This document describes the system architecture for a class project at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. It involves multiple groups creating hardware devices, mobile applications, and a server to connect various components. A Debian Linux server runs a MySQL database and REST API. Student groups created hardware devices like a robot and health sensor station, mobile apps, and server-side code to support the projects. All components communicate through the central REST API to share sensor data and other information.

1. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Conceptual Teaching and Information Architectures for
CST 498: Fall 2015
Howard V. Hardiman, Instructor
Computer Systems Technology Department
School of Technology

2. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (IT - 101)
2
Client ServerNetwork

3. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (Linux in CST 498)
3
Our Basic Server
Specs:
Debian Linux 8
• How much disk?
• How much RAM?
• Came pre installed with:
• This
• That
• The Third

4. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (IBM System Z + z/VM
Enabled Linux Virtualization)
4
IBM z9 Mainframe (Fort IRC NCAT)
LPAR
z/VM 5.4
z/VM Guest A
Debian Server VM: Group 1
z/VM Guest B
Debian Server VM: Group 2
z/VM Guest N
Group N
=
Z
Linux Server
Linux on Z

5. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (High Level Project
Description for Whole Class – Data Flow)
5
Debian Linux Guest OS
MySQL DB
ServerREST API
PHP Web Apps
Hardware/Sensing/Robotics
Vehicle (IoT)
Mobile Application
Clients
Web – Browser Table
View Client
Health Station Client
(IoT)
Direct DB
Connections/
Queries
HTML/HTTP
JSON/HTTP
www/NCAT Domain
Plain - Via URL

6. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
Hardware/Sensing/Robotics
Vehicle + REST Client
• Raspberry Pi Enabled ‘Tank Style’
Robot
• Tank Hack Robot has GPS
and Temperature Sensor
• Client code written in
Python to control vehicle
using Raspberry Pi GPIO,
read sensor values, and
initiate http request for
data posting
• Students Implemented
various cool control
capabilities
• Python requests module
used for HTTP Request
functionality for data
creation on remote VM
DB
System Architecture Description (Project Team 1 –
Temperature/GPS sensing Vehicle- IoT)
6

7. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
Mobile Application REST Clients
• Phone Gap Mobile Application
• Application area is
building a curriculum
viewer that consumes
data from a DB with
curriculum guides
• Written in HTML, CSS,
JavaScript, jQuery,
jQuery Mobile, etc.
• MIT AppInventor Mobile App
• Similar scope from above
but using AppInventor
• Great intro to creating a
data consuming Android
App that is a REST Client
to High School or
Collegiate laymen
System Architecture Description (Project Team 2 –
PhoneGap Android Application)
7

8. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
Health Station REST Client
• Raspberry Pi Enabled Health
Sensor Station
• Uses a cool Arduino
board on Raspberry Pi
that includes pulse, BP,
motion, etc. sensors
• Sensor code written in C
• Python Tkinter
application built for GUI
control by a user and
data sending, receiving,
and displaying
• Python requests module
used for HTTP Request
functionality for data
upping and receiving on
remote VM DB
System Architecture Description (Project Team 3 –
Health Station- IoT)
8

9. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture (Project Team 4 – Server Side
Development )
9
Server Side Needs
• Students worked server side
to create 3 MySQL DB’s,
REST Interface, and HTML
table output of info in DB’s
• Project work here
meant to support
previous three teams
• REST Interface built
using Slim PHP Micro
Framework
• Accepts plain text in
URL for data upping
• Data returned to the
client in JSON
• HTML table application
is PHP for tabular
output of queries

10. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (High Level Project
Description for Whole Class – Data Flow)
10
Debian Linux Guest OS
MySQL DB
ServerREST API
PHP Web Apps
Hardware/Sensing/Robotics
Vehicle
Mobile Application
Clients
Web – Browser Table
View Client
Health Station Client
Direct DB
Connections/
Queries
HTML/HTTP
JSON/HTTP
www/NCAT Domain
Plain - Via URL

11. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
Hardware/Sensing/Robotics Vehicle + REST Client
System Architecture Description (Project Team 1 –
Temperature/GPS sensing Vehicle- IoT)
11
Vehicle Chassis
Motor for Left Wheels Motor for Right Wheels
L298N Digital Motor Driver
6V Battery
Raspberry Pi – Embedded Linux Computer – Powered by 5V Battery
Wifi Dongle
(USB)
Bluetooth Dongle
(USB)
GPS Sensor
(GPIO)
Temperature
Sensor (GPIO)
Python Vehicular Control Software
• Keyboard Control via Wifi
• Wii Remote Control Via Bluetooth
Python Sensing and Data Upload Software
• Read GPS + Temp. Sensor and Initiate
Request
Raspberry Pi GPIO Header
Software Output Initialization
Motor Control Outputs
– 3 per Motor
Motor Control Signals:
Forward – Backward -
Brake
User Control
Commands
Sensed Values
POST RequestsTo Cloud/VM/DB

12. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (REST functionality for
Hardware IoT Team)
12
Debian Linux Virtual Machine
MySQL DB
Server
(picar)
REST API
1.
Process
URL/HTTP
request
2.
Perform
insert
query
based on
function
name and
input
3.
Return
success
message
Hardware/Sensing/Robotics
Vehicle Applications
Position
and
Temp.
+ “/addtemp” + ‘/‘+ :vehID + ‘/’ + :tempvalue (POST)
http://restmaster.ncat.edu/slimapi/picar
+“/addposs” + ‘/‘+ :vehID + ‘/’ + :lat+ ‘/’ + :long (POST)

13. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (REST functionality for
Mobile Team)
13
Debian Linux Virtual Machine
MySQL DB
Server
(curricula)
REST API
1. Process
URL/HTTP
request
2.
Perform
select
query
based on
function
name and
params
3.
Return
results in
JSON to
Client
Code
Mobile Application Clients
Curriculum
Guides and
Electives
http://restmaster.ncat.edu/slimapi/mobile/cguide
+“/getGuides” (GET)
+“/getHFA” (GET)
+“/getSBS” (GET)
+“/getSR” (GET)
+“/getTech” (GET)
+“/getGuide” + ‘/‘+ :short_name + ‘/’ + :year (GET)

14. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (Project Team 3 –
Health Station- IoT)
14
https://www.cooking-hacks.com/documentation/tutorials/ehealth-biometric-sensor-platform-arduino-raspberry-pi-medical

15. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
www.ncat.edu
System Architecture Description (REST functionality for
Health Station IoT Team )
15
Debian Linux Virtual Machine
MySQL DB
Server
(health)
REST API
1. Process
URL/HTTP
request
2.
Perform
query
based on
function
name/req
type, and
input
3.
Return
results in
JSON to
Client
Code
Health Station Client
User
Encounters
Blood
Pressure
http://restmaster.ncat.edu/slimapi/health
+“/getUser” (GET)
+“/getBPs” (GET)
+“/getPOs” (GET)
Pulse/Oxygen
+“/addUser” + ‘/’+ :fname + ‘/’ + :lname (POST) (User ID Returned)
+“/addBP” + ‘/’ + :userID + ‘/‘+ :pulse + ‘/’ + :dia + ‘/’ + :sys (POST)
+“/addPO” + ‘/’ + :userID + ‘/‘+ :bpm + ‘/’ + :spo (POST)