The µPanel system consists of a programmed WiFi radio (µPanel WiFi module), a free mobile App (µPanel App) and an optional and free Cloud server. All these three elements allow the user to control any electronic device connected to the µPanel WiFi module, either locally or through Internet, by means of smartphones and tablets. The uPanel WiFi modules can work with all electronic devices equipped with a serial port, such as Arduino boards, Raspberry boards, or any other microcontroller-based device.

The µPanel APP basically shows the graphical panel (i.e. virtual APP) that is sent by the electronic device through its serial port and allows the user to interact with it. Thanks to a new graphical language (HCTML), the virtual App is completely defined by the electonic device (e.g. Arduino) through a short text line, without requiring the use of libraries or particular resources. The µPanel system is ideal for makers working on very small devices with limited amount of memory, but also for companies that want to quickly add a graphical remote control to already existing products.

In other words  µPanel permits to add a fully customised graphical interface (virtual App) to any electronic devices, without the need of programming the mobile APP and without the need of knowing any wireless communication protocol. Nevertheless, the panel that will appear on the smartphone is fully customizable! The designer of the electronic systems can completely define the structure and layout of the panel, including indicators, controls and all other elements required to monitor and control the electronic system in the most efficient way.  In addition, it is possible to implement custom and complex IoT solutions, thanks to powerful functions that can access TCP/UDP sockets and thanks to an integrated File system and File transfer.

Our system consists of three elements: 

 – a mobile APP  installed on a smartphone
– a WiFi module programmed with µPanel connected to the system to be monitored and controlled
– an optional Cloud-bridge server that can act as a bridge to establish the link between App and WiFi module

 

Figure 2.  Logo of the µPanel App and Wi-Fi module (with its breadboard adapter)

 

The microcontroller of the system to be controlled communicates with the WiFi module through a common 2-line serial interface and by using a very easy and compact language (HCTML) that has been specifically designed for µPanel.

By means of this language, the microcontroller can easily define both the graphical and functional aspects of the Panel. Moreover, it can both change the Panel state and receive notification messages reporting the user interaction with the panel. No specific knowledge of internet protocols nor of graphical languages are required to successfully use µPanel. 

Lets consider a simple example where the electronic system wants to create a panel with a single LED indicator and a push button. In this scenario the microcontroller will initially send through its serial interface the graphical description of the panel, which contains the LED and button definition (you will learn that this message is something like: $P:L1G:0;B1:Push;). Later, when the system wants to turn on/off the remote LED, it will send another simple message through its serial line (something like #L11 for turning on, and #L10 for turning off). 

Figure 3. First step: panel layout definition

The WiFi module receives these messages and deliver them to the APP when possible. If the APP is not running at that time, the module will keep them into its memory until the user connects the APP. This way the microcontroller has not to bother about the fact that the user is actually online or not. Everything is synchronised automatically without the intervention of the microcontroller.

Figure 4. Example of message from your microcontroller to µPanel APP

 

The µPanel APP can establish a connection with the WiFi module in four ways:

1. Direct connection  (to the access point of the µPanel module)
2. Connection through the LAN
3. Connection via INTERNET
4. Connection via INTERNET through the Cloud-bridge server

The µPanel APP is developed to automatically search for the selected WiFi module trying, in the order, all the four possibilities.

In the first scenario, your smartphone will connect directly to the WiFi module (seen as an acces point). The connection can be open or protected by a password.

Figure 6. Connection mode 1: Direct connection.

In the second connection mode, both the WiFi module and the mobile device connect to a wireless router (e.g. the home internet router)

Figure 7.  Connection mode 2: through WLAN.

In the third connection mode, the WiFi module connects to a WiFi router that provides Internet connectivity. The mobile device can communicate with the system through its Internet connection.

Figure 8. Connection mode 3: through INTERNET.  

This connection mode permits to monitor and control your device from everywhere be means of a direct communication between your smartphone and the module. However,  this connection mode requires a router with assigned public IP and with port-forwarding capability (some router’s ports have to be configured in order to redirect incoming data to the module ports). This issues are overcome in the fourth connection mode.

Figure 9. Connection mode 4:  through µPanel CLOUD

The fourth connection mode includes a cloud-bridge server that acts as a bridge between the smart-phone and the module and permits them to communicate even if the module can not use a public IP. In addition no router configuration is required. This connection mode is ideal for commercial products since it does not require any action by the final user on the router. On request, we can redirect all the modules of your specific project to a dedicated and exclusive cloud-bridge server in order to guarantee band and real-time performance.