[jant90]

How do I execute a built-in command from the JSON RPC? Is there some hidden method I can use for that? Is it even possible at all?

I would like to execute the function CECActivateSource from Home Assistant to switch my TV to Kodi. The function itself is working as intended when I execute it from my Kodi machine, I just need to execute it remotely. The Android remote app Yatse can do exactly this through its power menu but I don't know how it sends the actual command to Kodi. Does it even use the JSON RPC for that? If now, how does Yatse do it?

[jant90]

I realize now that Yatse is using Kodi's EventServer for the built-in actions. It's not as clean as making a JSON RPC call but I can do what I want with the Python EventClient included in the Kodi source.

For example this very simple Python script (requires xbmcclient.py in the same folder) will do what I need:

python:
#!/usr/bin/env python3



from xbmcclient import *



# Set Kodi's hostname or IP address

host = "Kodi-hostname"

port = 9777

addr = (host, port)

sock = socket(AF_INET,SOCK_DGRAM)



# Send built-in action

packet = PacketACTION("CECActivateSource")

packet.send(sock, addr)

I would prefer to use the JSON RPC API so as a workaround I mapped an unused button to CECActivateSource using a keymap *.xml file on my Kodi machine, for example:

xml:
<keymap>

 <global>

  <gamepad>

   <start>CECActivateSource</start>

  </gamepad>

 </global>

</keymap>

Now I can call Input.ButtonEvent from the JSON RPC API with parameters button (=start) and keymap (=XG, or Xbox Gamepad). In Home Assistant yaml it looks like this:

yaml:
service: kodi.call_method

data:

  method: Input.ButtonEvent

  button: start

  keymap: XG

target:

  entity_id: media_player.kodi_device

Now I can build my wanted Home Assistant automation.