diagram of HTTP Trigger

[Elson James]

Hi!
Can someone explain to me the diagram of HTTP Trigger

I can't explain the part where the two arrowheads are pointing on each other (Application<-->Website).

Thanks!

[Morgan Belkadi]

Hi again!

These arrows are not in the typical FrontlineSMS process, and represent an external source, which interacts with the HTTP Trigger.

To sum up this diagram, let's see this very simply:
- You configure your port and start to "listen". Here, we use "listen", as this is an active sleep. The HTTP Trigger is silent, but is paying attention on what is happening on the "website".
- Then every time something happens, the HTTP Trigger "wakes up" and deal with the request.

- Let's say you want to send an sms, and you've configured the port 8080, you can go on:
http://localhost:8080/send/sms/<phoneNumber>/<message>/

For example, if you want to use the Test Number, just reach this address:
http://localhost:8080/send/sms/000/This is a test!/

By reaching this page, you now take the place of the "Application" entity on the diagram, as you formulate an HTTP request which is going to be "heard" by the Trigger.

When checking your messages, you should see that the message has been sent.

Hope this is clear enough! :-)

Best,
Morgan

[Elson James]

Does it mean that I can integrate fronlineSMS in a website.
Example, On my website I have an SMS Module, this is where people could send SMS using my website. So is this possible? :)

Thanks Morgan! :)

[Morgan Belkadi]

Sure!

Just redirect the sending to the address the Trigger is "listening" on, and you can interact with FrontlineSMS! ;)

Best,
Morgan

[Elson James]

umm..would that be possible if my website is being hosted, just like it was hosted in hostGator? because my FLSMS is installed in my local machine while my website is all over the internet.

Thanks!

[Morgan Belkadi]

Yes, you can launch an instance of FrontlineSMS on your remote server, just like you would do on your desktop machine :)

[Elson James]

Hi Morgan!
I'm sorry but I can't understand the one that you said. Kindly give an example. I'm just a newbie in programming, but I know a little. :)

Thank you very much! :)

[Alex Anderson]

Hi Elson,

If your host allows you to run Java programs, then you would be able to run FrontlineSMS. It won't be a simple thing to do though, as this isn't really want FrontlineSMS is designed for. Also, how will you plug a phone into your host's server?

Maybe what you want is a server running on a local machine which forwards messages to the web server?

Alex

[Elson James]

Hi Alex!

I'm planning to create a website that allows people to send SMS using my website. My question is how would I connect FLSMS when my server is running on the Internet while FLSMS is running on my local machine. My website is being hosted using hostGator.
I already know how to work on HTTP Trigger.

Just to understand fully what I'm planning on my site, I will show you use cases.

1. A person will use my website to text his/her SMS to someone.
2. The message will now be processed using FLSMS which is located on my local server.

I think that's all.
Thanks!

[Morgan Belkadi]

Hello,

it is possible to make your website reach your local machine and trigger a message via the HTTP trigger, but it won't be really convenient, as you'll have to have a fix IP address or a static dns set up.
I guess you can understand we can't cover this on this forum, as it is just a network set up you'd have to go through.

If you really want to do this, I invite you to read on Internet Protocol (IP), DNS, and visit this page, which might help you : http://www.dyndns.com/.

Good luck with that! Keep us posted :)

Best,
Morgan

[Elson James]

Hi Morgan!

Is there any other way to do my plan?
Because if that's the case, does it mean that the HTTP Trigger is only designed or convenient when you only want to run your server locally not in the Internet?

Thanks!

[Morgan Belkadi]

Hi,

when I say "not convenient", it's mainly 'cause it needs a network configuration to make it work, as it is an advanced feature. (Our help page stipulates this: "Please bear in mind that this is an advanced feature of FrontlineSMS, and is generally reserved for experienced software developers").
But the HTTP Trigger is absolutely able to be reached from the outside when you set up the configuration properly.

Best,
Morgan

[Ryan Gonzalez]

Hi Morgan,

Beyond the wiki and blog posts on the Ushahidi website, do you know if there are any more detailed instructions on how to make Frontline and Ushahidi work together?

I have followed all of the steps from here and have sent messages to my Frontline system which is using the keyword and nothing happens in the dashboard of our Ushahidi installation. In the keywords tab of Frontline, it shows that the keyword with HTTP Request action is live and it shows the number of hits (messages I've sent to test this out).

With reference to this:
"- Let's say you want to send an sms, and you've configured the port 8080, you can go on:"

Does the port here refer to the one that appears in the phones tab? In our case, out GSM modem is connected on COM11 so I have typed in "11" in the HTTP Trigger and pushed start to start listening. Is there anything else that I need to do? I am positive that the laptop is connected to the web so that shouldn't be the problem. Thanks for your help.