01 Crisostomo

The Official Journal of Engineering Research
Android-Based Room Device Management System

Michael R. Crisostomo, Elemar B. Gallardo,
Elvi Cathe Lzil M. Orbina and Melvin John H. Banzuelo
Abstract
The study aimed to create an Android-based system that manages

the use of appliances in a typical room of a student in a boarding
house with regard to switching and control via an Android tablet. The
system is composed of two Android tablets – one specifically for the
GSM and the other for Bluetooth, an Android application that displays
the outlets, and a main control panel that houses the microcontroller
and the Bluetooth module. A total of 15 sockets are installed so that
the appliances are plugged. The two tablets are connected via GSM,
and then the tablet specifically for Bluetooth is connected to the
Bluetooth module of the main control panel that also houses the driver
circuits responsible for supplying 220VAC to the outlets. This study
employed quantitative methods of research to generate the necessary
data. The methods used were experimental method, which involved
the development and incorporation of existing studies into the created
system, and descriptive approach, which involved evaluation of the
system through implementation and actual installation. The research
evaluation results proved that the system is very functional. The results
also affirmed the efficiency of the features with regard to feedback/
response via Bluetooth and GSM. With this system, persons who are
unable to walk around easily can control appliances at a touch of a
finger and people who are rushing to work or school can monitor the
status of their appliances away from their homes and control them.
Keywords: Engineering, Android-based system, room device, GSM,

Bluetooth, design project, experimental development, Philippines
University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•1

Introduction
According to an article entitled “Changing the Way Houses Operate”

(2005), smart home technology is the technology used to make all
electronic devices around a house act “smart” or more automated.
Many consider a smart home to be one that is networked. Others feel it
as a home that has appliances that will allow the consumers to do little
work to none at all, but a smart home really is all of that combined,
and more. Not only will all consumer products be networked, but they
will also make life easier on people. Smart home technology is being
developed and implemented for all rooms in the house, particularly in
the kitchen and the living room (Castelarhost.com, 2005). However,
just like with other technology, disadvantages arise including distance
and proximity.
Starting with electrical power, residential home infrastructure

over the decades has improved to provide interior automated
communications, entertainment, Internet, video, climate control and
security systems (ehow, 2011). An article from Manila Bulletin (2005)
stated that “home automation in the Philippines is uncommon and
only big establishment and commercial building like hotels, restaurant,
airports, sea ports and terminals can access to put up the system. The
system is commonly used for security purposes and only few people
can avail the system in the country because it is rather expensive. This
system helps them to monitor their house activities and also for security
purposes.” People nowadays want technology that they can avail even at
difficult times for their house. Automation in the house is a technology
that requires multiple operations just like what a smart home is like
today. Consequently, its installation is costly.
In Davao City, due to quick response and understanding of people

in technologies, one can almost see everyone, especially students,
holding phones or smartphones in cutting-edge platforms like Android.
Android platform is capable of enabling rich applications in many
genres and vertical industries (Ableson, 2012). Most home technologies
nowadays are on switching of the appliances yet those technologies do
2•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

not use technologies with the likes that are used for mobile phones.
There are other technologies that are developed that do not incorporate
convenience in a single portable device. The main concern of this
project, therefore, was to address the possible effect of the students’
forgetfulness in switching off devices during rush hours which may lead
to accidents. Furthermore, the researchers wished to provide solution
to problems arising from people with disabled mobility, particularly,
incapability of doing simple things such as switching of appliances.
In this manner, the researchers would like to solve the mentioned
problems by incorporating switching and controls of the appliances in a
mass-produced – single portable device through manual monitoring in
both close and distant proximity.
This particular study focused on a proposed design system for a

typical student’s room that features an Android tablet, with an installed
application developed via Eclipse, which can control the switching
of appliances and the volume and channel controls for the television
through Bluetooth and GSM.
This particular study aimed to create an Android-based system

that manages the use of appliances in a typical room of a student in
a boarding house with regard to switching and control via an Android
tablet. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:
1. What are the features of the android-based room device

management system?
2. What is the level of functionality of the system in terms of:
a. Bluetooth communication
b. GSM communication
c. Tablet Interface

Technical Flowchart
Android Tablet
for SMS
Android Tablet
for Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Module
Microcontroller
Driver Circuit Driver Circuit
Appliances TV Controls
Figure 1. Android-based room device

management system block diagram.
In Figure 1, the android tablets serve as the controllers of the

appliances. In long distances, the sending and receiving of commands
are done using a tablet-to-tablet GSM communication. When an
appliance is switched on, a message is sent to the other tablet. It reads
the message, then, after analyzing the message, it sends a command to
the Bluetooth module and triggers the driver circuit of the particular
ac power appliance. In short distances, the other tablet is used but
the tablet for GSM is also functional. To facilitate the feedback, the

switching circuit identifies the status of each appliance. The switching

circuit sends the information to microcontroller to process the
information suitable for transmitting using the Bluetooth module then
the information was then received by the android tablet. The android
tablet is responsible of showing the user the status of the appliance
whether it is plugged or unplugged. For the channel and volume
control of the TV, through the android tablet, the instruction is sent
to the microcontroller using Bluetooth module. The microcontroller
processes the message and sends the instruction to the TV controller
which is tapped inside the TV.
Method
Quantitative methods were utilized in this research specifically

experimental development and descriptive survey. Experimental
development is a systematic work that draws on existing knowledge
acquired from research and practical experience which is directed
to innovating materials, products or devices, to installing new
processes, systems, and services, or to enhancing significantly those
already available or produced. The purpose of producing plans and
arrangements or designs for new, changed or improved outputs,
processes or services is done through acquiring, combining, shaping,
and using of existing scientific, technological, business and other
relevant knowledge and skills (Frascati, 2011). With experimental
development, control systems and feedback theories were used in this
design to develop a device that will control appliances. Development
of GSM modules, Bluetooth module, and cellular phone configuration
were used to create a device that will send receive data between the
Android tablet and the microcontroller.
Descriptive method involves collection of data in testing hypothesis

or answering questions concerning the subjects of the study. Present
condition information is gathered by the researchers to describe the
nature of situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the
causes of this particular existence (Gay, 1976). Descriptive approach

of evaluating the device broadened the researchers’ response to the

depicted technical problems in order to search for solutions to achieve
improvement of the design.
The researchers made use of purposive sampling technique. The

researchers selected students who rent a studio-type apartment here
in Davao City. The students were instructed to control the appliances
in the room via Android tablet and to evaluate the convenience and
responsiveness of the appliances’ switching and controls by the actual
manipulation from the tablet. For the evaluation of the performance of
the appliances controlled by the Android tablet, the researchers selected
Electronics and/or Electrical Engineers who would rate the accuracy of
controls, functionality of the system, and range of connectivity during
transmission of commands via GSM and/or Bluetooth.
The researchers conducted the experimentations and other related

activities at the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao
City. After the experimentations, the system was implemented outside
the campus particularly in a house located at Door 4, Rafanan Bldg.,
Turquoise St., Marfori Hts., Phase 1, Davao City. It is a private studio-
type apartment with the necessary appliances.
The android-based room device management system was used to

control the switching of the appliances and vary the volume and channel
controls of the television using Android tablets, one via Bluetooth and
one via GSM. The system notified the Android tablets of the status of
each of the appliances in the designated place of implementation.
The application in the Android tablets was programmed using

Eclipse and JAVA SDK in JAVA language. It displayed a notification box,
a control section for the switching of the outlets, a remote-like control
for the volume and channel variation of the television, and options
whether to operate the system in Bluetooth mode or GSM mode.
The Bluetooth module was responsible for sending and receiving of

the controls between the Android tablet and the microcontroller of the

driver circuits of the appliances. The feedback system programmed was

also responsible for the “sensing” of the status of the appliances. The
Android application installed in the tablet displayed the status of the
outlets and also would indicate whenever there is a power interruption.
The microcontroller deciphered the commands from the modules from
the Android tablet, and the driver circuits did the commands from the
microcontroller to the appliances in switching.
Testing of the functionality of the system followed a certain

procedure. First, the Android tablet had an overview of the current
status of the appliances via Bluetooth or GSM. The tablet controlled the
switching of the appliances. Once an appliance is supplied, the tablet sent
an SMS to turn it on when it is at long-distance or control it directly at
close proximity with a limit of 10 meters inside the room via Bluetooth.
The tablet received notification or SMS from the microcontroller. For
the television, the tablet increased or decreased the volume and change
channels using the programmed application.
Twenty persons were involved in the evaluation of the system. The

evaluators were UIC faculty members, homeowners, real estate brokers,
persons with problems in mobility, boarding students, Electronic
Engineers, and Electrical Engineers. They used a Likert scaled evaluation
form with the highest rating of 5 labeled as “Strongly Agree” and the
lowest rating of 1 labeled as “Strongly Disagree.” The level of scale
described the response of the evaluators based on their observation and
evaluation of the system at actual implementation and application.

The matrix for mean values that follows was used to measure the
level of accuracy and functionality of the Android-Based Room Device
Management System.
Mean Range Responses Description Interpretation

4.20 – 5.00 Strongly Very High It means that the system
Agree exhibit the feature being
asked all the time
3.40 – 4.19 Agree High It means that the system
exhibit the feature being
asked most of the time

2.60 – 3.39 Moderately Moderately It means that the system
Agree High sometimes exhibit the
feature being asked
1.80 – 2.59 Disagree Low It means that the system
rarely exhibit the feature
being asked
1.00 – 1.79 Strongly Very Low It means that the system
Disagree never exhibit the feature
being asked

Results and Discussions
The features of the Android-Based Room Device Management

System are android tablet application, Bluetooth communication
command, GSM communication command, and feedback or response.
Switches (for TV,

Controlled TV controls, air
conditioner, 6 outlets)
Figure 2. The Main Panel of the System
As shown in Figure 2, the main panel of the system included

the controlled outlets where the appliances were plugged with LED
indicators, the manual override or the tapped switches for eight(8)
outlets including TV and air conditioner, and the push buttons for the TV
volume and channel controls. Inside the panel are the microcontroller,
the Bluetooth module that connects the system to the android tablet,
and driver circuits for each of the outlets and the TV controls. The whole
system is supplied with 220 VAC, and a transformer is used to reduce
supply for the module and microcontroller. The system is capable of

handling a maximum power of 1200 W for the fourteen (14) outlets

and 2400 W for the air conditioner.
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 3. The Android application display. a) icon for ABRDMS,

b) welcome display, & c) device list display
Shown in Fig. 3-a is the icon of the android application for the
system and is generally tapped to start the application. Fig. 3-b shows
the display that welcomes the user and gives options whether to use
the tablet in “Bluetooth Remote Mode” or “SMS Client Mode” after the
icon is tapped. The Bluetooth Remote Mode is used when the tablet
is within the 10-meter radius from the main panel and is mainly used
for the tablet left at home. The SMS Client Mode is used by the other
tablet that is carried outside home and communicates with the tablet
left at home via GSM. As shown in Fig. 3-c, the application displays the
different outlets controlled by the tablet – outlets A, B, C, D, F, G, H,
I, J, K, L, M, N, O, and V – and the notification at the top of the grid
that indicates when there is a power interruption. In the display, when
an outlet is tapped, a window appears then shows options whether to
turn it on or off. For the TV, when it is tapped, options for turn on/
off, volume up/down, and channel up/down appear. When an outlet is
turned on, the circle indicator displayed at the upper-left corner of each
outlet turns blue and turns red when off.

Table 1. General Features
Items Mean Standard Description Interpretation

Deviation
1. The appliances are

controlled via an
application in an 4.90 0.31 Very High All the time
android tablet
2. The management
system is:
a) Available via 4.75 0.55 Very High All the time
Bluetooth
b) Effective via 4.70 0.47 Very High All the time
Bluetooth
c) Available via 4.65 0.67 Very High All the time
GSM
d) Effective via 4.45 0.83 Very High All the time
GSM
3. There is a volume 4.75 0.44 Very High All the time
control for TV
4. There is a channel 4.70 0.47 Very High All the time
control for TV
Overall 4.75 0.46 Very High All the time
As shown in Table 1, the standard deviation of item 2-d means

a moderately high dispersion because of the signal loss encountered
during the evaluation as witnessed by particular evaluators who
carefully examined the system. Nevertheless, its mean at 4.45 indicates
that it is still highly functional. The first item with a standard deviation
of 0.31, the lowest standard deviation, means that there is minimal
variation in the evaluators’ assessment. The features have an average
rating of 4.75 – meaning the evaluators strongly agree in the over-all
efficiency of the system. Being described very high, it is interpreted
that the features always performs its functions. The average standard
deviation, at 0.46, means that there is low variation of the evaluators’
assessment of the system’s functionality and efficiency.

Table 2. Android Tablet Application

Deviation
The application:
1. displays the 4.50 0.83 Very High All the time
different appliances
controlled
2. displays the 4.80 0.41 Very High All the time
switching
commands for
appliances
3.
a) displays the 4.80 0.41 Very High All the time
volume control
for TV
b) displays the 4.80 0.41 Very High All the time
channel control
for TV
In Table 2, the standard deviation of 0.83 for item 1 indicates

that there is moderate variation with regard the evaluator’s assessment
because the application showed the outlets controlled instead of
specific appliances, except for the television and air conditioner which
are labelled specifically. This is because the system features outlet
switching control instead of the actual appliances, and the mean 4.50 of
item 1 means that it exhibits its function all the time. All the same, it is
shown that the tablet application is very highly efficient, with an overall
rating of 4.70. Its capability of displaying options for switching and TV
controls is highly regarded and is commended to be very convenient.
It is interpreted that the application exhibits its efficient functionality
regarding the display of controls and commands all the time.

Table 3. Bluetooth Communication Command

Deviation
1. The switching
of appliances is 4.70 0.57 Very High All the time
efficient
2. The control of
TV volume is 4.75 0.55 Very High All the time
functional
3. There is capability
of TV channel 4.70 0.57 Very High All the time
control
The Bluetooth scope is very highly efficient at an overall rating of

4.72 as shown in Table 3, and its standard deviation at 0.56 means that
there is not much variation with regard to the evaluators’ assessment of
the Bluetooth feature. The evaluators commended it as very effective
and fast as means of control and command and even in receiving
feedback when there is power interruption.
Table 4. GSM Communication Command

Deviation
1. Commands 4.40 0.88 Very High All the time

switching of
appliances
efficiently
2. Sends commands 4.35 0.88 Very High All the time
efficiently
3. Receives messages 4.70 0.47 Very High All the time
as confirmation

As shown in Table 4, the GSM feature got the lowest rating of 4.48
mainly because of the signal loss experienced during the evaluation. For
items 1 and 2, the standard deviation of 0.88 indicated a moderately
high dispersal because, during the evaluation, the delay in the sending
and receiving of the data were observed and noted still because of
the aforementioned limitation. For an overall interpretation, the GSM
exhibits its functions all the time despite such limitation. The overall
standard deviation at 0.74 shows a moderate dispersion with regard to
the evaluators’ assessment. Nevertheless, given the rating, the system is
still efficient and effective via GSM although network failure is beyond
the system’s control.
Table 5. Feedback/Response

Deviation
1. Indicates if the
appliances are 4.65 0.59 Very High All the time
switched on/off in
the tablet
2. Message via
GSM is received
as an indication 4.75 0.44 Very High All the time
of switching
command
Feedback or response is a very important feature of the system.

Its rating is at an average of 4.70, indicating that the system feedback/
response is very highly efficient. The standard deviation of 0.52 implies
that there is not much variation in the evaluators’ assessment. The
feedback via Bluetooth is very satisfactory according to the evaluators,
and the GSM feedback is also commended to be very convenient
in indicating appliances status even with power interruption. It is
interpreted to perform its functionality efficiently all the time.

Through continuous experimentation and research, the Android-

Based Room Device Management System is improved, developed and
has been successfully completed. The problems encountered were
addressed accordingly so that the system was ready for evaluation and
checking.
The research evaluation results prove that the system is very

functional. The results also affirm the efficiency of its features with regard
to feedback/response via Bluetooth and GSM. With this system, persons
who are unable to walk around easily can control appliances at a touch
of a finger and people who are rushing to work or school can monitor the
status of their appliances away from their homes and control them.
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The Official Journal of Engineering Research

Android-Based Room Device Management System

The study aimed to create an Android-based system that manages

Keywords: Engineering, Android-based system, room device, GSM,

University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•1

According to an article entitled “Changing the Way Houses Operate”

Starting with electrical power, residential home infrastructure

In Davao City, due to quick response and understanding of people

2•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

This particular study focused on a proposed design system for a

This particular study aimed to create an Android-based system

1. What are the features of the android-based room device

2. What is the level of functionality of the system in terms of:

University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•3

Driver Circuit Driver Circuit

Figure 1. Android-based room device

In Figure 1, the android tablets serve as the controllers of the

4•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

switching circuit identifies the status of each appliance. The switching

Quantitative methods were utilized in this research specifically

Descriptive method involves collection of data in testing hypothesis

University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•5

of evaluating the device broadened the researchers’ response to the

The researchers made use of purposive sampling technique. The

The researchers conducted the experimentations and other related

The android-based room device management system was used to

The application in the Android tablets was programmed using

The Bluetooth module was responsible for sending and receiving of

6•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

driver circuits of the appliances. The feedback system programmed was

Testing of the functionality of the system followed a certain

Twenty persons were involved in the evaluation of the system. The

University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•7

Mean Range Responses Description Interpretation

8•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

Results and Discussions

The features of the Android-Based Room Device Management

Switches (for TV,

Figure 2. The Main Panel of the System

As shown in Figure 2, the main panel of the system included

University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•9

handling a maximum power of 1200 W for the fourteen (14) outlets

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 3. The Android application display. a) icon for ABRDMS,

10•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

Table 1. General Features

Items Mean Standard Description Interpretation

1. The appliances are

Overall 4.75 0.46 Very High All the time

As shown in Table 1, the standard deviation of item 2-d means

University of the Immaculate Conception Pulsar•11

Table 2. Android Tablet Application

Items Mean Standard Description Interpretation

Overall 4.70 0.55 Very High All the time

In Table 2, the standard deviation of 0.83 for item 1 indicates

12•Pulsar University of the Immaculate Conception

Table 3. Bluetooth Communication Command

Items Mean Standard Description Interpretation

Overall 4.72 0.56 Very High All the time

The Bluetooth scope is very highly efficient at an overall rating of

Table 4. GSM Communication Command

Items Mean Standard Description Interpretation

1. Commands 4.40 0.88 Very High All the time

Overall 4.48 0.74 Very High All the time