Bachelor Thesis Project
Mobile Application for Modem Configuration
Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) | 2023
This thesis presents a comprehensive cross-platform mobile application designed to simplify OpenWRT router configuration and network management for end users. The application provides an intuitive material design interface that enables users to monitor network activity, manage connected devices, perform internet speed tests, track data usage, and configure router settings through a mobile device without requiring technical networking knowledge or command-line access.
Technical Architecture
The application employs a three-tier architecture: a Kivy/KivyMD frontend for the mobile interface, a Flask middleware layer for API management, and direct integration with OpenWRT's RPC (Remote Procedure Call) interface for router communication. The system utilizes JSON-RPC protocol for secure authentication and command execution on the router, with SQLite database on the router for persistent data storage of device names, login history, and speed test results.
Technology Stack
Core Features & Capabilities
- Secure Authentication System: JSON-RPC based login with animated loading screens, session management, and automatic login tracking with timestamp recording
- Real-Time Network Device Monitoring: Live detection and display of all connected devices showing MAC addresses, IPv4 addresses, custom device naming, and connection status
- Device Management: Edit device names, delete device entries, and remotely disconnect devices from the network with confirmation dialogs
- Internet Speed Testing: Integrated speed test functionality measuring download/upload speeds using external test servers with automatic result storage in SQLite database
- Password Management: Secure password change interface with confirmation validation and immediate application to router settings
- Comprehensive History Tracking: Multiple history views including login history (who accessed the router and when), speedtest history (router-initiated tests), and user speedtest history
- Data Usage Monitoring: Track and visualize network data consumption with historical graphs using Matplotlib integration
- Material Design UI: Modern, responsive interface with smooth animations, floating action buttons, scrollable card views, and popup dialogs for user interactions
- Cloud Storage Integration: AWS S3 (ArvanCloud endpoint) integration for speed test file operations and data backup
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Built with Kivy framework enabling deployment on Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and macOS
Application Demonstration
Implementation Details
Communication Protocol: The application establishes communication with OpenWRT
routers through HTTP requests to the LUCI RPC interface at http://192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/luci/rpc/.
Authentication returns a session token used for subsequent API calls.
Database Operations: The system executes SQLite commands remotely on the router through the RPC system interface, managing tables for devices, login history, speed test results, and user data. All database operations are wrapped in secure RPC calls with authentication tokens.
Network Device Detection: Connected devices are discovered by querying the router's ARP table and DHCP lease information through RPC calls. The application cross-references MAC addresses with stored device names in the SQLite database to provide user-friendly device identification.
Speed Test Mechanism: Speed tests are performed by downloading/uploading a 1MB test file from/to external servers, measuring transfer time, and calculating bandwidth. Results are automatically formatted to two decimal places and stored with timestamps for historical analysis.
UI/UX Design: The interface utilizes KivyMD components including MDCard for content containers, MDTextField for inputs, MDRectangleFlatButton for actions, and MDScrollView for navigable content. Smooth fade-in/fade-out animations enhance user experience during screen transitions and popup displays.
Research Contributions & Impact
This thesis successfully demonstrates that complex network administration tasks can be made accessible to non-technical users through well-designed mobile interfaces. The project bridges the gap between professional-grade router firmware (OpenWRT) and consumer-friendly mobile applications.
Key Achievements:
- Successfully implemented bidirectional communication between mobile app and OpenWRT router via RPC
- Created a secure, token-based authentication system preventing unauthorized access
- Developed a scalable architecture that can be adapted for various router models and firmware versions
- Implemented real-time network monitoring without requiring continuous polling
- Designed an intuitive UI that reduces the learning curve for router management from hours to minutes
- Integrated cloud storage for enhanced speed testing accuracy and data redundancy
Future Applications: This approach can be extended to manage other network devices, IoT systems, or smart home configurations, demonstrating the versatility of mobile-first network management solutions.
