App-based air conditioner controls for smart home users

Client

One of the world’s leading providers of smart home connectivity solutions

Industry

Technology

Services

Product Development

Tech

Kotlin, MVVM, LiveData, Coroutine, Koin, Room, Glide, Retrofit, BLE, Firebase Crashlytics, Swift, Foundation, Core Bluetooth

Challenge

A global leader in smart home connectivity solutions was concerned about usability challenges that users faced with a top-brand air conditioner. They wanted to reinvent a native remote control solution that had scarce functionality and failed to match advanced IoT systems for intelligent living. The company turned to ITRex for assistance with building mobile app-based air con controls that would appeal to users with convenience, intuitive navigation, and trendy experience.

Specifically, our team took on the following challenges:

●

Build Android and iOS apps from scratch for air conditioner setup and control

●

Link the app to native remote controls using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology

●

Pack the app with multiple air con control functions

●

Address device pairing issues for increased security

●

Provide full-cycle testing services to check user experience, functionality and performance

Solution

●

An Android and iOS app with a three-layer architecture for air con installers to set up the devices on site and for end-users to easily adjust their settings

●

Multiple functions, including temperature/humidity change, child lock, timer, and quick mode settings

●

Setup of BLE, a short-range link for a fast, low energy data transfer which enables the app to communicate with air con remote controls in the IoT infrastructure

●

A hidden process protected by a password to distinguish between tech specialists and end-users

●

Multi-user support that allows remote to store a dozen unique mobile devices and manage the list of paired devices

●

Automatic removal of pairing information to protect air conditioners from unauthorized access

●

Functionality enabling the app to keep discovered characteristics of a device for quick reconnection

●

Support of multi-resolution mobile devices

●

Extensive testing across platforms and devices, and post-go-live support

●

Compliance with the brand guidelines of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) making the air conditioners

Impact

●

Intuitive and responsive feature-packed controls have taken intelligent living to the next level, increasing users’ satisfaction with the client’s smart home connectivity solutions

●

The app has provided technical specialists with an easy and simple way to set up air conditioners on site