Product architecture for resilience modernization of an IoT fire safety system

Our client is a Nordic-based designer and manufacturer of fire safety products, with over 400 000 installations worldwide. The project began with precise client requirements to enhance their system, a fire safety mechanism for electric stoves. The underlying objective was to prepare the product for market launch. Client requirements also included:

• Integration of BLE for remote monitoring
• Compatibility with a dedicated mobile application

The project included several vital aspects:

• Hardware-software integration for seamless operation
• Regulatory compliance for safety certifications
• Comprehensive quality assurance processes

To realize the client’s vision and reach the project’s objectives, needCode’s Embedded Software Engineer implemented the following method:

• Phased development approach to manage complexity
• Rigorous testing protocols to ensure reliability
• Iterative improvements based on feedback and testing results

Several challenges were encountered throughout the project, such as:

• Building a new, modern fire protection IoT system based on BLE
• Real-time data synchronization between stove sensor, control unit, and mobile application
• Crafting solutions to ensure system reliability and user safety, such as many unit tests, verifying that each component of the IoT system works properly.

The project team achieved significant milestones, including successfully integrating BLE technology, enhancing fire safety features, and preparing for market launch. 

Moreover, partnership with needCode provided the following results:

• Successful integration of BLE technology for remote monitoring and control
• Enhancement of fire safety features and functionalities, including designing and running PST (Periodic Self-Test) and POST (Power-on Self Test) tests
• Building the software architecture for the project, i.e., ensuring secure and seamless interactions between IoT device—the fire safety mechanism for electric stoves—and the mobile app
• Readiness for market launch with improved safety standards, including adapting the software for required home appliance certifications
• Creation of the Error Handler, ensuring the system operates reliably under various conditions and can recover quickly from faults to minimize downtime and maintain functionality. Also, to handle fallback to a defined state with error code indication, from non-recoverable errors
• Ensuring proper authentication processes, only allowing the dedicated mobile application to connect with the IoT device

We were approached by the client with an IoT device that has been on the market for almost 20 years, and needed to be built anew to meet today’s expectations. The home appliance project showcases needCode expertise in building new systems with modern technology and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Client relied on needCode’s expertise to build a seamless IoT system architecture, optimizing reliability and connectivity. Thanks to thorough QA processes and testing protocols, the IoT fire protection device became market-ready, achieving the underlying goal. This case study highlights our contributions to innovation and safety in BLE technology and embedded systems.