Place for information about telematics hub updates.

We supported special streaming protocol called nis . This protocol is used in Russia only, and although it is very stupidly designed - HTTP/SOAP based with just one message per HTTP request - it is quite popular on CIS space for inter-servers communications. Feel free to use it.

nis streaming protocol was updated to send values for Digital inputs, outputs and Analog inputs. The number of streamed Analog inputs is limited up to 8 for nis and wialon_retranslator streams.

We have removed deprecated fields " ident " and " phone " from the devices REST API. These fields was left for backward compatibility for a few months. In addition, we have removed old stream subscriptions REST API methods also marked as deprecated a few months ago. More details are placed in this article: https://flespi.com/blog/sync-up-with-changes-in-the-flespi-device-api

Platform has changed the way it accumulating logs when operating under subaccounts hierarchy . Say you have account root with subaccount sub and it branched another subaccount subsub . Tree looks like this: root<=sub<=subsub. Now imagine that you have log message for the subsub account, for example device was connected. Before the update : logs both in realtime (subscribing to flespi/logs/#) and in history mode (accessible via REST ) where placed by the system into an account subsub and all its parents: sub and root . Thus when operating with large volumes we have quite a big storage size of root top-account basically multiplied by the number of subbaccounts it has. After the update : the log message will be stored exactly and only at the account where it was generated. E.g if you have device or channel that belong to some subaccount you can access log messages for this entity only from its account. This is applied to both REST and MQTT. Toolbox was modified accordingly and now has account selector whenever you have some flespi accounts to switch between.

We increased telemetry expiration time up to 370 days.

We've added the "status" field for each device setting. It's indicating the source of the current setting value (if available) and the flespi platform intention to read the new current value or apply the pending setting value. The full documentation is available here: https://flespi.io/docs/#/gw/!/devices

Platform update affects devices with ident collisions. Collision occurs when two or more devices have the same ident, device type and share a common channel. The device with the lowest identifier remains unlocked, other devices will be blocked using the "bad configuration" code.

adsa We have reverted update until some problems being solved.

Next Monday, on October 14, we will install an update with the small change in our Telematics Gateway REST API. Once installed, the devices creation method ( POST , https://flespi.io/docs/#/gw/!/devices/post_devices ) will require the " device_type_id " and " configuration " fields to be specified. Also, the " configuration " object for all device types will require an " ident " field. Please review your integrations and correct them to always include such fields when you're creating devices. If you have any questions, please contact us in the chat embedded in the flespi.io panel or on forum.flespi.com

adsa The problems were resolved and the update was installed.

[Changelog] flespi telematics hub

adsa

We have added a new field to the device called "groups," which contains a list of groups that the device is a member of. The field can be used to select devices based on group name or ID. The field format is as follows:

[
  {"id": 1, "name": "group1"},
  {"id": 2, "name": "group2"},
]

Examples:

To get a list of groups: GET /gw/devices/all?fields=groups
To send a command to all members of a group (by name): POST /gw/devices/groups.name=group1/commands
To send a command to all members of a group (by ID): POST /gw/devices/groups.id=1/commands
To send a command to all devices that are not in any group: POST /gw/devices/groups=[]/commands

adsa

adsa We have added new fields to the device that function similarly to the previously added groups field. The newly added fields include: plugins, streams and calcs.

adsa

We have improved the response format of the GET gw/channels/{ch-selector}/idents/{idents-selector} method. It now includes the device ID and the last time when this ident was active:

[...{
      "channel_id": 123,
      "device_id": 321,
      "ident": "1234567890123456",
      "last_active": 1686040736.261311,
      "source": "127.0.0.1:48993" 
},...]

The same information is available in the MQTT state. The topic format is: flespi/state/gw/channels/XXX/idents/YYY

adsa

adsa We have supported plugin fields. It is useful to filter out devices by field value:
GET gw/devices/plugins.fields.serial=XXXX

adsa

We have enhanced the error output for REST requests. The error message now includes the specific field or selector that caused the error.:

GET https://gw.flespi.io/gw/channels/all?fields=xxxx'
{"result":[],"errors":[{"field":"xxxx","reason":"field is not allowed"}]

adsa

We have enhanced the webhooks functionality by introducing new features:

HTTP Requests chain: Now, you can send up to 5 sequential HTTP requests for each message. The responses from the finished requests will be available for the subsequent requests.

Requests Validation Expression: Each request includes a validation expression. If the expression fails, several options are available to handle the situation.

shal

Similar to what was initially done with channels we implemented access to raw traffic for streams. Now you can explore full traffic exchange between flespi and 3rd party platform. Access to traffic is available for all types of streams: AWS, Azure, Google Pub/Sub, HTTP, MQTT, AMQP and so on.

YuryAheichyk

We have added warnings to logs if messages from devices contain invalid data or cannot be registered. Such warnings are yellow and mean:

parameters quantity max limit - the number of parameters in the message exceeds the maximum limit
timestamp parameter invalid - the timestamp parameter in the message is out of range of valid values
position related parameters (latitude, longitude, altitude, speed) filtered out from the message due to invalid values - position related parameters have been discarded, since having invalid values

shal

We implemented device media storage. This is a separate storage where flespi telematics hub can automatically place files upon reception from device. Some examples of such files are: images and video data from connected camera, ddd files from connected tachograph and so so on.

Currently all pictures received from devices are automatically placed on this storage and public link to the file is added to the message JSON. To test how it works you may use a channel with telegram protocol.

Stored media data can affect your monthly bill. To control it you may fine-tune media files TTL and media files rotation size settings in device properties:

adsa

New REST API methods to control device connections were added:

Get a list of device connections:

HTTP Method: GET
Endpoint: gw/devices/{dev-selector}/connections/{conn-selector}
Example Response:
```
     "result": [
       {
         "channel_id": XXX,
         "meta": null,
         "id": 2757994813524,
         "source": "127.0.0.1:15659",
         "established": 1699447504.38722,
         "secondary": false,
         "device_id": YYYY,
         "ident": "IMEI"
       }
     ]
   }
```
Each connection has its own MQTT topics:
Connection state topic: flespi/state/gw/devices/{device-id}/connections/{conn-id}
Connection counters topic: flespi/state/gw/devices/{device-id}/connections/{conn-id}/counters
```
{
  "bytes_in": 1844,
  "bytes_out": 130,
  "commands_executed": 3,
  "commands_failed": 0,
  "errors": 0,
  "messages": 9,
  "messages_skipped": 0,
  "settings_processed": 2,
  "warnings": 0
}
```
Close device connections:
HTTP Method: DELETE
Endpoint: gw/devices/{dev-selector}/connections/{conn-selector}

YuryAheichyk

We implemented a new modem 1NCE that uses the 1NCE API to send SMS to devices

YuryAheichyk

YuryAheichyk 1NCE modem has been updated, added Source address optional configuration field, which allows to check the SMS sender when receiving a message additionally

YuryAheichyk

We have expanded the capabilities of the Convert message option in Streams. Now, you can also specify the parameters that will be added to the final message

kial

Scheduled removal of the parameter: image.bin.jpeg.
Date of deletion: February 13, 2024

A while back, we introduced media storage for devices, and all images are now uploaded there before message registration. Thus, messages with images (pictures, camera snapshots) now contain image twice - in old parameter image.bin.jpeg with base64-representation of image file and a direct link to image uploaded to device media storage - in field url of object parameter media.image. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue the old method of storing images, and the image.bin.jpeg parameter will be removed on February 13, 2024.

If you have any questions - don't hesitate to contact us in the flespi support chat.

kial

Please be aware that after the upcoming change on February 13, 2024 (kial) , you will need to have created device entities (if not created yet) to receive photos from your devices.

kial

As mentioned in kial, parameter image.bin.jpeg removed from all protocols.

shal

For all platform elements (devices, channel, webhooks, streams, plugins, etc) we increased duration of logs storage from 30 days up to 1 year.

Now you have 12 times more useful information stored in logs and it’s free!

adsa

We have added a traffic viewer button to webhook logs. It displays real incoming and outgoing traffic generated by the webhook. It is convenient for checking traffic while configuring the webhook initially.

Corresponding REST API method:

HTTP Method: GET
Endpoint: platform/webhooks/{webhook-selector}/packets
Example Response:

  "result": [
    {
      "timestamp": 1705405542.523666,
      "type": 0,
      "conn": 1
    },
    {
      "timestamp": 1705405542.523692,
      "type": 3,
      "conn": 1,
      "data": "UE9TVCAvZ3cvZGV2aWNlcyBIVFRQLzEuMQ0KSG9zdDogMTAuOS4wLjQ2OjkwMDQ...."
    }
  ]
}

adsa

adsa
In addition to the webhook's traffic button, we have added a traffic viewer button to plugins logs.

Corresponding REST API method:

HTTP Method: GET
Endpoint: gw/plugins/{plugins-selector}/packets
Example Response:

  "result": [
    {
      "timestamp": 1705405542.523666,
      "type": 0,
      "conn": 1
    },
    {
      "timestamp": 1705405542.523692,
      "type": 3,
      "conn": 1,
      "data": "UE9TVCAvZ3cvZGV2aWNlcyBIVFRQLzEuMQ0KSG9zdDogMTAuOS4wLjQ2OjkwMDQ...."
    }
  ]
}

adsa

Webhooks have become more flexible. Now, it is possible to run an expression to validate the response. Depending on the expression result, it is possible to skip the message or repeat it at intervals.

For example, if your backend returns HTTP codes in the 2XX range, you can validate these codes with the following expression:

kial

Scheduled removal of the parameters: image.name and image.timestamp.
Date of deletion: February 27, 2024

Now those values stored in fields "name" and "created" of the the media.image object parameter.

kial

As announced by kial , now parameters image.name and image.timestamp are no longer added to messages that already contain the media.image media file parameter in the new form.