Overview

Schematic diagram

Preparations

• Register an Alibaba Cloud account and complete identity verification. For more information, see Alibaba Cloud Account Registration Process.
• Activate the IoT Platform for Living service.
• Install a Linux development environment for device firmware development. A 64-bit Ubuntu 16.04 environment is recommended.
• Install a serial port tool to flash device certificates and firmware. Devices use an SDK and certificates to connect to IoT Platform for Living. Flashing methods vary by device. This topic uses a platform-certified MK3060 module as an example. For this module, install the SecureCRT serial port tool.

Procedure

1. Create a project: Projects help you manage products and enable collaboration between multiple parties.
2. Create a product and define its functions: A product is a collection of devices of the same type, such as a specific device model. You define the product's functions using three dimensions: properties, services, and events. The platform uses these functions to build a data model for communication between the cloud and devices.
3. Configure human-computer interaction: Users typically use an app to bind and control their IoT devices. The platform provides an app service. You can configure the app parameters to enable interaction between users and devices.
4. Add a device: A device is a specific physical unit. Each device requires a unique certificate to connect to IoT Platform for Living. The platform provides test devices. Certificates for test devices are for debugging purposes only and cannot be used for mass production.
5. Develop the device: The platform provides a device-side SDK. This SDK allows your device to connect to the cloud with minimal development effort.
6. Debug the device's cloud connection: After you connect the device using the public app, you can debug the physical device from the app and the console. This step verifies the data communication between the device, the cloud, and the app.