Developing a Smart Community Life Assistant Based

Developing a Smart Community Life Assistant Based on HarmonyOS Next

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I. Scenario-Driven: When HarmonyOS Meets Community Life

Imagine this scenario: The building door automatically recognizes residents and unlocks in the morning; your phone alerts you when packages arrive; all residents receive real-time water outage warnings... All this becomes possible through HarmonyOS Next’s distributed capabilities. This tutorial will use AppGallery Connect and ArkTS to develop a full-scenario life assistant featuring smart access control, property payments, community alerts, and more – truly integrating technology into daily life.

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II. Three-Step Environment Setup

Essential Tools:

• DevEco Studio 4.1 (with built-in HarmonyOS SDK 5.0)
• Activated AppGallery Connect account

Initialization Process:

1. Create a project in the AGC console, enabling Cloud Functions and Cloud DB
2. Check "Super Visual" low-code mode when creating the Ability project
3. Configure module.json5 with life service permissions:

"abilities": [{  
  "permissions": [  
    "ohos.permission.ACCESS_DOOR_CONTROL",  
    "ohos.permission.RECEIVE_COMMUNITY_MSG"  
  ]  
}]  

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III. Core Function Implementation

1. Smart Access Control System

Features: Face recognition + remote unlocking

// DoorAccess.ets  
import doorControl from '@ohos.doorControl';  
import faceAuth from '@ohos.faceAuth';  

@Entry  
@Component  
struct SmartDoorPanel {  
  @State doorStatus: string = "locked"  

  // Unlock via face recognition  
  async unlockByFace() {  
    try {  
      const result = await faceAuth.auth({ challenge: "Community Access" });  
      if (result.code === 0) {  
        await doorControl.unlock("main_gate");  
        this.doorStatus = "unlocked";  
        console.info("Face recognition successful, door unlocked");  
      }  
    } catch (err) {  
      console.error("Recognition failed: " + err.message);  
    }  
  }  

  // Remote unlock (visitor function)  
  remoteUnlock(visitorId: string) {  
    cloud.function('verifyVisitor')  
      .call({ visitorId })  
      .then(() => doorControl.unlock("side_gate"))  
  }  

  build() {  
    Column() {  
      Button("Unlock with Face")  // 实际开发需国际化处理  
        .onClick(() => this.unlockByFace())  
        .visibility(this.doorStatus === "locked" ? Visibility.Visible : Visibility.None)  

      Text(`Access Status: ${this.doorStatus}`)  
        .fontColor(this.doorStatus === "locked" ? Color.Red : Color.Green)  
    }  
  }  
}  

2. Property Payment System

Innovation: Automatic bill recognition + cross-device payment

// PropertyPayment.ets  
import billscanner from '@ohos.billscanner';  
import pay from '@ohos.pay';  

export class PaymentService {  
  // Paper bill scanning  
  async scanBill(image: image.PixelMap) {  
    const result = await billscanner.scan({  
      type: billscanner.BillType.PROPERTY_FEE,  
      image: image  
    });  
    return result.fields;  // Returns amount/house number  
  }  

  // Family group payment (Phone → Tablet confirmation)  
  @DistributedTask("family-payment")  
  async familyGroupPay(order: Order) {  
    const devices = deviceManager.getTrustedDevices();  
    // Push payment requests to family devices  
    devices.forEach(device => {  
      distributedDevice.sync(device.id, "payment-request", order);  
    });  
  }  

  // Payment result callback  
  onPaymentResult(callback: (result: PaymentResult) => void) {  
    distributedDevice.on("payment-result", callback);  
  }  
}  

3. Community Notification Center

Highlights: Tiered alerts + emergency broadcasts

// NoticeCenter.ets  
import notification from '@ohos.notification';  
import geofence from '@ohos.geofence';  

@Component  
struct CommunityAlerts {  
  // Location-based alerts  
  setupLocationBasedAlerts() {  
    geofence.on('enter', (fence) => {  
      if (fence.id === "garbage_station") {  
        notification.show({  
          content: "Near garbage station. Today's sorting: Food/Other"  
        });  
      }  
    });  
  }  

  // Emergency broadcasts (triggered by property)  
  @ReceiveBroadcast("emergency_alert")  
  onEmergencyAlert(alert: {type: string, msg: string}) {  
    notification.show({  
      title: "【URGENT】" + alert.type,  
      content: alert.msg,  
      importance: notification.Importance.HIGH,  
      isAlertOnce: true  // Avoid duplicate alerts  
    });  
  }  
}  

4. Neighborhood Social Module

Special Feature: Interest-based sharing

// SocialHub.ets  
import social from '@ohos.social';  

@Entry  
@Component  
struct InterestCircle {  
  @StorageLink('userInterests') interests: string[] = []  

  // Join interest circle  
  joinCircle(circleId: string) {  
    social.joinGroup(circleId).then(() => {  
      this.interests.push(circleId);  
    });  
  }  

  // Post to circle  
  @DistributedPersistence("post_cache")  
  async postToCircle(content: string, images: string[]) {  
    const post = {  
      content,  
      images,  
      circle: this.interests[0]  // Default to recent circle  
    };  
    await cloud.database().collection('posts').add(post);  
  }  

  build() {  
    DynamicContainer()  
      .dataSource(this.interests.map(id => circleData[id]))  
      .builder((circle) => CircleCard({ circle }))  
  }  
}  

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IV. Key Technology Breakdown

1. Atomic Service Implementation

graph TB  
A[Payment Service] -->|Launched| B[Phone]  
A -->|Launched| C[Smartwatch]  
A -->|Launched| D[Car Screen]  

Implementation:

// module.json5  
"abilities": [{  
  "forms": [{  
    "name": "quick_pay",  
    "description": "Quick Payment",  
    "type": "service",  
    "uiSyntax": "hml"  
  }]  
}]  

2. Cross-Device Data Sync

// Family device synchronization  
const syncOptions = {  
  mode: distributedData.SyncMode.PUSH_PULL,  
  filters: ["payment_status", "door_events"]  
};  
distributedData.sync(syncOptions);  

3. Device-Cloud Collaboration

Device → HarmonyOS SoftBus → AppGallery Connect → Property Management  
        │                  │  
    Local response      Big data analytics  

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V. Performance Optimization

1. Rendering Optimization

// Conditional rendering reduces DOM nodes  
if (this.hasNewNotice) {  
  BannerNotice({ urgency: this.noticeLevel })  
}  

2. Data Loading Strategy

// Paginated community feeds  
LazyForEach(this.postDataSource, (post) => {  
  PostItem({ data: post })  
}, post => post.id)  

3. Power Saving Techniques

// On-demand location services  
geofence.enable().then(() => {  
  // Disable after obtaining geofence info  
  geofence.disable();    
});  

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VI. Deployment Guide

1. Cloud Service Configuration

1. Enable "Life Services" in AGC console
2. Configure bill recognition templates
3. Set payment callback URLs

2. Security Hardening

• End-to-end encryption for access control
• CAPTCHA for payment interfaces
• Local encryption for sensitive data

3. Release Checklist

• Property cooperation agreements
• Payment license number
• Privacy policy (with data collection details)

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VII. Extended Scenarios

1. AR Navigation: Point phone at buildings to see package locker locations
2. Smart Home Integration: Lights turn on automatically when entering home
3. Elderly Care: Automatic alerts for unusual inactivity patterns

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Conclusion: Technology Warms Life

This project demonstrates how HarmonyOS Next integrates fragmented services into a unified experience. Atomic services make functions universally accessible, distributed capabilities break device barriers, and ArkTS streamlines development. When technology truly understands human needs, smart communities become reality.