This comprehensive solution is designed for remote status monitoring and control of the Premium and Premium+ electric boilers manufactured by Tenko. Remote access is facilitated over the Internet via a backend Web Dashboard, as well as native Android and iOS applications.
System Components (Based on the IoT Architecture)
- The boiler itself, acting as the Controlled Device (Endpoint);
- The user-side Wi-Fi Module, acting as the Gateway Device;
- The backend server application my.tenko.ua;
- The native Android application “Tenko Boilers“;
- The native iOS application “Tenko“.
The Wi-Fi Module (Gateway)
The Wi-Fi Module is a comprehensive hardware-software Gateway Device that ensures connectivity between the boiler and the Internet. Communication between the boiler and the Module is established via a UART interface. The Module connects to the Cloud via the user’s local Wi-Fi access point (router).
During development, several architectural concepts were implemented to simplify Module setup and connection:
- To connect the Module to the local Wi-Fi access point, a built-in Web Interface is utilized (initial setup can be performed from any Wi-Fi enabled device with a browser, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop);
- The connection to the server is always initiated by the Module, completely eliminating the need for “port forwarding” on the user’s router;
- Controls and indicators are kept to an absolute minimum. A single hardware button is used to trigger the Module’s setup Web Interface, and a single LED serves as the status indicator.
Connecting the Wi-Fi Module
The Wi-Fi Module connects directly to the boiler via a USB connector. Upon startup, the Module’s LED flashes five times, and after four seconds, it enters its standard operating mode. If there is no connection to a Wi-Fi access point, the LED flashes approximately once per second. To operate, the Module must be connected to the Internet via a local Wi-Fi AP. To initiate the connection process, the user presses the hardware button once. The LED will turn on, turn off, and then light up solidly. At this point, the Module broadcasts its own Wi-Fi AP named “TENKO”, which the user must connect to.
After successfully connecting to this AP, the user opens a browser and navigates to «http://192.168.1.155». This loads the Module’s internal Web Interface, which displays a list of available Wi-Fi networks, a password input field, and a “Connect” button.
The success of the connection can be determined by the LED’s behavior after clicking “Connect”. If successful, the LED will blink and turn off several times; if it fails, it will flash rapidly for two seconds. In either case, the Module will reboot. Once successfully connected, the Module begins routing data between the boiler and the server application. The Module continuously checks for connectivity; if active, it polls the boiler for telemetry, packages the response, and dispatches it to the server. If the user changes any boiler settings via the Web Dashboard or mobile apps, the server sends the new configuration to the Module. The Module unpacks this payload and forwards the commands to the boiler.
Backend Server Application
Hosted at my.tenko.ua, the backend server application receives telemetry from the boilers (via the Wi-Fi Module), hosts the Web Dashboard UI, pushes commands back to the boiler, and synchronizes data with the Android/iOS applications (utilizing Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) / Firebase).
To power the native mobile applications and allow third-party integrations, the backend features a robust set of REST API functions.
The Web Dashboard provides authorized users with real-time status monitoring and control over their boiler. The server leverages dynamic user account provisioning: the moment a boiler connects to the network for the first time, an account is automatically created. Each user has access to a dedicated device control page, a statistics page featuring interactive charts (if supported by the specific boiler model), and a Personal Account area for updating credentials and preferences.
The Dashboard UI is dynamically generated based on the specific feature set of the connected boiler, presenting telemetry in a clean, intuitive format. The entire backend application is heavily secured.
Native Mobile Applications
The native Android and iOS apps are designed to give users a highly visual, convenient way to monitor and control their heating systems on the go. The apps replicate all boiler control functions and even include a streamlined workflow for initially connecting the Wi-Fi Module to the local network directly through the app.