Blog move

This will be my last post at this address as I've moved over to a new blogging platform: Jekyll. Jekyll is much more versatile and has allowed me to start playing around with CSS, HTML and gives me more flexibility on what I choose to do.

I'm using github pages to host the new site and I'll be writing a little bit about my experiences in the near future.

http://willprice.github.com/

Gmail Notifier

4 Years ago Tom Paton posted this and I asked him about his code, thus prompting him to post this. 4 Years later, now finally equipped with some know how and a little bit more experience with microcontrollers and programming, I thought this a fairly ideal project to have a bash at.

I adapted his python code to something a little more appropriate for my usage:

	#!/usr/bin/python2
	# Author: Will Price
	# Date: Jan 2011
	# Import statements:
	# - Feedparser - needed to extract mailcount
	# - Serial - needed to send command to Arduino
	# - Time - waiting for gmail to be read
	import feedparser, serial, time
	# Variables
	checkPeriod = 60 # Time between check in seconds
	username = "username"
	password = "pass"
	label = " " #Label of folder to check no. of unread messages
	# Define 'msgCount' function, returns number of unread messages (CREDIT TO: Tom Paton)
	def msgCount(uid, pwd, filter):
	inbox = feedparser.parse("https://%s:%s@gmail.google.com/gmail/feed/atom%s" % (uid, pwd, filter))
	return len(inbox["entries"])
	# Loop
	while True:
	# Serial port setup
	com = serial.Serial("/dev/ttyUSB0",9600,timeout=0.25)
	msgs = msgCount(username, password, label)
	if (msgs > 0): # If number of unread messages is greater than 0, then tell the arduino
	com.write("%c" % (msgs) )
	# print "You have %d messages to read" % msgs # For debugging purposes
	com.close()
	while (msgs > 0):
	msgs = msgCount(username, password, label)
	time.sleep(10)
	com = serial.Serial("/dev/ttyUSB0",9600,timeout=0.25)
	com.write("%c" % 0)
	# print "Inbox is empty" # For debugging purposes
	com.close()
	time.sleep(checkPeriod)

view raw gistfile1.py hosted with ❤ by GitHub

(replace username and password with your username and password. You might also need to fiddle with the serial port I've got mine setup as /dev/ttyUSB1)

Here's the Arduino code:

	// Gmail Notifier
	// Author: Will Price
	// Date: Jan 2011
	// Website: willprice94.blogspot.com
	// Description:
	//
	// A simple sketch that waits for the number of unread messages to come over serial
	// Use 'gmail_daemon' inconjunction for a physical mail notification system
	// Macros
	#include <Servo.h>
	#define ServoPin 9 // The pin that the servo is connected to
	// Variables
	int msgs = 0; // Number of messages unread
	//Setup Servo
	Servo myservo;
	//Initial Setup
	void setup() {
	pinMode(ServoPin, OUTPUT);
	myservo.write(90); // Down position
	myservo.attach(ServoPin);
	Serial.begin(9600);
	}
	//Loop
	if (Serial.available() > 0) { // Waiting to read from serial, if the buffer > 0 BYTES then execute code below
	int msgs = Serial.read();
	if (msgs == 1) {
	myservo.write(0); // Up position
	}
	else if (msgs == 0){
	myservo.write(90); // Down position
	}
	}
	}

view raw gistfile1.ino hosted with ❤ by GitHub

I'll be updating this post as I go, with pictures and videos. I've currently put a servo in a little mailbox made out of card and when I have an email the flag is raised. I'm working on getting the right sized enclosure and am currently using a Arduino Pro Mini which has no USB interface and I have to work out how to remedy this. Admittedly, this is a total waste of an Arduino as it's overkill for this project, but at the moment I don't have enough time to learn how to write C code for AVR micros, but when I do, I'll make this a little less wasteful and hopefully use a micro with USB support built in. But for the time being -- Arduino and USB to UART Adapter.