Hypertrack, Inc

Build custom views with data

Stream data as callbacks to native apps

One of the more frequent use cases supported by HyperTrack is live location status streaming to your app user's mobile device.

For example, if you are developing a carpool app, you want to provide a native real-time view of a driver on the way to a pickup destination, with up-to-date location and status with ETA.

To help you build apps where native in-app real-time tracking experience is required, HyperTrack provides you Views SDKs for Android and iOS as building blocks. You can use these building blocks to create real-time location tracking experience in the map layer of your own choosing, with full control of UI/UX while HyperTrack provides you real-time location data updates and infrastructure. This way, you focus on creating compelling app experience without worrying about building location tracking infrastructure.

Views SDKs connect directly to HyperTrack cloud and provide you callbacks you can use in your app to stream real-time data for devices involved in your business workflow. Views SDKs stream devices' locations, status changes, as well as trip updates to your mobile app directly from HyperTrack platform.

important

HyperTrack Views SDK on both Android and iOS enable you to deliver real-time location tracking experience without you needing to set up your own servers.

HyperTrack does this directly for you by pushing live subscriptions to your app via Views SDK in real-time at scale.

Live location streaming on Android

The Android Views SDK is used for getting live location and movement data for devices and trips directly to your native Android app. Please follow steps below to learn how to integrate the SDK and get started with its API.

note

Currently we do support all of the Android versions starting from API 19 (Android 4.4 Kit Kat)

Add Views SDK

Add following lines to your app build.gradle file:

// Import the SDK within your repositories block
repositories {
maven {
name 'hypertrack'
url 'http://m2.hypertrack.com'
}
...
}
//Add HyperTrack Views SDK as a dependency
dependencies {
implementation 'com.hypertrack:hypertrack-views:0.8.5'
...
}

Instantiate Views SDK

Pass Context reference to get SDK instance.

HyperTrackViews hypertrackView = HyperTrackViews.getInstance(this, PUBLISHABLE_KEY);

Identify which device to track

For example, your app user a passenger waiting for a pickup. Your passenger app user needs to be able to see driver's device in real-time inside your app. You have a database of drivers, and dispatched an available driver to pick up your passenger. The driver is identified by the device id.

Please see this guide on how to get and store device ids required for your application workflow.

Views SDK

Your driver app user runs a dedicated driver app which integrates HyperTrack SDK on either Android or iOS. The driver's app is on the move and generates location data sent by HyperTrack SDK.

Get current location of tracked device

With the SDK, you can get current status of another's app user device status. For example, once a passenger launches the app, you may call to get location of the driver on the way to a pickup spot.

To do this, get current state of this driver's device, identified by driverDeviceId as shown in the snippet below:

hypertrackView.getDeviceMovementStatus(
driverDeviceId,
new Consumer<MovementStatus>() {
@Override
public void accept(MovementStatus movementStatus) {
Log.d(TAG, "Got movement status data " + movementStatus);
}
});

In the callback, you'll receive MovementStatus object which describes the current state of the driver's device. This object also contains location that you may able to use to render the current driver location with its status in the passenger's app.

Subscribe to streaming updates to get location data

You can receive device state changes updates as shown in the snippet below. In the example below, you can see the following callback methods:

  • onLocationUpdateReceived - gives you the location update for a device
  • onBatteryStateUpdateReceived - battery state change update
  • onStatusUpdateReceived - device status change
  • onTripUpdateReceived - provides a trip status update
  • onError - provides feedback about errors that may occur in streaming
  • onCompleted - notifies about a successful completion of subscription being stopped
hypertrackView.subscribeToDeviceUpdates(
driverDeviceId,
new DeviceUpdatesHandler() {
@Override
public void onLocationUpdateReceived(@NonNull Location location) {
Log.d(TAG, "onLocationUpdateReceived: " + location);
}
@Override
public void onBatteryStateUpdateReceived(@BatteryState int i) {
Log.d(TAG, "onBatteryStateUpdateReceived: " + i);
}
@Override
public void onStatusUpdateReceived(@NonNull StatusUpdate statusUpdate) {
Log.d(TAG, "onStatusUpdateReceived: " + statusUpdate);
}
@Override
public void onTripUpdateReceived(@NonNull Trip trip) {
Log.d(TAG, "onTripUpdateReceived: " + trip);
}
@Override
public void onError(Exception exception, String deviceId) {
Log.w(TAG, "onError: ", exception);
}
@Override
public void onCompleted(String deviceId) {
Log.d(TAG, "onCompleted: " + deviceId);
}
}
);

Tracking trips with Views SDK

Examples above illustrate how to create a passenger app and use Views SDK to track a driver. You may create a trip for the driver as explained in Track live route and eta to destination guide.

Since each trip created has a device id, you may use this device id to subscribeToDeviceUpdates. This way, you will get trip status updates, which include ETA, ETA changes, as well as delays via onTripUpdateReceived callback.

Streaming location data from multiple devices

In use cases where you need to track multiple devices in realtime in the app, you can easily accomplish this goal by subscribing to more than one device.

In the example below, you may execute subscribeToDeviceUpdates to get streaming updates for driverDeviceId_1 and driverDeviceId_2.

hypertrackView.subscribeToDeviceUpdates(
driverDeviceId_1,
new DeviceUpdatesHandler() {
@Override
public void onLocationUpdateReceived(@NonNull Location location) {
Log.d(TAG, "onLocationUpdateReceived: " + location);
}
}
hypertrackView.subscribeToDeviceUpdates(
driverDeviceId_2,
new DeviceUpdatesHandler() {
@Override
public void onLocationUpdateReceived(@NonNull Location location) {
Log.d(TAG, "onLocationUpdateReceived: " + location);
}
}
);

Stopping real-time streaming updates in app

Finally, if you wish to stop streaming updates or if the app user exits the screen where this experience is no longer required, you should invoke stopAllUpdates method in your HyperTrack Views instance.

hypertrackView.stopAllUpdates();

Live location streaming on iOS

The iOS Views SDK is used for getting live location and movement data for devices and trips directly to your native Android app.

Please follow steps below to learn how to integrate the SDK and get started with its API.

Getting started with Views SDK on iOS

Clone HyperTrack Views iOS repository

git clone https://github.com/hypertrack/views-ios.git
cd views-ios
Install Views SDK dependency

Please use CocoaPods dependency manager to install the latest version of the HyperTrackViews library. Using the latest version of CocoaPods is advised.

If you don't have CocoaPods, install it first. Run pod install inside the cloned directory. After CocoaPods creates the ViewsExample.xcworkspace workspace file, open it with Xcode.

Set your Publishable Key and Device ID

Open the ViewsExample project inside the workspace and set your Publishable Key and Device ID inside the placeholder in the ViewController.swift file.

Run the ViewsExample app

Run the app on your phone or simulator and you should see the map with your device on it. You can see the subscription status and full MovementStatus data structure in Console logs inside Xcode (for apps built in DEBUG mode).

Integrate HyperTrackViews library
note

HyperTrackViews supports iOS 11.2 and above, using Swift language.

Add HyperTrackViews to your project

We use CocoaPods to distribute the library, you can install it here.

Using command line run pod init in your project directory to create a Podfile. Put the following code (changing target placeholder to your target name) in the Podfile:

platform :ios, '11.2'
inhibit_all_warnings!
target '<Your app name>' do
use_frameworks!
pod 'HyperTrackViews'
end

Run pod install. CocoaPods will build the dependencies and create a workspace (.xcworkspace) for you.

Create an instance

To create an instance of HyperTrackViews, pass it your publishable key:

let hyperTrackViews = HyperTrackViews(publishableKey: publishableKey)

You can initialize the library wherever you want. If reference gets out of scope, library will cancel all subscriptions and network state after itself.

Get current location of tracked device

Please review the above section on how to get a device id for the device that needs to be traceked.

You can get a snapshot of your device movement status with movementStatus(for:completionHandler:) function:

let cancel = hyperTrackViews.movementStatus(for: "Paste_Your_Device_ID_Here") {
[weak self] result in
guard let self = self else { return }
switch result {
case let .success(movementStatus):
// Update your UI with movementStatus structure
case let .failure(error):
// React to errors
}
}

Update your UI using data from MovementStatus structure.

You can use cancel function to cancel the request if you want, just run cancel() to cancel the request.

You can ignore the return value from movementStatus(for:completionHandler:) by using let _ = moveme... pattern (The use of the pattern is needed until Apple will fix SR-7297 bug).

Subscribe to streaming updates to get location data

You can get movement status continuously every time tracked device updates its location. This function makes a movementStatus(for:completionHandler:) call under the hood, so you'll get initial status right away.

let cancel = hyperTrackViews.subscribeToMovementStatusUpdates(
for: driverDeviceId) { [weak self] result in
guard let self = self else { return }
switch result {
case .success(let movementStatus):
// Update your UI with movementStatus structure
case .failure(let error):
// React to subscription errors
}
}

You need to hold on to the cancel() function until you don't need subscription results.

If this function gets out of scope, subscription will automatically cancel and all network resources and memory will be released. This is useful if subscription is needed only while some view or controller is in the scope.

Tracking trips with Views SDK

Examples above illustrate how to create a passenger app and use Views SDK to track a driver. You may create a trip for the driver as explained in Track live route and eta to destination guide.

Since each trip created has a device id, you may use this device id to subscribeToMovementStatusUpdates. This way, you will get trip status updates, which include ETA, ETA changes, as well as delays via onTripUpdateReceived callback.

Streaming location data from multiple devices

In use cases where you need to track multiple devices in realtime in the app, you can easily accomplish this goal by subscribing to more than one device.

In the example below, you may execute subscribeToMovementStatusUpdates to get streaming updates for driverDeviceId_1 and driverDeviceId_2.

let cancel = hyperTrackViews.subscribeToMovementStatusUpdates(
for: driverDeviceId_1) { [weak self] result in
guard let self = self else { return }
switch result {
case .success(let movementStatus):
// Update your UI with movementStatus structure
case .failure(let error):
// React to subscription errors
}
}
let cancel = hyperTrackViews.subscribeToMovementStatusUpdates(
for: driverDeviceId_2) { [weak self] result in
guard let self = self else { return }
switch result {
case .success(let movementStatus):
// Update your UI with movementStatus structure
case .failure(let error):
// React to subscription errors
}
}

Special note on Xcode 10.1 Support

If you want to run the project on Xcode 10.1 that doesn't support Swift 5, you need to add this post_install script at the end of your Podfile. For this project you can copy-paste the following snippet below:

platform :ios, '9.0'
target 'ViewsExample' do
use_frameworks!
pod 'HyperTrackViews'
end
post_install do |installer|
installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
if ['HyperTrackViews', 'AWSCore', 'AWSAppSync', 'ReachabilitySwift', 'SQLite.swift'].include? target.name
target.build_configurations.each do |config|
config.build_settings['SWIFT_VERSION'] = '4.2'
end
end
end
end

This script will set Swift 4.2 for all HyperTrackViews dependencies, so you don't need to do this every time.

Then you need to go to the Pods project inside the workspace then Pods > SQLite.swift > standard > Foundation.swift and change datatypeValue function to:

public var datatypeValue: Blob {
return withUnsafeBytes { (pointer: UnsafePointer<UInt8>) -> Blob in
return Blob(bytes: pointer, length: count)
}
}

Select Unlock when Xcode prompts, then build the project. You'll need to change datatypeValue function every pod reinstall, until this issue is closed.

Summary

HyperTrack Views SDK for both Android and iOS allow you to stream location data from devices using HyperTrack SDK.

HyperTrack SDKs for for Android and iOS, including Flutter and ReactNative modules, allow you to integrate location tracking. They automatically send location in real-time whenever you use HyperTrack Devices and Trips API to control their location tracking.

With HyperTrack Devices and Trips APIs, HyperTrack SDKs, and HyperTrack Views SDKs you have a full set of tools powered by HyperTrack infrastructure to help you create apps such as carpooling, ridesharing, as well as any other use cases requiring real-time native app tracking experiences. We can't wait to see you focus on what you do best: create and build apps while leaving the worries of location tracking infrastructure and tools to HyperTrack.

Stream data to front-ends using GraphQL

You can create compelling live location tracking views on mobile devices and desktop applications for your app users without having to provision your infrastructure.

For example, with HyperTrack, you can implement ride sharing applications where passengers can view their drivers arriving to the pickup location live on their phone. Your delivery customers can track delivery driver whereabouts and ETA in the native experience of your app. A foreman in the field can track live locations of crew members in the field, in real-time.

Using GraphQL to power live tracking views

To help achieve the goal of live tracking of your app users, HyperTrack utilizes GraphQL. HyperTrack GraphQL schema defines queries and subscriptions that drive and support native app experiences as well as custom web apps you may decide to build.

important

This is a pre-release feature which is under active development and implementation may be subject to change. If you would like to get access to create live views in your app, please contact us.

Getting started

HyperTrack uses AWS AppSync to provide support for its GraphQL schema.

You need the following to get started:

  • GraphQL schema that can be found here.
  • Access to GraphQL server URL with an API Key.
note

Get in touch with us to obtain access to HyperTrack GraphQL end point.

GraphQL schema

Please follow detailed examples of queries and subscriptions below that can power your app.

Query to get device movement status and its trips

HyperTrack supports an ability to create trips with Trips API as explained in this guide.

Query getMovementStatus gives you detailed information about device status as well as actively ongoing trips. Use a device_id which you want to track live in your app in both native mobile app and as well as in a web app.

In order to perform this query, you must also obtain a publishable key available in your HyperTrack Dashboard Setup page.

query GetMovementStatus($device_id: String!, $publishable_key: String!) {
getMovementStatus(device_id: $device_id, publishable_key: $publishable_key) {
device_id metadata
location {
accuracy bearing speed
geometry { coordinates }
recorded_at
}
battery
device_status {
value
active { activity recorded_at }
inactive { reason recorded_at }
disconnected { recorded_at }
}
device_info { app_name app_version_string app_version_number device_brand device_model name os_name os_version sdk_version }
trips {
trip_id device_id started_at completed_at metadata
status eta_relevance_data { status reason }
views { embed_url share_url }
destination {
geometry { coordinates }
radius address scheduled_at arrived_at exited_at
}
geofences {
geofence_id
metadata
geometry { type center vertices }
radius
arrived_at exited_at
}
estimate {
route {
distance duration remaining_duration
start_address end_address
polyline { coordinates }
}
}
trip_summary {
distance duration started_at completed_at
locations { coordinates { coordinate timestamp} }
markers {type data {
__typename
... on GeofenceMarkerData {
geofence_visit_duration: duration
arrival {location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}}
exit {location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}}
geofence {
geofence_id radius arrived_at exited_at metadata
geometry {type center vertices}
}
route_to {
duration distance
start_location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}
}
}
... on TripMarkerData {
recorded_at metadata
location {coordinates}
route_to {
duration distance
start_location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}
}
}
... on DeviceStatusMarkerData {
distance duration reason value activity
start {recorded_at location {geometry {coordinates}}}
end {recorded_at location {geometry {coordinates}}}
}
}}
}
}
}
}

The query will return current location of the device identified by device_id, along with its device_status and trips data.

To get understanding of device status and trips data structures, please visit this GraphQL schema file and following guides:

  • Device status as explained in this guide.
  • Trips API create trips response section.

Query to get trip data

Once you know trip_id and want to optimize getting specific trip data, you can use getTrip query which will retrieve current trip data:

query GetTrip($trip_id: String!, $publishable_key: String!) {
getTrip(trip_id: $trip_id) {
trip_id device_id started_at completed_at metadata
status eta_relevance_data { status reason }
views { embed_url share_url }
destination {
geometry { coordinates }
radius address scheduled_at exited_at arrived_at
}
geofences {
geofence_id
metadata
geometry { type center vertices }
radius
arrived_at exited_at
}
estimate {
route {
distance duration remaining_duration
start_address end_address
polyline { coordinates }
}
}
trip_summary {
distance duration started_at completed_at
locations { coordinates { coordinate timestamp} }
markers {type data {
__typename
... on GeofenceMarkerData {
geofence_visit_duration: duration
arrival {location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}}
exit {location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}}
geofence {
geofence_id radius arrived_at exited_at metadata
geometry {type center vertices}
}
route_to {
duration distance
start_location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}
}
}
... on TripMarkerData {
recorded_at metadata
location {coordinates}
route_to {
duration distance
start_location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}
}
}
... on DeviceStatusMarkerData {
distance duration reason value activity
start {recorded_at location {geometry {coordinates}}}
end {recorded_at location {geometry {coordinates}}}
}
}}
}
}
}

Query to get trip destination, estimate, and metadata

Additionally, in the use case where you already have a trip rendered and want to query updates involving only the following:

  • Destination being reached and exited
  • Trip ETA being changed
  • Trip metadata changes if any

you can perform getTrip query with only these query attributes you are interested in:

query GetTripDestination($trip_id: String!, $publishable_key: String!) {
getTrip(trip_id: $trip_id) {
trip_id device_id
destination {
geometry { coordinates }
radius address scheduled_at arrived_at exited_at
}
}
}
query GetTripEstimate($trip_id: String!, $publishable_key: String!) {
getTrip(trip_id: $trip_id) {
trip_id device_id
eta_relevance_data { status reason }
estimate {
route {
distance duration remaining_duration
start_address end_address
polyline { coordinates }
}
}
}
}
query GetTripMetadata($trip_id: String!) {
getTrip(trip_id: $trip_id) { trip_id device_id metadata }
}
### Query to get trip geofences and summary
query GetTripGeofencesAndSummary($trip_id: String!, $publishable_key: String!) {
getTrip(trip_id: $trip_id) {
trip_id device_id
geofences {
geofence_id
metadata
geometry { type center vertices }
radius
arrived_at exited_at
}
trip_summary {
distance duration started_at completed_at
locations { coordinates { coordinate timestamp} }
markers {type data {
__typename
... on GeofenceMarkerData {
geofence_visit_duration: duration
arrival {location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}}
exit {location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}}
geofence {
geofence_id radius arrived_at exited_at metadata
geometry {type center vertices}
}
route_to {
duration distance
start_location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}
}
}
... on TripMarkerData {
recorded_at metadata
location {coordinates}
route_to {
duration distance
start_location {recorded_at geometry {coordinates}}
}
}
... on DeviceStatusMarkerData {
distance duration reason value activity
start {recorded_at location {geometry {coordinates}}}
end {recorded_at location {geometry {coordinates}}}
}
}}
}
}
}

Live location tracking

Finally, to help create live experience in your app, use subscribeToLatestEvent subscription to get latest device location, battery, device status, as well as trip updates streamed to your device.

subscription SubscribeToLatestEvent($device_id: String!, $publishable_key: String!) {
subscribeToLatestEvent(device_id: $device_id, publishable_key: $publishable_key) {
device_id
publishable_key
location {
geometry { coordinates }
accuracy bearing speed recorded_at
}
battery
device_status {
value
active {activity recorded_at}
inactive {reason recorded_at}
disconnected {recorded_at}
}
trip_update {trip_id change_reason}
}
}

Trip change reasons can be one of the following as explained in the schema:

enum TripChangeReason {
completed
created
delayed
destination_arrival
destination_exit
geofence_enter
geofence_exit
metadata_change
recalculated
remaining_duration_update
}

Using API key to access HyperTrack GraphQL end point

Please follow this example to perform a query against HyperTrack GraphQL end point:

curl -X "POST" "<hypertrack_graphql_url>" \
-H 'X-Api-Key: <api_key>' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
-d $'{
"query": "query Trips( ... ",
"variables": {
"input": {
"publishable_key": "your-publishable-key"
}
}
}
note
Contact us with us to obtain access to HyperTrack GraphQL end point.

Questions?

If you have questions or comments on any of the topics above, please do not hesitate to contact us.