Reef App: Incorrect Parking Zone Diagnosis - Solar Faults | terminalfaults.org

Technical Background:

The Reef app relies on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons for geolocation and parking zone identification. The application retrieves zone data via secure API calls (HTTPS/TLS) to Impark's servers. Incorrect zone data can stem from misconfigured beacons, DNS resolution failures, cached data inconsistencies, or API endpoint issues. API responses are expected to conform to JSON standards; deviations may trigger errors. The system uses token-based authentication. The expected API response code for successful zone retrieval is 200 OK. Other codes (e.g., 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error) indicate server-side issues.

Symptoms:

The Impark Reef app displays an incorrect parking zone designation at the kiosk location. This discrepancy impacts parking validation and payment accuracy.

Possible Causes:

1. Incorrect Beacon Configuration: The beacon transmitting the parking zone ID may be misconfigured or transmitting the wrong identifier.
2. DNS Resolution Failure: The kiosk's network might be unable to resolve the Impark API endpoint, causing the app to default to a cached or incorrect zone.
3. API Endpoint Issue: The Impark API server may be experiencing downtime or returning incorrect zone data for the kiosk's location.
4. Application Caching: The Reef app may be using outdated cached parking zone data. A stale cache could lead to incorrect zone displays, especially after zone configuration changes.
5. TLS/SSL Certificate Issue: Problems with the TLS/SSL certificate used for secure communication between the app and the server may lead to connection failures and incorrect zone data being displayed.
6. Token Invalidity: The authentication token used by the Reef app to access the parking zone data may have expired or become invalid.

Solution:

1

Verify Beacon Configuration: Use a BLE scanner app on a separate device to confirm the beacon's transmitted zone ID matches the intended parking zone.
2

Flush DNS Cache: If possible, flush the kiosk's DNS cache to ensure it's resolving the Impark API endpoint correctly. Reboot the kiosk to refresh DNS.
3

Test API Endpoint Connectivity: Use a network diagnostic tool (if available on the kiosk) to test connectivity to the Impark API endpoint. Verify that the server is reachable and returning a 200 OK response.
4

Clear App Cache: If the app allows, clear its cache and data. Restart the app to force it to retrieve the latest zone information from the server.
5

Verify TLS/SSL Certificate: Ensure that the kiosk's system date and time are accurate, as this can affect TLS/SSL certificate validation.
6

Check for App Updates: Ensure the Reef app is running the latest version. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements to beacon handling and API communication.
7

Token Refresh Verification: Trigger a manual token refresh within the application if such a function exists or by restarting the kiosk.

Safety Warning:

Ensure the kiosk's power cord is properly grounded and protected from accidental damage. Follow safe handling procedures when interacting with the kiosk's electrical components. Due to the unattended, public nature of the kiosk, be aware of potential vandalism risks.

Prevention:

Regularly monitor beacon health and battery levels. Implement a system for automated cache invalidation in the Reef app to ensure it retrieves the latest zone data. Monitor API response codes for anomalies. Periodically restart the kiosk to clear temporary files and refresh its network connection.

Expert Tip:

Monitor the API response times. Consistently slow response times may indicate server-side issues. Consider implementing a fallback mechanism where the app displays a generic parking zone message if it cannot retrieve zone data from the server. Implement robust error logging to capture detailed information about zone retrieval failures.

Frequently Asked Questions

•What is the signal strength of the beacon at the kiosk?

Measure the RSSI value using a BLE scanner app. Low signal strength may indicate beacon placement or battery issues.

•What is the exact API endpoint URL being used by the app?

This information may be available in the app's configuration or documentation. Verify that the URL is correct and accessible.

•What is the timestamp of the last successful zone data retrieval?

Check the app's logs or settings for the last successful data retrieval timestamp. This will help determine if the issue is related to stale data.

Technical Background:

Symptoms:

Possible Causes:

Solution:

Safety Warning:

Prevention:

Expert Tip:

Frequently Asked Questions

•What is the signal strength of the beacon at the kiosk?

•What is the exact API endpoint URL being used by the app?

•What is the timestamp of the last successful zone data retrieval?

Related questions

Technical Background:

Symptoms:

Possible Causes:

Solution:

Safety Warning:

Prevention:

Expert Tip: