Lighting Customization App
Mobile lightning control platform
A manufacturer of lighting equipment.
Request
Result
Technologies
- Swift
- Kotlin
- Jetpack Compose
- Combine
- MVVM
- JWT
- CoreBluetooth / BLE
Result
Results
-
Digital Transformation
The company has reached the main of its digital transformation goals, reshaped customer service, and achieved a sustainable competitive advantage.
-
Boosting Efficiency
The app has significantly reduced lighting technicians' working hours by 25%.
Challenge
Solution
The most challenging task of the project was integrating all connectors into a unified protocol. The lighting equipment uses two different communication methods: one that operates wirelessly and another that transmits data over a two-wire line.
Connectors serve as intermediaries, communicating with lighting components (bulbs, switches, sensors, etc.). Our mobile app acts as the control hub for the lighting systems, linking to connectors to gather data.
Our goal was to create a user-friendly setup for lighting systems. With the app, engineers no longer need to determine each connector's protocol or integration method. Instead, the connectors maintain their protocols while communicating with the app through a unified API.
The app connects to any connector via Wi-Fi, enabling lighting technicians to quickly adjust switches and bulbs throughout the building, even across multiple floors.
Connector management system
When setting up a new lighting system, engineers can create a virtual system within the app, which stores all detected connectors for future use. The app displays all systems, allowing technicians to access and manage any system, configure lighting equipment, or add new connectors.
Energy usage tracking
To enhance functionality, the app includes real-time energy usage monitoring for all connected lighting equipment. This feature allows technicians to track power consumption and adjust settings to optimize efficiency.
Firmware updates
The app supports over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates, allowing users to keep all connected devices, including connectors and bulbs, up-to-date with the latest software releases for improved functionality and security.
Color & brightness control
The app enables control over various types of bulbs, allowing users to adjust brightness for all bulbs and control color and temperature for dimmable or RGB bulbs. Users can save these settings for future use.
Lighting presets
The app allows users to create and save preset lighting configurations. These presets can be applied to different rooms or entire floors with one tap, streamlining the customization process.
Hierarchical organization of systems
Lighting systems can be structured into a hierarchical tree with different levels, for example "Basement". This structure helps technicians easily find and manage specific equipment within the app.
Access logging and control
The app features an access log that tracks when and by whom any adjustments were made to the lighting system, providing a clear history of changes. Additionally, user permissions can be set to limit control over specific areas or systems.
Demo mode
The app also includes a demo mode, which is useful for showcasing its capabilities without needing to connect to live systems.
Connector discovery and pairing
To manage the connectors, engineers first scan a QR code or use Bluetooth to locate and pair the connectors with the mobile app. Once paired, the connector starts communicating with the app.
Customizable setup options
Our app offers flexible management, including options to delete specific connectors or reset entire systems when needed.
Backup connector algorithm
Given that some connectors may become unavailable (due to being turned off or malfunctioning), the app includes a smart algorithm to identify the nearest accessible connector. If no local connector is available, the app automatically switches to the cloud to maintain control of the system.
Backend
The backend system of the app is designed to back up and restore sensitive data through connectors while communicating with a cloud backend. Its main goals include the following:
- Use of the AWS cloud environment to ensure smooth scaling of the backend.
- Integration with an IoT hub to facilitate communication with connectors and lights.
- Implementation of access logging and roles/permissions configuration for users with different access levels.
- Storage of the configuration settings for the connectors.
- Storage of all custom settings for each light, along with their virtual hierarchical structure.
- Management of app authentication and control limitations based on user permissions.