[OBSOLETE] Improved Mobile Presence (Android only)

johndc7 · October 20, 2017, 10:05pm

Improved Mobile Presence

This project is a mobile presence system with additional features and improved speed / reliability. I started working on this after having many frustrations with the built in mobile presence system and battery issues with the arrival sensor. I am open to any ideas or suggestions and check this thread often so let me know what you think.

Changes currently in beta

Locations now have Wifi and Bluetooth triggers (Geofencing option coming soon)
Triggers have the following options:
a. Negative: Inverts the trigger (Ex. Wifi is not HomeWifi or Bluetooth device is not connected.)
b. Requirement: If requirement is checked, the trigger is required for location to be active but does not place you in that location by its self.
Power source changes now update in real time (patch update required).

A few examples:

Wifi is HomeWifi
Wifi is HomeWifi5
Bluetooth is SmartWatch (requirement)

Scenario 1 (At home):

Wifi is HomeWifi - false / ignored
Wifi is HomeWifi5 - true
Bluetooth is SmartWatch (requirement) - true / ignored
Result : Present

Scenario 2 (Out running, left phone at home and wearing watch):

Wifi is HomeWifi - false / ignored
Wifi is HomeWifi5 - true
Bluetooth is SmartWatch (requirement) - false
Result : Not Present

Setup Instructions

This process has been changed to make it easier to add new devices and eliminate confusion in the setup process. Feedback is welcome.

If you need to add pair an additional device after already completing these instructions, see Step 6

Step 1: Install Presence Sensor app

Accept any prompts to ignore optimizations (If you do not do this the app will be blocked from communicating with the server so it will not work)

If you are using Android 8.1 or above you need to install the patch AND the app from Google Play
Patch

Make sure you open the patch or it will not work

Step 2: Copy SmartApp from GitHub

SmartThings IDE can be accessed at https://account.smartthings.com

Log into the SmartThings IDE
Click My SmartApps
Click New SmartApp
Click From Code
Paste the SmartApp code from GitHub and click create
Click Publish then for me.

Step 3: Enable OAuth

Click My SmartApps
Click the edit icon next to Presence Sensor
Click on the OAuth Section
Make sure OAuth is enabled and you have a Client ID and Client Secret

Step 4: Copy Device Handler from GitHub

SmartThings IDE can be accessed at https://account.smartthings.com

Click My SmartApps
Click New Device Handler
Click From Code
Paste the Device Handler code from GitHub and click create
Click Publish then for me.

Step 5: Install SmartApp

If you are updating and already have the SmartApp installed, skip this step. Do NOT install multiple copies of the SmartApp as it can cause problems when syncing data.

Open the SmartThings app and go to the Automations tab at the bottom of the screen.
Select Add SmartApp
Select Presence Sensor and click Done

Step 6: Pair devices

Select Automations from the SmartThings app
Select Presence Sensor
Select New Device or Existing Device
Choose a pairing option based on the following options
a. Pair this device: Pair the device you are currently using. This option only works in the SmartThings Classic app.
b. Pair another device: Displays a QR code to be scanned by the Presence Sensor app on another device

Step 7: Create Locations in Presence Sensor app

Open Presence Sensor app
Click on a location to edit or click the add button to create a new one
a. Name: Location name
b. Home location: If checked, you will show as present when at this location
c. Networks: Connecting to any of the checked networks will cause you to show that you are at this location

If you are setting up additional devices, repeat steps 6 and 7 until you have setup all of your devices.

Everything should be working now

If you have any questions about this process or any other issues let me know.

WebCore

_More information about WebCore can be found at https://community.webcore.co/_

This project works with WebCore and has the following attributes
a. currentLocation: The location where you currently are
b. previousLocation: The last location you were
c. presence: present if at a home location or not present if anywhere else
d. battery: Battery percentage of phone
e. powerSource: battery if not charging or dc if charging

For example, To set the thermostat to 70 degrees when you leave work you could do this:

Download Links

Must have app from Google Play and device handler installed
If you are using Android 8.1 or above, you need to install the Presence Sensor app and the Patch

Presence Sensor App

Donate

Donations are not required but are greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate, click the link below.
Donate

Crussell · October 20, 2017, 10:06pm

Sounds perfect! I was using something on custom asuswrt but was a work around.

Will it work if have large setup with multiple bands and access points?

johndc7 · October 20, 2017, 10:18pm

As long as it’s all the same SSID.

Currently you can only set one network as your home network but I’ll be adding support for multiple networks some time in the next few days. If you have any problems or questions about anything let me know

Edit: Now supports multiple network ssid

BBoy486 · October 21, 2017, 10:24pm

How does this compare with the method below
[HOW TO] SmartThings Presence reporting using Tasker/SharpTools/AutoLocation

[HOW TO] SmartThings Presence reporting using Tasker/SharpTools/AutoLocation Projects & Stories

Update May 9 2017 - I finally have a setup that has been pretty much rock solid for my phone and now my wife’s too. Updating the instructions below to reflect my latest configuration What is this? An alternative way to set presence in SmartThings using your Android phone. This solution uses three separate mobile phone apps, Tasker, SharpTools, and AutoLocation. These are all paid apps, but you’re looking at a total of around $7.50 for all three. Tasker and AutoLocation are eligible for Google Family, so if you are setting up for multiple family devices you only have to buy them once. Why would I do this? Presence sensing in SmartThings relies on your phone to update it’s location using standard Android location services. Even if you set your phone to use High Accuracy location settings, …

johndc7 · October 21, 2017, 10:39pm

Just reading through that it looks like that still uses GPS. This doesn’t use GPS at all and don’t have much if any effect on battery life. This is only triggered by Android when your WiFi connection changes. So this is completely WiFi based.

BBoy486 · October 21, 2017, 11:45pm

But what if you wifi goes down in your home and switches to data.

JackTheMan18 · October 22, 2017, 7:41am

Hi.
I just wanted you to know that I consider this a superior method of presence detection, and I’m trying it out. I’ll let you know after I try it out for a few days. Thanks for the effort!

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 11:50am

If your WiFi goes down SmartThings won’t be working anyways. But the app would say not present.

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 11:51am

Thanks, let me know what you think about it.

bobbles · October 22, 2017, 12:20pm

Just installed this and will test it. It looks good…
Just a couple of questions.
When I disconnect the WiFi it says false.
What does it mean.
What is the timeout for and is it seconds or minutes.

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 12:36pm

If your talking about the notifications, those are mostly for debugging purposes. When it says false it’s probably setting your presence to not present.

The timeout is there if you want to wait for a certain amount of time before it changes to not present. That should be at 0 unless you start to have problems with your WiFi disconnecting or something. The timeout is in minutes.

bobbles · October 22, 2017, 12:44pm

Thanks. It looks good so far.

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 1:07pm

Let me know if you have any issues or ways to make it better.

xdreamwalker · October 22, 2017, 1:21pm

Does the timeout only apply to setting the sensor Not Present?

Two styling notes; Having the Device ID font larger in the Android app. More notes in the SmartThings settings of the sensor that Timeout is minutes, and what it applies to.

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 1:26pm

Ok thanks, I’ll try to change that later today.

bobbles · October 22, 2017, 5:19pm

Just an update for you.
I haven’t actually left home today so cannot comment on that part.
I have observed this though.

Phone connected to WiFi.
Presence shows as present in ST app.

WiFi turned off on phone.
Notification received on phone. “Your presence has been set to false”.
Presence in ST app shows ‘Present’. Nothing in the recently tab.
The following in the IDE logs.
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug leftCounter: 271
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug setPresence(false)
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Recieved “false” from server
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Checking presence

WiFi turned back on on the phone.
Notification received on phone. “Your WiFi is disconnected”. Followed by “Your presence has been set to false”.
Presence in ST app shows ‘Present’. Nothing in the recently tab.
The following in the IDE logs.
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug leftCounter: 272
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug setPresence(false)
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Recieved “false” from server
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Checking presence

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 5:44pm

Update your device handler. Forgot to update GitHub after I fixed that.

bobbles · October 22, 2017, 6:02pm

OK did that.
WiFi turned off on phone.
Notification received on phone. “Your WiFi is disconnected” followed by “Your presence has been set to false”.
Presence in ST app shows ‘Present’. Nothing in the recently tab.
The following in the IDE logs.
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug leftCounter: 271
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug setPresence(false)
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Recieved “false” from server
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Checking presence

WiFi turned back on on the phone.
Notification received on phone. “Your WiFi is disconnected”. Followed by “Your presence has been set to false”.
Presence in ST app shows ‘Present’. Nothing in the recently tab.
The following in the IDE logs.
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug leftCounter: 272
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug setPresence(false)
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Recieved “false” from server
32abd4b5-2f94-48f7-931f-a4204d3b138e 18:15:38: debug Checking presence

johndc7 · October 22, 2017, 6:27pm

What version of android are you running and what device? Check Google Play to make sure your app is updated since I updated it yesterday. Make sure you are connected to your home WiFi and hit the refresh server button in the app.

xdreamwalker · October 22, 2017, 6:30pm

Would you add the Sensor capability?

capability “Sensor”

The presence sensor won’t show up in Action Tiles without it. I added it manually and it shows up now.