ISSN: 0974-6471, Vol. 11, No. (2) 2018, Pg.

107-114

Oriental Journal of Computer Science and Technology

Journal Website: www.computerscijournal.org

Keyless Smart Home: An Application of Home

Security and Automation
Amirita Dewani1*, Sania Bhatti1, Pirah Memon1,
Veena Kumari2, Anum Arain1 and Ayaz Jiskani1

1
Department of Software Engineering, MUET, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
Institute of Information Technology, University of Sindh Hyderabad, Pakistan.
2

Abstract
The rapid and revolutionary advancement in technology has increased the
demand for advanced ubiquitous mobile applications in our daily lives. Home Article History
automation system uses collective smart technology to elevate sphere of
security and human living standards. Wireless Smart home systems have been Received: 10 April 2018
Accepted: 06 May 2018
prototyped by researchers to realize different applications in vast contexts.
In this paper we propose a keyless smart home security system which uses Keywords
Bluetooth as a communication protocol to automate door locks based on
a security code and predefined user credentials. The system combines Home security,
Home automation,
Android phone as a signal sender to dispatch the input signal from an end Keyless home ,
users side, Bluetooth communication module as signal receiver, ARDUINO Door,
microcontroller as CPU and servo motor and light emitting diodes as an output. Android,
Bluetooth
The system integrates two modules: one of which is Arduino microcontroller
which is responsible for authentication and verification of security code and
allows servo motor to process the output according to the received input.
The second is android Application which provides an interface to the user
to set credentials and security code which is then transmitted to the Arduino
microcontroller via Bluetooth technology. Since Arduino and Android are open
source, hence implementation rate of the proposed system is inexpensive
and feasible.

Introduction of smartphone operating system, the Android has

Due to encroachment of smart phones in terms captured 81.7% (352 million) of the total market in
of powerful processors, larger storage, affluent the fourth quarter of 2016 and also grew its market
entertainment functions and variety of communication share by 3.2%, iOS captured 17.9% (77 million),
techniques their users are amplifying swiftly. Windows captured 0.3, Blackberry captured 0.0%,
According to the Gartner Research, in the market and other OS captured 0.1%1. A Smart Home system

CONTACT Amirita Dewani amirita@faculty.muet.edu.pk Department of Software Engineering, MUET, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Techno Research Publishers
This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted NonCommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojcst11.02.06
 Dewani et al., Orient. J. Comp. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 11(2) 107-114 (2018) 108

has numerous advantages and applications; for Literature Review

example it can open or close the front door for known A variety of door automation systems have been
visitors, may adjust the light according to the mood of proposed in literature which are controllable via
the residential of home, may be used for turning on/ Bluetooth9-11, RFID5, fingerprint6-8, WiFi12 etc. Some
off the electronic things and many more. The trade of the recent works are highlighted in this section.
organization CEDIA (Custom Electronic design and
Installation Association) has termed Smart Home The RFID technology can be used for many purposes
as multibillion-dollar business. According to the such as tracking of people, tracking of inventory,
prediction of Research firm Markets and Markets, control of applications, security etc. Authors in
the Smart Home market will be US $120 billion a study5 implemented a system for opening and
industry by 20222. Almost every smartphone could closing of the door using RFID technology to validate
be used to develop Smart Home products. Smart the user to unlock the door. This process involved
phones are now called pocketable PCs and are the contact of users’ tags to the RFID reader. The
being used to develop smart home products using developed system is also able to maintain a log
different technologies such as Wi-Fi, Infrared and containing check-in and check-out of each user
Bluetooth technology. along with basic information of the users. Wong
et al., in their final year project at The Hong Kong
The Bluetooth is the most trusted name in wireless University of Science and Technology developed
connection. It is a global wireless standard for a home security system using fingerprint as the
providing the secure connectivity. Whether it is method of authentication6.
about building automation, improving medical
devices or implementing smart home/city, Bluetooth The system is connected to a mobile application
technology always opens door for achieving such over the Internet which is allowing users to monitor
goals. Bluetooth is a solution to those tasks which entrants through camera surveillance and had
require physical wires connections. For instance, the remote access to the door. This project aimed
Bluetooth enabled printer, wirelessly, laptop, desktop for improving home security and convenience in
or mobile devices can be connected. It requires accessing doors. The limitation in their work is that
low-cost transceiver chip included in device. The the Android smartphone must support fingerprint
transceiver operates under the 2.45 GHz frequency sensor and internet access, otherwise the door will
band. Bluetooth can link digital devices between not be in a position to be accessed. Other finger print
range of 10 meters to 100 meters and the data can based door locking systems are proposed in7,8. The
be exchanged at the rate of 1 Mbps up to 3 Mbps proposed systems7,8 are based on existing biometrics
depending on the Bluetooth device class3. systems and stored fingerprints of authorized users.
The systems authorize access after confirming
Security is the primary requirement of every user. matching of collected fingerprints with already stored
Password based authenticated key exchange is a biometrics in the database. Android based control
protocol that is used to provide strong authentication4. system providing the safety of home’s main door and
Keeping keys and opening the door with hands is car door are presented in9,10. The systems become
headache. Technology brought keyboard based door accessible after establishing Bluetooth connections
lock systems where user can type his password and and validate the user login details such as username
get access to it, but this technology compels user to and password. In addition the systems are also able
come on the door and type the password. So, with to control the appliances of a room. The limitation of
the attributes of Bluetooth technology and password, their work is that they are not providing the option
we offer a cost efficient system which enables user to rest the password. This limitation is addressed
to access the door wirelessly from a particular range by Ankit et al.,11 and the user is allowed to change
using their smart phones by inputting a unique the current password. In this work Arduino UNO
key. A combination of Android Phone and Arduino microcontroller and password are used to control
Microcontroller can make it possible to assemble a the door and appliances of a room.
door lock system which can be locked and unlocked
remotely from a specific range.
 Dewani et al., Orient. J. Comp. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 11(2) 107-114 (2018) 109

ElShafee and Alaa Hamed12 have presented WiFi controlling home appliances via android mobile
based control system to maintain the temperature, phone or tablet.
detect smoke, door status and light level. The system
consists of web interface module for monitoring and Since Bluetooth wireless technology is low cost and
controlling purposes. The hardware module consists has become pervasive in smart phones, therefore this
of four assorted PCBS and is used to provide research work has proposed and realized a concept
interfaces for sensors and actuators. The system of keyless smart home using android platform and
in18 uses ZigBee module in digital door lock and the Bluetooth as a communication protocol. The major
door locks act as a central main controller of the aim is to provide automated door access and security
overall home automation system. The developed management in a cost efficient manner.
system is based on network of sensors nodes,
actuators with digital door lock as a base system. Hardware Architecture & Software
Hence proposed system is limited to sensors, RFID Specifications
and ZigBang model. Hardware Architecture
The hardware section of proposed approach
N. Sriskanthan19 explained the model for home comprises of the following components.
automation using Bluetooth via PC. But unfortunately • ARDUINO-UNO
the system lacks to support mobile technology. • Servo Motor
Deepal in20 explains proposed system based on • Android based Smart Phone
ADK (Accessory Development kit) at home. The • Bluetooth Module (HC-05)
system is based on automation for monitoring and • Display unit (LEDs)

Fig. 1: System Hardware-Block Diagram

Arduino-UNO research work Arduino-UNO microcontroller acts

Arduino a small microcontroller board having various as a processing unit and is programmed to perform
connection sockets to be coupled with different various logical functions. It also interfaces with other
electronic devices like motors, sensors relays etc. hardware components.
It can be programmed to accomplish desired tasks
independently or can be controlled via a computer. Android Smart Phone
It can either be powered by a 12v battery or a USB The smart phone communicates with the micro
plug connected to a computer11. In the proposed controller by making connection with the Bluetooth
 Dewani et al., Orient. J. Comp. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 11(2) 107-114 (2018) 110

module (HC-05). It sends the code to the smart where as the red light shows the door is locked.
phone through which the door gets locked/unlocked. The Green LED is connected to the pin 10 and gnd
The smart phone gets the security credentials from where as the Red LED is connected to the pin 11
the user as an input. If it is verified that the user is and gnd. Both LEDs are connected to same gnd to
authorized and authenticated, the smart phone will reduce wiring expenses.
send the code to the microcontroller which further
instructs the servo motor to access (lock/unlock) Servo Motor
the door. The front end module (Android App) gets A servomotor behaves as a rotating/linear actuator
connected with the hardware module via the MAC and controls acceleration, velocity and angular or
address of Bluetooth module HC-05. linear position of the object in a precise manner.
Servo motor is a DC motor coupled with a position
Bluetooth Module (HC-05) sensor which rotates at its axis from 0 to 180
Bluetooth Module works as a bridge between smart degrees. This motor can be programmed for several
phone and microcontroller13. The Bluetooth Module purposes. The Servo motor has three pins. The first
consists of 6 pins out of which 4 pins are used to one is signal pin which is connected to the pin 3
communicate and perform required function. The and is programmed to send signal to the motor. The
VCC is connected to 5V pin, ground is connected second pin is VCC pin which is connected to 3.3V
to gnd pin, TX pin of is connected to TX(1) pin of pin of Arduino-UNO and the third pin is ground pin
Arduino-UNO which is used to send data from which is connected to gnd pin of Arduino-UNO.
Arduino-UNO to Android Phone and the RX pin of
module RX(0) is used to receive and send the data The hardware modules and the role they play in
from Android phone to Aurduino-UNO. proposed keyless smart home are summarized in
the table-1.
LEDs
LEDs are used to indicate status of the system
output. The green light shows that the door is open
Table 1: Functionality of System Components

S. System Component Role/Functionality

No

1. Android Smart phone Acts as a user front end

2. Bluetooth Module(HC-05) Act as a connectivity module to transmit data
3. Servo Motor Acts as a rotator to control door lock
4. Display unit (LEDs) Acts as an output indicators
5. Arduino-UNO Acts as a CPU for data processing

Software Specifications developers with numerous facilities to generate new

Android Platform applications in a rapid rate14. Since, all Bluetooth
The smart mobile terminal platform Android is applications work coherently with every version of
getting popular all over the world with its wide variety android, our application will apparently run on any
of appliances and enormous use in numerous version of android.
spheres of our daily life. We all know that we are
in 21st century and we know that technology have Eclipse IDE
improved a lot from the past century. Android Front end user App is developed using Eclipse IDE
platform is composed of operating system, user and Java programming language. Eclipse is an
interface and application components which allow integrated development environment (IDE) used
developer freedom access and modify the source in computer programming, and is the most widely
code. So Android is providing a free platform to the used Java IDE. It contains a base workspace and
 Dewani et al., Orient. J. Comp. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 11(2) 107-114 (2018) 111

an extensible plug-in system for customizing the Arduino IDE

environment15. The Arduino Integrated Development Environment
or Arduino Software (IDE) contains a text editor
SQLite Library for writing code, a message area, a text console,
SQLite is the most widely deployed in-process library a toolbar with buttons for common functions and
that implements a SQL database engine. It offers a series of menus. It connects to the Arduino
high storage efficiency, fast query operation and and Genuino hardware to upload programs and
small memory needs. Due to the fact that a complete communicate with them17.
SQLite database is stored in a single cross-platform
disk file and SQLite does not support multiple users, System Workflow Mechanism
anyone who has direct access to the file can read The overall system workflow is shown in fig-2.
the whole database content16.

Fig. 2: System Workflow mechanism

There are various connections and pins in the second one is connected to the GND pin of Servo
systems which are used to perform specific Motor and the third GND pin is used for GND of
tasks. Mainly these pins/connections fall into two both LEDs (used as an indicator/ output module).
categories. The first one is power (VCC and Ground) The HC-05 Bluetooth module requires 5V at its
and other is related to signal management and VCC pin; therefore it is connected to the VCC 5V
transmission. There are three ground pins in the pin of ARDUINO-UNO module. Servo motor requires
ARDUINO-UNO. The first GND pin is connected 3.3V at it VCC pin; therefore it is connected to the
to the GND pin of HC-05 Bluetooth module, the VCC 3.3V of ARDUINO-UNO. Observing the signal
 Dewani et al., Orient. J. Comp. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 11(2) 107-114 (2018) 112

section, it can be seen that the pins of devices are from the smart phone where as pin RX of HC-05
connected to their respective pins of ARDUINO-UNO is connected to the TX(1) of the ARDUINO-UNO
as they are programmed. board to send the data to the smart phone. When
user sends command to circuit from the smart
User access the system via front-end android app. phone. The circuit matches the command and sends
Front end user App is developed using Eclipse current to the pin 3, where the signal pin of Servo
software and Java programming language. It is motor is connected and it rotates the Servo motor
immensely important to establish connection via from 00 to 1800 to lock/unlock the door. During this
Bluetooth protocol before security credentials can be circuit is also programmed to light Red LED for
transmitted. Once the connection is established and locked door and Green LED for unlocked door as
security credentials are verified, the control buttons indicators by sending current to the pin 10 and pin
to remotely lock/unlock a door gets enabled. When 11 of ARDUINO-UNO board, where both LEDs are
the end-user presses lock/unlock button the smart connected.
phone sends command to the circuit which is used
to lock/unlock the door as they are programmed. The implementation of proposed system is depicted
At circuit side, Pin TX of HC-05 is connected to the in figure-3.
RX(0) of ARDUINO-UNO board to receive data

Fig. 3: System implementation

The Arduino-UNO Microcontroller is used to Arduino; VCC is the power supply (3.3V to 6.6V) and
perform logical tasks and functions. The Arduino- GND is the ground. On the other hand the Servo
UNO Microcontroller receives the data from Motor plays a vital role. The Servo motor has three
Android phone. For communication with Arduino pins. The first one is signal pin which is connected
using Bluetooth, a Bluetooth module needs to to the pin which is programmed to send signal to
be connected with Arduino. This connection is the motor, the VCC pin is connected to 3.3V pin or
established via Bluetooth Module (HC-05). HC-05 Arduino-UNO and the ground pin is connected to
module has 6 pins. We have connected 4 pins to gnd pin of Arduino-Board. LEDs are used to indicate.
Arduino, they are: RXD TXD VCC GND. RXD will The green light shows that the door is open where
receive data from Arduino; TXD will send data to the red light shows that door is locked.
 Dewani et al., Orient. J. Comp. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 11(2) 107-114 (2018) 113

Conclusion and Dicussion platform. The proposed approach is realized using

Present era has witnessed Home automation and Bluetooth technology for connectivity, android
related applications as a growing trend. It is a based smart phone App for end user access and
technology that remoulds the manual work to the user credentials for security and authentication.
automation in order to enhance luxury, comfort and ARDUINO microcontroller, Bluetooth module, servo
standard of living thereby making human life much motor, male and female wires and front-end android
easier, better and more secure. This paper presents app were interfaced and integrated to realize the
an idea of keyless smart home and an application of desired architecture. In future the designed system
home automation. The proposed approach resolves can be extended to embrace other aspects of home
problems presented by conventional metal locks automation and security. Furthermore this research
of existing doors i-e vulnerability to break in’s, the work can be enhanced to support other OS platforms
space carried by the lock and human efforts required apart from android.
to open/close the door manually. Moreover the
implementation rate of developed system is very low Acknowledgment
there by making it affordable for a common person. We are extremely grateful to department of software
As compared to most of the existing systems, as engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and
discussed in literature review, the keyless smart Technology, Jamshoro for all the technical support
home is easier to install and maintain. It supports to accomplish this project.
mobile technology and open source android system

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