum/index.php?topic=1415.0 

 

Until there is more comprehensive integration...I thought some fixed API calls for the Random TV, Next Up TV, and a few genres's of Music would work for now.

 

PS - I promise to do a video if I can ever get it to work with MBC/MBS.

Edited August 25, 2014 by AgileHumor

[Luke 37184]

The remote api is fully baked. it requires library Id's of what content you want to play. So why don't you start by getting a prototype of that up and running and learn how to use the remote control api. Then, once you get that far, I will be happy to add additional commands to play "special" things, like next up or something else.

 

https://github.com/MediaBrowser/MediaBrowser/wiki/Remote-control

 

Also unless i'm misunderstanding, I don't think any effort is required from MBC here.

[ebr 14949]

Also unless i'm misunderstanding, I don't think any effort is required from MBC here.

 

It would just have to support the new "special" commands.

[AgileHumor 123]

I don't think the Home Automation gear I have will allow me to create the session token.  It's just a simple get  or call url command?

 

Is the session ID static enough that if I capture it in a browser? and then embed that in to a simple HTTP request in my HA setup.

[AgileHumor 123]

So, I guess the simple HTTP API is not possible with the new session token?

 

I was hoping the following scenarios could be possible to make an HTTP get command to the server to a specific remote MBC or MBT player (I can do this in WMC and VMC Controller ussing http get commands):

* Play Live TV Channel

* Pop to Security Cam Feed without affecting current media playback (media goes to PIP corner)

* Play a music playlist or specific song.

 

New scenarios I'm looking to enable to control from my TCP/IP based Home Automation gateway:

• Play the Random TV Playlist (MB Plus)
• Play the Random Movie Playlist (MB Plus)
• Shuffle Play Music Genre or Playlist

 

I know this is a wish list and it's not happening, just wanted to provide some feedback for the future direction should HA scenarios become more popular.

[Luke 37184]

it is possible you just need some authentication. so in your app you would have a one-time setup for MBS. you have the user sign in, you get a token, then you save that token.