Call overriding Do Not Disturb mode but not ringing.

[sain...@gmail.com]

Hello,

I have a Moto G5S with Android 7.1.1, and I am struggling to set up Tasker in order to allow some caller to override the Do Not Disturb mode (and ring the phone).

I have set up a profile which deactivate the Do No Disturb mode when a specific caller is calling and I can see that the Do No Disturb mode (%INTERRUPT) is deactivated (the symbol is disappearing) when the caller is calling the phone, but the phone does not ring (still silent).

I tried putting all volumes at max, but I don't think this is the problem (the default volume is normally enough) because the phone is really silent.
However if I use an Alert (Bip), I can hear it without problem.

Perhaps it is because the call is initiated before the Do Not Disturb is deactivated and we cannot change the call ring volume after the call is started ?

Is there a way to make my phone ring in that situation ?

Thanks

[John W.]

You are probably correct about the call initiating before deactivating DND. Have you cinsidered just adding a "play ringtone" action?

[sain...@gmail.com]

It is a workaround, but it's really not handy. If I answer the call, I expect for instance the ring to stop. With your workaround, the phone will happily continue playing.
Perhaps I will try to see if I can stop the music playing, if I accept the call (but then it won't have to trigger each time I accept a call...)

[John W.]

Given your scenario, you would be better off creating a phone ringing profile with the first action being to end call, which in the ringing state is the same as rejecting the call--it just goes to voicemail without ringing. You can put conditions on the profile such as time, location, wifi near, etc. You can also allow certain numbers to bypass the profile with a !1111111111/2222222222 to avoid triggering those numbers, or you can add an if condition to the end call action like this:

If 1111111111 2222222222 !~R %evtprm()

[Rich B]

I may be missing something but can't you just set DND to priority and set up the callers you want to get thru as favorites in your contacts? I believe that's what I do in case a child calls or texts when my phone is otherwise quiet.

[sain...@gmail.com]

DND with Priority doesn't allow to have favorite AND calling twice to go through DND (I do not want strangers to be able to go through DND, and I do not want my favorites to be able to go through DND the first call).
In addition, you can't adjust the ring volume and vibration to maximum level (which I want in case of an emergency) and you can't send a SMS asking to call again in case of emergency (nice to have).

However I found a solution which is not nice, but here it is.

On the event ringing from a Favorite:
- Send SMS asking to call twice if %MissedCall == 0
- Affect the variable %MissedCall to 1
- Affect the variable %DoNotDisturb to %INTERRUPT
- set %INTERRUPT (Do Not Disturb) to all if %INTERRUP != all
- set ringing volume to 7
- set vibrate on call to Activate
- Wait 2 minutes (timer)
- Affect the variable %MissedCall to 0
- set %INTERRUPT (Do Not Disturb) to none if %DoNotDisturb == none
- set %INTERRUPT (Do Not Disturb) to priority if %DoNotDisturb == priority
- set %INTERRUPT (Do Not Disturb) to alarms if %DoNotDisturb == alarms

It's working, but the main problem is that in case a Favorite caller is calling, there is a windows of 2 minutes where anyone can call and ring my phone.
There is also the problem in case of repeated calls from a Favorite (for instance 10 times in 5 minutes) if I don't answer. I haven't found a way to extend the timer in case my Favorite caller is calling several times in a raw.

But that's my first attempt at Tasker, so perhaps I will manage to improve that later.
Comments and proposal of improvement are welcome !

[Rich D]

Comments and proposal of improvement are welcome !

Here is what I use..

Profile: Emergency Calls (39)

Event: Phone Ringing [ Caller:C:FAV ]

State: Variable Value  [ %Emergencycall = 1 ]

State: Variable Value  [ %VOLR < 5 ]

Enter: Play Ringtone (40)

A1: Notify [ Title:Stop The Music Text: Icon:hd_aaa_ext_halt Number:0 Permanent:On Priority:5 ] 

A2: Variable Set [ Name:%vol To:4 Recurse Variables:Off Do Maths:Off Append:Off ] 

A3: Media Volume [ Level:%vol Display:Off Sound:Off ] 

A4: Show Scene [ Name:Emergency Answer Display As:Overlay, Blocking Horizontal Position:100 Vertical Position:100 Animation:System Show Exit Button:On Show Over Keyguard:On Continue Task Immediately:On ] 

A5: Music Play [ File:Ringtones/nuclear_alarm.mp3 Start:0 Loop:On Stream:3 Continue Task Immediately:On Continue Task After Error:On ] 

<start>

A6: Variable Add [ Name:%vol Value:1 Wrap Around:0 ] 

A7: Vibrate Pattern [ Pattern:0,3000 ] 

A8: Media Volume [ Level:%vol Display:Off Sound:Off ] 

A9: Flash [ Text:%VOLM Long:Off ] 

A10: Wait [ MS:0 Seconds:7 Minutes:0 Hours:0 Days:0 ] 

A11: Goto [ Type:Action Label Number:1 Label:start ] If [ %vol < 15 ]

Profile: Phone Off Hook (136)

Cooldown: 2 Priority: 6 Enforce: no

Event: Phone Offhook

Enter: Phone Off Hook (137)

A1: Destroy Scene [ Name:Emergency Answer Continue Task After Error:On ] 

A2: Music Stop [ Clear Dir:Off ] 

A3: Stop [ With Error:Off Task:Play Ringtone ] 

A4: Variable Set [ Name:%Phoneoffhook To:1 Recurse Variables:Off Do Maths:Off Append:Off ] 

A5: In-Call Volume [ Level:7 Display:Off Sound:Off ] 

Profile: Stop The Music Notify (726)

Event: Notification Click [ Owner Application:* Title:Stop The Music ]

Enter: Stop The Music (727)

A1: Stop [ With Error:Off Task:Play Ringtone ] 

A2: Music Stop [ Clear Dir:Off Continue Task After Error:On ] 

A3: Notify Cancel [ Title:Stop The Music Warn Not Exist:Off ] 

[Rich D]

I posted the wrong version of 'Emergency Calls'. You need to add the 'set dnd TO: all'  action.  

Profile: Emergency Calls (39)

Event: Phone Ringing [ Caller:C:FAV ]

State: Variable Value  [ %Emergencycall = 1 ]

State: Variable Value  [ %VOLR < 5 ]

Enter: Play Ringtone (40)

A1: Notify [ Title:Stop The Music Text: Icon:hd_aaa_ext_halt Number:0 Permanent:On Priority:5 ] 

A2: Do Not Disturb [ Mode:All Continue Task After Error:On ] 

A3: Variable Set [ Name:%vol To:4 Recurse Variables:Off Do Maths:Off Append:Off ] 

A4: Media Volume [ Level:%vol Display:Off Sound:Off ] 

A5: Show Scene [ Name:Emergency Answer Display As:Overlay, Blocking Horizontal Position:100 Vertical Position:100 Animation:System Show Exit Button:On Show Over Keyguard:On Continue Task Immediately:On ] 

A6: Music Play [ File:Ringtones/nuclear_alarm.mp3 Start:0 Loop:On Stream:3 Continue Task Immediately:On Continue Task After Error:On ] 

<start>

A7: Variable Add [ Name:%vol Value:1 Wrap Around:0 ] 

A8: Vibrate Pattern [ Pattern:0,3000 ] 

A9: Media Volume [ Level:%vol Display:Off Sound:Off ] 

A10: Flash [ Text:%VOLM Long:Off ] 

A11: Wait [ MS:0 Seconds:7 Minutes:0 Hours:0 Days:0 ] 

A12: Goto [ Type:Action Label Number:1 Label:start ] If [ %vol < 15 ]

[Rich B]

Wow. I'm have to try these. My step-son often ignores the rule to not text after 9:30 when his mother is in bed. :-). I could send a message back to not text again unless it's an emergency. :-).

[Rich D]

Disclaimer....  :)

These worked flawlessly on my 4.4 device. I made a leap from 4.4 to 8.0 and just recently started testing these so they are not time tested. However they did pass my initial tests and seem to be working fine on my new device.

I have a stock pixel 2 xl on android 8.0 running Tasker 5.0u7m

[sain...@gmail.com]

If I am not mistaken, you solution doesn't involve calling twice ?
And how do you stop the music, when you answer the call ?

Thanks

[Rich D]

If I am not mistaken, you solution doesn't involve calling twice ?

Correct. 

And how do you stop the music, when you answer the call ?

There are a few ways.

1. If you answer the call then then this profile will stop the music

Profile: Phone Off Hook (136)

Event: Phone Offhook

Enter: Phone Off Hook (137)

A1: Destroy Scene [ Name:Emergency Answer Continue Task After Error:On ] 

A2: Music Stop [ Clear Dir:Off ] 

A3: Stop [ With Error:Off Task:Play Ringtone ] 

A4: Variable Set [ Name:%Phoneoffhook To:1 Recurse Variables:Off Do Maths:Off Append:Off ] 

A5: In-Call Volume [ Level:7 Display:Off Sound:Off ] 

2. I will also show a scene when the phone starts ringing. The scene covers the entire display. I have it set so when I tap the display the Music Stops. This is mostly for night time when I'm sleeping and want to be able to quickly stop the music, so as not to wake the Sleeping Bear. Then I can answer the call or if I miss it I simply call them back.

3. The task also puts up a notification. And this profile will stop the music when you click on the notification. 

Profile: Stop The Music Notify (726)

Event: Notification Click [ Owner Application:* Title:Stop The Music ]

Enter: Stop The Music (727)

A1: Stop [ With Error:Off Task:Play Ringtone ] 

A2: Music Stop [ Clear Dir:Off Continue Task After Error:On ] 

A3: Notify Cancel [ Title:Stop The Music Warn Not Exist:Off ] 

This used to work well when the notification bar was very simple. Now however the damn thing is so complex you can't quickly find a notification easily. So I will probably get rid of this profile.