Smart Home Hub

This project demonstrates how to build a versatile Smart Home Hub using Windows IoT Core. It acts as a central control point for various smart devices, enabling seamless integration, automation, and remote management.

Leveraging the power and flexibility of Windows IoT, this hub provides a robust platform for connecting sensors, actuators, and other IoT devices, transforming your living space into an intelligent and responsive environment.

Technologies Used:

Windows IoT Core C#/.NET UWP (Universal Windows Platform) Azure IoT Hub MQTT REST APIs Raspberry Pi (or similar SBC)

Key Features

Centralized device management and monitoring.
Rule-based automation for triggers and actions.
Real-time data visualization and analytics.
Secure remote access and control via web or mobile app.
Integration with popular smart home protocols (e.g., MQTT).
Extensible architecture for adding new device types and services.
Voice command integration (optional).

Implementation Details

Hardware Setup:

The core of the Smart Home Hub is typically a single-board computer (SBC) running Windows IoT Core, such as a Raspberry Pi. Essential peripherals include:

Raspberry Pi 3/4 or similar SBC.
MicroSD card with Windows IoT Core installed.
Power supply.
Network connectivity (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
Optional: USB sensors, microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino) for custom device interfacing.

Software Architecture:

The hub application is developed as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) application, allowing it to run on various Windows devices. It follows a modular design, with:

Device Manager: Handles discovery, connection, and communication with various IoT devices.
Rule Engine: Processes user-defined rules to automate actions based on sensor readings or events.
Data Storage: Logs device data and system events.
API Layer: Exposes functionalities for remote access and integration with other services.
UI Layer: Provides a user interface for monitoring and control.

Connectivity:

Communication with devices is facilitated through protocols like MQTT for lightweight messaging and REST APIs for web-based interactions. For cloud integration, Azure IoT Hub is used for secure device-to-cloud communication and data ingestion.

Code Examples

Connecting to an MQTT Broker (C#)

Example snippet for connecting to an MQTT broker and subscribing to a topic:


using MQTTnet;
using MQTTnet.Client;
using MQTTnet.Client.Options;
using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

public class MqttHandler
{
    private IMqttClient mqttClient;

    public async Task ConnectAsync(string brokerAddress, int port)
    {
        var options = new MqttClientOptionsBuilder()
            .WithTcpServer(brokerAddress, port)
            .Build();

        mqttClient = new MqttFactory().CreateMqttClient();
        mqttClient.UseConnectedHandler(async e =>
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Connected to MQTT broker.");
            await mqttClient.SubscribeAsync("home/status/#");
            Console.WriteLine("Subscribed to home/status/#");
        });

        mqttClient.UseApplicationMessageReceivedHandler(e =>
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"Received message: Topic={e.ApplicationMessage.Topic}, Payload={System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(e.ApplicationMessage.Payload)}");
        });

        await mqttClient.ConnectAsync(options);
    }

    public async Task PublishAsync(string topic, string payload)
    {
        if (mqttClient != null && mqttClient.IsConnected)
        {
            var message = new MqttApplicationMessageBuilder()
                .WithTopic(topic)
                .WithPayload(payload)
                .WithAtLeastOnceQoS()
                .Build();

            await mqttClient.PublishAsync(message);
            Console.WriteLine($"Published message to {topic}.");
        }
    }

    public async Task DisconnectAsync()
    {
        await mqttClient.DisconnectAsync();
        Console.WriteLine("Disconnected from MQTT broker.");
    }
}

UWP UI Update Example

Updating a TextBlock from a background task:


// In your UWP Page (e.g., MainPage.xaml.cs)

public async void UpdateStatusTextBlock(string status)
{
    await Dispatcher.RunAsync(Windows.UI.Core.CoreDispatcherPriority.Normal, () =>
    {
        StatusTextBlock.Text = status; // Assuming StatusTextBlock is the name of your TextBlock
    });
}