Using Firebase as a real time hub for IoT devices

Presentation for the IoT Tech Day 14th of April

Transcript

1. Using Firebase as a real time hub for IoT devices Hugo Visser Little Robots
2. Why? Everything is connected…differently Every device has it’s own API, app Network connected != Internet connected
3. Why? Interoperability, integration, consistent API
4. Firebase Realtime JSON database Hosted solution (part of Google) REST, JavaScript, iOS, Android
5. Sounds good? Get IoT device data into Firebase Realtime gateway Interoperability
6. Demo
7. Let’s get some data in here
8. Lifx Smart light bulb (WiFi), ~$60,- Color + white Lifx apps, Cloud
9. Lifx protocols Cloud + LAN (“incomplete”) Report status Set color HSBK, duration
10. Milight RF controlled RGB+W, Bulbs, ledstrip (~10$) WiFi bridge (~15$)
11. Bridge protocol Control groups No status reporting, no acks Set color (Hue) or White + brightness
12. Agent Android TV stick On the local network, updates Firebase Provides a realtime API vs polling
13. Demo
14. Inbox / outbox Add extra capabilities to control surface, keep status simple. Prevent concurrent updates Separate security & clean up
15. Inbox Firebase ref = new Firebase(CONTROL_ROOT).
 child("lifx/lights").
 child(String.valueOf(device.getTarget()));
 
 ref.child("power").setValue(new PowerControl());
 ref.child("color").setValue(new HSBKControl());
 
 String CONTROL_ROOT = "https://lightspeed.firebaseio.com/control/devices";
16. Listen for changes ref.child("power").addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() {
 @Override
 public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot) {
 if (dataSnapshot.exists()) {
 PowerControl power = dataSnapshot.getValue(PowerControl.class);
 updateLifxPowerState(device, power);
 }
 }
 
 @Override
 public void onCancelled(FirebaseError firebaseError) {
 
 }
 }); Will be called for current value!
17. Listen for changes (2) ref.child("color").addValueEventListener(new ValueEventListener() {
 @Override
 public void onDataChange(DataSnapshot dataSnapshot) {
 if (dataSnapshot.exists()) {
 HSBKControl color = dataSnapshot.getValue(HSBKControl.class);
 updateLifxColor(device, color);
 }
 }
 
 @Override
 public void onCancelled(FirebaseError firebaseError) {
 
 }
 });
18. Outbox Firebase ref = new Firebase(DEVICE_ROOT).
 child("milight").
 child(bridgeId).
 child(group);
 
 ref.setValue(state);
 For milight on update, for Lifx poll device
19. Orchestration Responding to data changes “Server” == just a simple Firebase client
20. Demo
21. Adding more signals Google Cast Raspberry Pi + RF receiver + Pilight
22. Demo
23. Security By default: wide open! Authentication Anonymous, social, email, custom token (JWT)
24. Security rules Read Write Validate
25. Security rules {
 "rules": {
 ".read": true,
 ".write": true
 }
 } Everybody can read and write (default!)
26. Security rules {
 "rules": {
 ".read": false,
 ".write": false,
 "users": {
 "$uid": {
 ".read": "$uid == auth.uid",
 ".write": "$uid == auth.uid"
 }
 }
 }
 } Wildcards
27. Validation {
 "rules": {
 "currentUser": {
 ".validate": "newData.hasChildren(['nickname','uid'])",
 "uid": {
 ".validate": "newData.val() == auth.uid"
 }
 }
 }
 } Ensure schema
28. Better ways Bolt ⚡ Terse rules definition Functions & schema
29. How? npm install -g firebase-bolt
30. Write types type PercentageFloat extends Number {
 validate() { this >= 0 && this <= 1}
 }
 
 type Hue extends Number {
 validate() { this >= 0 && this <= 360 }
 }

31. Write types type LxColor {
 h : Hue,
 s : PercentageFloat,
 b : PercentageFloat,
 k : Number,
 duration: Number
 } type LifxControl {
 color : LxColor,
 power : LxPower
 }
32. Write rules path /control/devices/lifx/lights/{light} is LifxControl {
 create() { false }
 update() { isAuthenticated() }
 delete() { false }
 }
33. Deploy Using the Firebase command line npm install -g firebase-tools firebase deploy
34. Demo
35. Recap Storing and retrieving IoT data in Firebase is easy, and in real time! Inbox / outbox style “serverless” Security is hard, easier with Bolt.
36. Thanks! Hugo Visser @botteaap +HugoVisser hugo@littlerobots.nl