Binary payload

OleksandrLisovyi

Hello!
Is it possible to configure the platform so that we could send payload, not in JSON format but in a binary view?
Like instead of
{"position.satellites":7",position.speed":11.250,"position.latitude":49.010,"position.longitude":28.501}
Send only
0x074134000042440a3d41e4020c.
Of cause, we are interested in showing positions on the map in the Track IT plugin and storing all sent information.

kial

Hi OleksandrLisovyi ,
We have plans to provide a way to parse arbitrary binary data by the user-defined schema/protocol, but for now, there is no ETA for this feature.
Right now you have an option to subscribe to SLA Advanced ( https://flespi.com/terms-of-use ) to ask us to develop a custom protocol for you.

If you just want to lower payload size - you may send a JSON with short param names and map them to the flespi standard param names using this technique: https://flespi.com/blog/custom-naming-scheme-for-mqtt-message-parameters

I assume you're sending data over MQTT. If it's not right - please provide more details.

OleksandrLisovyi

Hi kial !
Yes, I use MQTT.
Based on the article https://flespi.com/blog/custom-naming-scheme-for-mqtt-message-parameters I tried to replace position.latitude with lat, position.longitude with lon but it looks like I did something wrong.
Here is the channel config

And here is the mqtt message:

{
  "sat":7,
  "speed":15.369,
  "lat":49.0118953,
  "lon":28.50155
}

I expected to see sent parameters in logs but I see just an empty message in TOOLBOX and no positions on the map.
Could you please describe more detailed where to get Value path and which is valid?

Raj_Omnimatics

Hi kial,

I have a use case for this with an IOT device not supported by flespi, and would like to parse it's binary data sent over MQTT directly - as there is no option to configure it to switch to sending JSON data instead

I take it the arbitrary binary parser you mentioned above is meant for this use case? If so, has it been added to flespi already?

kial

OleksandrLisovyi , just switch parameter name and parameter value path.
"Value path" - is a JSON object property to take from incoming MQTT messages. "Parameter name" - is a resulting name for the channel message.
You may find the field's description by hovering your mouse over the question mark near the field.

OleksandrLisovyi

Thanks kial !
Switching parameter name and value path helped!

FabriceMarchal

Thank you Kial.
I'm a colleague of Oleksandr.
We would be considering the development of several binary protocols, could you put me in touch with someone at Flespi to discuss feasibility/pricing?

kial

@FabriceMarchal , just write in the support chat in the top right corner

FabriceMarchal

Thanks, just did!

lese

Raj_Omnimatics Hi Raj. No, such capability is not available. Don't have a specific timeline for you as to when we may release this. So for now, the only way to support such device on flespi is though our traditional integration process described here: https://flespi.com/kb/hardware-integration