Tim, Jeremiah, Muntaser, and Chris used Avaya / Zang, Telnyx, Flowroute, and VOIP Innovations to create Ciphertext. A mobile application platform for shared and controlled access to your smart home devices. The mobile app allows you to share access to a smart-lock enabled door via an SMS text message or an MMS delivered QR code. You can also enable the system to recognize your face upon apprival and unlcock the door. If an intruder attempts to break into the system, you will receive an MMS notification with a photo of the intruder. Through the mobile app, you can also manage control of other smart home devices with friends and guests. They won $400 from VoIP Innovations, $500 from Flowroute, $300 from Telnyx, and $500 from Avaya/Zang.

1. CIPHERTEXT
TADHack-mini Orlando 2018
Tim Christovich, Jeremiah Lantzer, Muntaser Syed, Chris Woodle

2. Inspiration
One day, you’re at the office or at school, only to realize you
left an important deliverable in your home...

3. Inspiration
…you can’t run back, your meeting is in ten minutes, but a
good friend of yours is willing to help...

4. Inspiration
…what do you do?

5. Inspiration
…what do you do?
Thankfully, you have a smart lock on your door!

6. Inspiration
…what do you do?
Thankfully, you have a smart lock on your door!
Unfortunately… your friend does not have a smartphone, or
used his or her data for the entire month.

7. The Problem
Smart home devices often require complex mobile
applications with user accounts and other functionalities built
in that are either unnecessary or require considerable setup
X

8. The Problem
It is difficult to manage access of smart home devices and
ensure a secure line of control
X

9. Our Solution
CIPHERTEXT
A mobile app enabled system
designed to help you manage
and control access to your
smart home devices, while
keeping you informed about
your connected home.

10. Our Solution

11. How It Works
User Selects
Device from
Application
User chooses
method of
authenticating
users
Friend can
enter code and
authenticate
system
Friend’s face is
added to the
face recognition
directory
Friend receives
message with
QR code
Friend receives
message with
SMS code
Friend can
scan code and
authenticate
system
Friend can walk
up to door and
authenticate
system

12. Key Functionalities
● Allow access for a friend
○ Over SMS or MMS for one-time access
○ Facial recognition for returning guests
● View access history for device via the Droplit.io API
● Get system and security updates for the connected home

13. APIs and Integrations
Used Avaya ZANG for MMS from mobile app
authentication request
Used Telnyx for SMS from mobile app
authentication request
Used Flowroute for SMS from sensor reporting
systems
Used VoIP Innovations technology to notify
users of security events

14. Tech Stack
● Front-end
○ Ionic 3 mobile application
● Back-end
○ Python backend on Heroku to handle app requests and SMS/MMS/Image dispatch
○ Amazon S3 bucket for returning images to software stack
○ Droplit.io for smart home device management
● Hardware (refactored for Ciphertext based on previous project)
○ Raspberry Pi
■ NodeJS server to handle SMS code
○ Python server for QR authentication

15. Thinking for the Future
● Add complete smart home device control
○ Share with your roommate in an apartment or residence hall to
allow them access to your devices
● Enable more triggers besides the mobile application
○ Using Alexa or Google Home units to prompt for allowing someone in
● Better assist the blind or physically disabled
○ Use telephone calls as a means of providing authentication
for someone to enter or exit a space

16. From idea... ...to product

17. Thank you!