Published December 18, 2016 © GPL3+

Today in History

Ask Today In History to get a brief description of historical events on any date.

IntermediateFull instructions provided1,011

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Amazon Alexa Amazon Echo

Software apps and online services

Amazon Alexa Alexa Skills Kit

Amazon Web Services AWS Lambda

This Day in History API

Story

Introduction

Just ask Alexa for Today In History to get a brief description of historical events, birth, death and aviation events on any date, including today. Alexa will give you five (5) events for the date you tell her, then she will ask you if you want to go deeper into history. This will continue until you say 'no' .

For the moment, This day in history API is limited to 4 types of queries: aviation, birth, death and event queries. Get started by saying "Alexa, ask Today In History".

When you first invoke Today In History, you will query event history. To change query type, says "change type".

Note: Since there are a lot of tutorials which describe how to setup Lambda and Alexa skill. Please follow the link listed below to setup this skill.

Setup Alexa Skill

Follow Step 1. Setting up Your Alexa Skill in the Developer Portal of this guide. Intent Schema and Sample Utterances are provided in the code section below.

Setup AWS Lambda

Follow Step 2: Creating Your Skill Logic Using AWS Lambda of this guide. Use the index.js and package.json at the code section to setup the Lambda zip file. Refer to Alexa Skills Kit SDK for Node.js for details.

Link Lambda to skill

Follow Step 3: Add Your Lambda Function to Your Skill of this guide.

Test the skill

Follow Step 4: Testing Your Skill of the same guide above.

Code (node.js)

The code starts with setting up app ID, API options and a few default values like pageSize and pageNo.

var appId = 'amzn1.echo-sdk-ams.app.your-skill-id'; 
var http = require("http"); 
var optionsGet = { 
   host : 'api.hiztory.org',  
   port : 80, 
   path : '',  
   method : 'GET' 
}; 
var parseString = require('xml2js').parseString; 
var pageSize = 5; 
var pageNo = 1; 
var month = ''; 
var day = '';

This registers the various handlers of the skill.

alexa.registerHandlers(newSessionHandlers, startHistoryHandlers, queryHistoryHandlers, queryEventHandlers, changeTypeHandlers);

Then set the skill's states and query type values. There are three states and four types.

 var states = { 
   STARTMODE: '_STARTMODE',   // prompt the user to start or restart 
   TYPEMODE: '_TYPEMODE',     // changing query type 
   QUERYMODE: '_QUERYMODE'    // user querying history 
}; 
var types = ['events', 'births', 'deaths', 'aviation'];

There are a few intent handler functions. The important one are QueryEventIntent, NextEventIntent, ChangeTypeIntent and SelectTypeIntent. These intents are invoked depending on the states explained in the Voice UI section below.

    'QueryEventIntent': function () { 
		pageNo = 1; 
		var daySlot = this.event.request.intent.slots.day;		 
		var date = ''; 
		// If the user provides a date, then use that, otherwise use today 
		// The date is in server time, not in the user's time zone. So "today" for the user may actually be tomorrow 
		if (daySlot && daySlot.value) { 
			date = new Date(daySlot.value); 
		} else { 
			date = new Date(); 
		} 
		month = ('0' + (date.getMonth()+1)).slice(-2); 
		day = ('0' + date.getDate()).slice(-2); 
		this.emit('QueryEvent', this); 
	},

    'NextEventIntent': function () { 
		pageNo += 1; 
		this.emit('QueryEvent', this); 
   },

	'ChangeTypeIntent': function() { 
       this.handler.state = states.TYPEMODE;	 
		this.emit('ChangeType'); 
	},

 	'SelectTypeIntent': function() { 
       this.handler.state = states.STARTMODE;	 
		this.emit('SelectType', this); 
	},

In additional to the above intent functions, there are a few handler helper functions which actual carry out the work: QueryEvent, ChangeType and SelectType functions.

QueryEvent is the main function which actually makes the REST call and constructs the output speech.

'QueryEvent': function(that) { 
	optionsGet.path = "/" + that.attributes['queryType'] + "/" + month + "/" + day + "/"+ pageNo + "/" + pageSize + "/api.xml"; 
	console.log(optionsGet.path); 
	var message = ''; 
	// do the GET request 
	var reqGet = http.request(optionsGet, function(res) { 
		console.log("statusCode: ", res.statusCode); 
		// uncomment it for header details 
		// console.log("headers: ", res.headers); 
		res.on('data', function(d) { 
			//var obj = JSON.parse(d); 
			parseString(d, {explicitRoot: false, mergeAttrs: true}, function (err, result) { 
				console.log(JSON.stringify(result)); 
				console.log("\n\nstatus code -> " + result.status[0].code); 
				if (result.status[0].code == 200) { 
					var pageNumber = parseInt(result.page[0].number); 
					var totalPages = parseInt(result.page[0].totalpages); 
					//message = "You are at page " + pageNumber + ".  There are " + totalPages + " pages.  "; 
					message = ''; 
					if (pageNumber < totalPages) {				 
						var count = result.events[0].event.length; 
						console.log("page no -> " + pageNumber + ", len -> " + count); 
						for (var i=0; i<count; i++) { 
							message += result.events[0].event[i].content + ".  "; 
						} 
						message += "Say yes to go deeper, or say no to end the query."; 
						that.emit(':ask', message, message); 
					} else { 
						that.handler.state = states.STARTMODE; 
						message += "This is the end of query.  Good-bye."; 
						that.emit(':tell', message); 
					} 
				} else { 
					var message = "Today In History does not response.  Please try again later."; 
					that.emit(':tell', message); 
				} 
				console.log('Done'); 
			}); 
		}); 
		res.on('error', function(e) { 
			console.error(e); 
			message = "Today In History does not response.  Please try again later.";				 
					that.emit(':tell', message); 
		}); 
	}); 
	reqGet.end(); 
}

	'ChangeType': function() { 
		var message = 'You have a choice of 4 types of query: choose 1 for event, 2 for birth, 3 for death, and 4 for aviation.  Say no to end the query.'; 
		this.emit(':ask', message, message)		 
	},

	'SelectType': function(that) { 
		var typeSlotValid = isTypeSlotValid(that.event.request.intent); 
		if (typeSlotValid) { 
			that.attributes['queryType'] = types[parseInt(that.event.request.intent.slots.type.value)-1]; 
		} 
		var message = 'Your have changed the query type to ' + that.attributes['queryType'] + '.  Which day do you want?, or say no to end the query.'; 
		that.emit(':ask', message, message); 
	},

Voice UI

Skill Link

Here is the link.

{
  "intents": [
    {
      "intent": "QueryEventIntent",
      "slots": [
        {
          "name": "day",
          "type": "AMAZON.DATE"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "intent": "NextEventIntent"
    },
    {
      "intent": "ChangeTypeIntent"
    },
	{
	  "intent": "SelectTypeIntent",
      "slots": [
        {
          "name": "type",
          "type": "AMAZON.NUMBER"
        }
      ]
	},
    {
      "intent": "AMAZON.HelpIntent"
    },
    {
      "intent": "AMAZON.StopIntent"
    },
    {
      "intent": "AMAZON.CancelIntent"
    }
  ]
}

QueryEventIntent get events for {day}
QueryEventIntent give me events for {day}
QueryEventIntent what happened on {day}
QueryEventIntent what happened {day}
QueryEventIntent what happened
QueryEventIntent {day}
QueryEventIntent about historic events

NextEventIntent yes
NextEventIntent yup
NextEventIntent sure
NextEventIntent next
NextEventIntent yes please

AMAZON.StopIntent no
AMAZON.StopIntent nope
AMAZON.StopIntent no thanks
AMAZON.StopIntent no thank you

ChangeTypeIntent change query type
ChangeTypeIntent change type

SelectTypeIntent the type is {type}
SelectTypeIntent my type is {type}
SelectTypeIntent i select {type}
SelectTypeIntent i choose {type}
SelectTypeIntent {type}

'use strict';
var Alexa = require("alexa-sdk");
var appId = 'amzn1.echo-sdk-ams.app.your-skill-id';

var http = require("http");

var optionsGet = {
	host : 'api.hiztory.org', 
    port : 80,
    path : '', 
    method : 'GET'
};

var parseString = require('xml2js').parseString;
var pageSize = 5;
var pageNo = 1;
var month = '';
var day = '';

exports.handler = function(event, context, callback) {
    var alexa = Alexa.handler(event, context);
    alexa.appId = appId;
    alexa.dynamoDBTableName = 'todayInHistory';
    alexa.registerHandlers(newSessionHandlers, startHistoryHandlers, queryHistoryHandlers, queryEventHandlers, changeTypeHandlers);
    alexa.execute();
};

var states = {
    STARTMODE: '_STARTMODE',   // prompt the user to start or restart
	TYPEMODE: '_TYPEMODE',     // changing query type
	QUERYMODE: '_QUERYMODE'    // user querying history
};

var types = ['events', 'births', 'deaths', 'aviation'];

var newSessionHandlers = {
    'NewSession': function() {
        if(Object.keys(this.attributes).length === 0) {
            this.attributes['queryType'] = 'events';
        }
        this.handler.state = states.STARTMODE;
        this.emit(':ask', 'Welcome to Today In History.  ' +
			'You are querying ' + this.attributes['queryType'] + ' type history.  ' +
			'Ask Today In History to get a brief description of historical events on any date.  ' +
			'For example, you could say today, or August thirtieth, or you can say no to end the query. Now, which day do you want?',
			'Which day do you want?');
    },
	'Unhandled': function () {
		this.handler.state = states.STARTMODE;
		var message = "Say yes to continue, or no to end the query.";
		this.emit(':ask', message, message);
	}
};

var queryHistoryHandlers = Alexa.CreateStateHandler(states.QUERYMODE, {
	'LaunchRequest': function () {
		this.emit('NewSession');	
	},
    'QueryEventIntent': function () {
		pageNo = 1;
		
		var daySlot = this.event.request.intent.slots.day;		
		var date = '';
		
		// If the user provides a date, then use that, otherwise use today
		// The date is in server time, not in the user's time zone. So "today" for the user may actually be tomorrow
		if (daySlot && daySlot.value) {
			date = new Date(daySlot.value);
		} else {
			date = new Date();
		}
	
		month = ('0' + (date.getMonth()+1)).slice(-2);
		day = ('0' + date.getDate()).slice(-2);
		
		this.emit('QueryEvent', this);
	},
	'ChangeTypeIntent': function() {
        this.handler.state = states.TYPEMODE;	
		this.emit('ChangeType');
	},
    'NextEventIntent': function () {
		pageNo += 1;
		this.emit('QueryEvent', this);
    },
    'AMAZON.HelpIntent': function() {
        var message = 'Ask Today In History to get a brief description of historical events on any date.  ' +
            'For example, you could say today, or August thirtieth, or you can say no to end the query. You can change the query type by saying change type.  Now, which day do you want?';
        this.emit(':ask', message, message);
    },
    'AMAZON.StopIntent': function() {
        this.emit(':tell', 'Ok, talk to  you next time!');
    },
    'SessionEndedRequest': function () {
        console.log('session ended!');
        this.emit(':saveState', true);
    },
    'Unhandled': function() {
        var message = 'Say yes to go deeper, or say no to end the query.';
        this.emit(':ask', message, message);
    }	
});

var startHistoryHandlers = Alexa.CreateStateHandler(states.STARTMODE, {
	'LaunchRequest': function () {
		this.emit('NewSession');	
	},
    'QueryEventIntent': function () {
        this.handler.state = states.QUERYMODE;	
		pageNo = 1;

		var daySlot = this.event.request.intent.slots.day;		
		var date = '';
		
		// If the user provides a date, then use that, otherwise use today
		// The date is in server time, not in the user's time zone. So "today" for the user may actually be tomorrow
		if (daySlot && daySlot.value) {
			date = new Date(daySlot.value);
		} else {
			date = new Date();
		}
	
		month = ('0' + (date.getMonth()+1)).slice(-2);
		day = ('0' + date.getDate()).slice(-2);
		
		this.emit('QueryEvent', this);
	},
	'ChangeTypeIntent': function() {
        this.handler.state = states.TYPEMODE;	
		this.emit('ChangeType');
	},
    'AMAZON.HelpIntent': function() {
        var message = 'Ask Today In History to get a brief description of historical events on any date.  ' +
            'For example, you could say today, or August thirtieth, or you can say no to end the query. You can change the query type by saying change type.  Now, which day do you want?';
        this.emit(':ask', message, message);
    },
    'AMAZON.StopIntent': function() {
        this.emit(':tell', 'Ok, talk to you next time!');
    },
    'SessionEndedRequest': function () {
        console.log('session ended!');
        this.emit(':saveState', true);
    },
    'Unhandled': function() {
        var message = 'Which day do you want?, or say no to end the query.';
        this.emit(':ask', message, message);
    }
});

var changeTypeHandlers = Alexa.CreateStateHandler(states.TYPEMODE, {
	'SelectTypeIntent': function() {
        this.handler.state = states.STARTMODE;	
		this.emit('SelectType', this);
	},
    'AMAZON.StopIntent': function() {
        this.emit(':tell', 'Ok, talk to you next time!');
    },
    'SessionEndedRequest': function () {
        console.log('session ended!');
        this.emit(':saveState', true);
    },
    'Unhandled': function() {
        var message = 'Which type of query do you want?, Choose 1 for event, 2 for birth, 3 for death, and 4 for aviation.  or say no to end the query.';
        this.emit(':ask', message, message);
    }
});

var queryEventHandlers = {
	'ChangeType': function() {
		var message = 'You have a choice of 4 types of query: choose 1 for event, 2 for birth, 3 for death, and 4 for aviation.  Say no to end the query.';
		this.emit(':ask', message, message)		
	},
	'SelectType': function(that) {
		var typeSlotValid = isTypeSlotValid(that.event.request.intent);
		if (typeSlotValid) {
			that.attributes['queryType'] = types[parseInt(that.event.request.intent.slots.type.value)-1];
		}
		
		var message = 'Your have changed the query type to ' + that.attributes['queryType'] + '.  Which day do you want?, or say no to end the query.';
		that.emit(':ask', message, message);
	},
	'QueryEvent': function(that) {
		optionsGet.path = "/" + that.attributes['queryType'] + "/" + month + "/" + day + "/"+ pageNo + "/" + pageSize + "/api.xml";
		
		console.log(optionsGet.path);
		
		var message = '';
		
		// do the GET request
		var reqGet = http.request(optionsGet, function(res) {
			console.log("statusCode: ", res.statusCode);
			// uncomment it for header details
			// console.log("headers: ", res.headers);
		 
		 
			res.on('data', function(d) {
				//var obj = JSON.parse(d);
				parseString(d, {explicitRoot: false, mergeAttrs: true}, function (err, result) {
					console.log(JSON.stringify(result));

					console.log("\n\nstatus code -> " + result.status[0].code);
					
					if (result.status[0].code == 200) {
						var pageNumber = parseInt(result.page[0].number);
						var totalPages = parseInt(result.page[0].totalpages);
					
						//message = "You are at page " + pageNumber + ".  There are " + totalPages + " pages.  ";
						message = '';
						
						if (pageNumber < totalPages) {				
							var count = result.events[0].event.length;
							console.log("page no -> " + pageNumber + ", len -> " + count);
							
							for (var i=0; i<count; i++) {
								message += result.events[0].event[i].content + ".  ";
							}
							
							message += "Say yes to go deeper, or say no to end the query.";
							that.emit(':ask', message, message);
						} else {
							that.handler.state = states.STARTMODE;
							message += "This is the end of query.  Good-bye.";
							that.emit(':tell', message);
						}
						
					} else {
						var message = "Today In History does not response.  Please try again later.";
						that.emit(':tell', message);
					}

					console.log('Done');
				});
				
				
			});
			
			res.on('error', function(e) {
				console.error(e);

				message = "Today In History does not response.  Please try again later.";				
						that.emit(':tell', message);
			});
		 
		});
		 
		reqGet.end();
	}
};

function isTypeSlotValid(intent) {
    var typeSlotFilled = intent && intent.slots && intent.slots.type && intent.slots.type.value;
    var typeSlotIsInt = typeSlotFilled && !isNaN(parseInt(intent.slots.type.value));
    return typeSlotIsInt && parseInt(intent.slots.type.value) < 5 && parseInt(intent.slots.type.value) > 0;
}

Credits

vincent wong

80 projects • 203 followers

Today in History

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Introduction

Setup Alexa Skill

Setup AWS Lambda

Link Lambda to skill

Test the skill

Code (node.js)

Voice UI

Skill Link

Code

IntentSchema.json.txt

Utterances v2.txt

index.js

package.json

Credits

vincent wong

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Today in History

Today in History

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Introduction

Setup Alexa Skill

Setup AWS Lambda

Link Lambda to skill

Test the skill

Code (node.js)

Voice UI

Skill Link

Code

IntentSchema.json.txt

Utterances v2.txt

index.js

package.json

Credits

vincent wong

Comments

Related channels and tags