node-red-contrib-easy-device

A Node-RED node for easy IoT device management that provides a simple way to manage Internet of Things devices with platform integration.

Features

• Multi-device Support: Supports various IoT device types including lighting, air conditioning, sensors, and more
• Multiple Protocols: Compatible with Modbus, UDP, TCP, Cross, and Zigbee 3.0 protocols
• Flexible Communication: Supports RS485 and RJ45 communication channels
• Device Discovery: Automatic device discovery and management capabilities
• Group Control: Ability to control multiple devices simultaneously
• Spatial Organization: Organize devices by space, floor area, and floor for better management
• Action-based Control: Define custom actions for different device types

Installation

Via Node-RED Palette Manager

1. Open Node-RED in your browser
2. Go to the menu (≡) → Manage palette
3. Click on the "Install" tab
4. Search for node-red-contrib-easy-device
5. Click "Install"

Via npm

npm install node-red-contrib-easy-device

Manual Installation

1. Navigate to your Node-RED user directory (typically ~/.node-red)
2. Run the installation command:

   npm install node-red-contrib-easy-device

3. Restart Node-RED

Usage

Basic Setup

1. Add the Easy Device Node: Drag the "easy-device" node from the device category to your flow
2. Configure Device Host: Set up the device host configuration with IP and port
3. Configure Spatial Information: Set space, floor area, and floor details
4. Add Devices: Configure individual devices with their properties

Node Configuration

Device Host Configuration

• Host: IP address of the device host
• Port: Communication port (default: 1880)

Main Node Configuration

• Name: Descriptive name for the node
• Mac: MAC address of the gateway device
• Device Host: Reference to the configured device host
• Space: Spatial identifier for device organization
• Floor Area: Floor area identifier
• Floor: Floor identifier

Device Configuration

For each device, configure:

• Code: Unique device identifier
• Name: Human-readable device name
• Area: Physical area where the device is located
• Type: Device type (lighting, sensors, air conditioning, etc.)
• Protocol: Communication protocol (Modbus, UDP, TCP, etc.)
• Channel: Communication channel (RS485, RJ45)
• Actions: Available actions for the device

Supported Device Types

Control Devices

• Light: Basic lighting control (on/off/charge)
• Adjustable Light: Dimmable lighting (on/off/adjust/charge)
• Air Conditioning: Climate control (on/off/temperature/mode/fan/charge/alarm)
• Air Cleaner: Air purification (on/off/fan)
• Air Fan: Ventilation (on/off/fan)
• Blind: Window covering (up/down/pause/charge)
• Smart Pad: Interactive display (status/refresh/play/fullscreen/bind)

Sensor Devices

• Air Sensor: Environmental monitoring (PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, CO2, formaldehyde, etc.)
• Smoke Sensor: Fire detection (smoke/charge)
• Human Sensor: Occupancy detection (presence/charge)
• WC Sensor: Restroom occupancy (presence/charge)
• Power Sensor: Electrical monitoring (voltage/current/power/kwh)
• Water Sensor: Water usage monitoring (water/charge)
• Inundation Sensor: Flood detection (inundation/charge)
• AI Camera Sensor: Intelligent monitoring (density count/cross count/face recognition/smoking detection/duty detection)

Gateway Devices

• Edge Gateway: Network management (reboot/backup flow/info)

Message Format

Input Messages

The node accepts messages with specific topic patterns:

1. Device Discovery:

   {
     "topic": "/iot/discover",
     "payload": timestamp
   }

2. Enhanced Discovery:

   {
     "topic": "/iot/yqdiscover",
     "payload": timestamp,
     "devices": [array_of_devices]
   }

3. Device Action:

   {
     "topic": "/iot/action/{type}/{space}/{floorarea}/{floor}/{area}/{names}",
     "payload": action_data
   }

Output Messages

The node outputs structured messages containing:

• topic: Original message topic
• prepayload: Original payload
• name: Node name
• space: Space identifier
• floorarea: Floor area identifier
• floor: Floor identifier
• gateway: Gateway MAC address
• layers: Array of all easy-device node IDs
• layer: Current node ID
• devices: Array of configured devices
• payload: Processed payload data

Output Ports

1. Port 1: Device discovery responses
2. Port 2: Group control responses
3. Port 3+: Individual device responses (one port per configured device)

Examples

Basic Device Discovery

// Inject node payload
{
  "topic": "/iot/discover",
  "payload": 1706489007340
}

Control Specific Device Type

// Control all lights in a specific area
{
  "topic": "/iot/action/light/building1/floor2/room201/area1/light1",
  "payload": {
    "action": "on",
    "value": true
  }
}

Group Control

// Control multiple devices of the same type
{
  "topic": "/iot/action/light/building1/floor2/room201/all",
  "payload": {
    "action": "off"
  }
}

API Integration

The node can integrate with external platforms through the device host configuration. Ensure your platform provides the following endpoint:

GET /esaydevice/init?mac={mac_address}&layer={node_id}

This endpoint should return device configuration data including floors, areas, and device definitions.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Device Not Responding

   • Check device host configuration
   • Verify network connectivity
   • Ensure correct MAC address

2. Discovery Not Working

   • Verify topic format: /iot/discover
   • Check payload structure
   • Ensure platform integration is configured

3. Action Commands Failing

   • Verify topic pattern: /iot/action/{parameters}
   • Check device configuration
   • Ensure device supports the requested action

Debug Mode

Enable Node-RED debug mode to see detailed message flows:

1. Add debug nodes to monitor input/output
2. Check Node-RED logs for error messages
3. Verify device status indicators

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Add tests if applicable
5. Submit a pull request

License

ISC License - see LICENSE file for details

Support

For support and questions:

• Create an issue on the GitHub repository
• Check the Node-RED community forum
• Review the Node-RED documentation

Changelog

Version 1.0.1

• Initial release
• Basic device management functionality
• Multi-protocol support
• Spatial organization features

Note: This node requires platform integration for full functionality. Ensure your IoT platform supports the expected API endpoints and message formats.