Smart Home Device Showcase
Contact SalesBACKGROUND
Exhibiting activated products in electronic retail stores are effective in demonstrating to potential customers that the products work exactly as they are marketed. It not only lets users evaluate the exterior design but also lets them experience using the software interface and test the performance quality as if they are using the products at home. Some of the most common display units are media devices such as home theater, consoles, TV screens, audio streamers, etc.
New generations of media devices use various types of network bridge to let devices communicate with each other to perform synchronized functions, the most common units are smart TVs and wireless audio streamers positioned in different locations of the room communicating with each other and streaming a synchronized media file.
Project Requirements
Our client SONOS is a developer and manufacturer of wireless speakers and home sound systems. The project requires deploying a network in their retail stores for remotely configuring wireless speakers and sound systems. In addition, the devices will be collecting user data on behavior analysis for optimizing their product's user experience. The challenge is the convenience of deployment and cable management. An ethernet connection performs the best but it also adds to the cluster of existing cables that negatively affects SONOS' clean and simplistic product presentation. The requirements of the network setup are:
- Bridge network compatible
- Reliable connection
- Remote management
The network setup will be deployed in SONOS' retail store. The store displays many groups of sound system setups, with each sound system containing multiple devices, all of them connected to the same WiFi network. In addition, all independent and group of devices can be remotely controlled by a smartphone via WiFi. SONOS is looking for a device that is compatible with bridge networking for distributing data efficiently through divided segments.
SONOS' retail stores have many active sound systems and audio devices on display, and most of their sound systems use the WiFi protocol to communicate, the large number of connected devices in addition to neighboring electronic stores or crowded network usage in proximity introduces a potential risk of network congestion resulting in interrupted services. A powerful and reliable connection is necessary to eliminate such risk.
A remote access option can simplify network maintenance of many devices by eliminating the need to physically access the device for firmware upgrades or configuration.
TOPOLOGY
Solution
The most suitable device for this scenario is Puli (GL-XE300) - A cellular router that supports Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth protocols. The device offers a 300Mbps (2.4GHz) Wi-Fi speed, cellular CAT4/CAT6, an optional Bluetooth module, and two internal antennas for long range connectivity and improved wall penetration capabilities.
Puli is compatible with most bridge networks available in the market, including DLNA. It is most useful for splitting up network traffic into multiple segments for reducing traffic load and isolating potential network vulnerabilities posed by older devices.
A Puli will be deployed in SONOS' retail store, connecting to the internet via either Ethernet cable or its built-in 4G LTE network in case of network downtimes. Puli will then act as a repeater for multiple wireless network segments, with each network segment containing a sound system of multiple speakers, displaying SONOS devices' wireless connection features and capabilities.
Convenient deployment
Puli is a well-rounded router that provides four types of connection methods, including Ethernet, Repeater, Tethering, and Cellular that makes it flexible to deploy in a wide range of environments despite the available network nearby. An Ethernet connection connected to the modem, or an active wall socket is the option with the fastest network speed and is available in most retail stores. However, Puli's 4G LTE network can reduce cable congestion or eliminate the effort of extending ethernet cables across the store.
Backup power
GL-XE300 is equipped with a large-capacity 5000mAh lithium polymer battery that acts as both an auxiliary power supply under power outage scenarios and a portable network for convention demonstrations. In stationary use, the battery also supports continuous charging without damaging the battery life, extending the service time before requiring a replacement unit.GL-XE300 is equipped with a large-capacity 5000mAh lithium polymer battery that acts as both an auxiliary power supply under power outage scenarios and a portable network for convention demonstrations. In stationary use, the battery also supports continuous charging without damaging the battery life, extending the service time before requiring a replacement unit.
Customizable firmware
SONOS is looking to tailor the device's firmware to be compatible with their network servers and configure bridge network with their sound systems, in which Puli is a perfect option because it runs on open source OpenWrt operating system; it comes with our user-friendly Imagebuilder application for an easy customization of firmware packages.
Security
Puli is pre-installed with OpenVPN and WireGuard® supporting 30+ VPN services, it automatically encrypts traffic to the store's server, guest internet traffic, and bridge network traffic before passing to internet service providers. The network runs on the latest version of Internet Protocol IPv6, and it also supports Cloudflare DNS over TLS security protocol, ensuring a secure network.
Remote access and management
Puli comes with GoodCloud, our remote device management platform. It lets users conveniently import multiple Puli devices deployed in different floors or different retail locations for remote configuration, monitoring device usage and conducting batch firmware updates.
The device provides the option to remotely access the admin panel for network settings including guest Wi-Fi and captive portal or access the device terminal via web-SSH for in-depth diagnostics and settings configuration.
Recommended Products
Contact Our Sales Team
You're more than a customer. You're our business partner. We're here to help!