Deploying Products With Static Tokens
How to work with Static Tokens in a commercial environment
Deployment of commercial IoT products for use by end-customer is a challenging process. Blynk offers tools to simplify this process for manufacturers, developers, and end-users.
There are three ways to obtain AuthTokens for your devices:
Manually: typically used at prototyping stages or in non-commercial applications
Automatically, using Blynk.Inject : can be used for WiFi devices only
Using Static Tokens
This article will help you to understand the key concepts related to Static Tokens and guide you through the steps required at all stages - from manufacturing to delivery of your devices into the customer's hands.
What is a Static Token and when to use it?
Static Tokens are designed for non-wifi devices (cellular, Ethernet, etc.). These devices can connect to the Internet on their own and don't require any additional user input (e.g. WiFi credentials) to get online.
Use-cases can be broader than this, of course. For example, your devices can connect to a mobile (cellular) hotspot using hardcoded WiFi credentials. In such cases, Static Tokens are applicable as well.
When you create a new Static Token using the tools we offer, two related items are created: AuthToken (Device Token) and QR Token. Static Token always belongs to a specific Device Template and specific Organization.
AuthToken (Device Token)
Every device on Blynk platform has an AuthToken (OAuth Token), also often called as Device Token. This is a unique identifier of the device and it's used to authenticate, validate, and connect devices to Blynk.Cloud.
AuthToken is stated in the firmware code and is flashed to the device before it is delivered to the end customer.
AuthToken is usually not exposed to the end users due to security reasons (for the same reason you should not display it for public view anywhere).
QR Token
This is a special token encoded into a QR code image. QR code is used only for assigning a certain device to a certain user within a certain organization. This process is also called Device claiming.
During device claiming, your customers scan the QR code using Blynk.Apps or Blynk.Console and it's automatically assigned to their account and their organization.
Users can claim the device regardless if it has already been online and connected to the Blynk.Cloud or not.
QR token is secure. It can only be used for claiming purpose. Unlike AuthToken, nobody can access the device by knowing the QR token.
After the QR token was used, device can't be claimed by anyone else. It can be unclaimed only by the owner of the device or by the manufacturer.
Relationship to the Device Template
Static Tokens are generated for a specific Device Template. When device connects to the Blynk.Cloud for the first time, AuthToken is used for authentication. Then the server checks whether such AuthToken belongs to a Static Token. If this is true, this device will be using a corresponding Template.
Relationship to the Organization
When you generate Static Tokens, they are created in your organization. You will have all the visibility on them and access the tools to manage these tokens further.
A common scenario is when the device goes online before getting into customer's hands. Such device will be authenticated by Blynk.Cloud and placed into the organization where the Static Token was created. Device will have unclaimed status. When end user claims it, device ownership will be updated and device will be transferred to the user's organization automatically.
Blynk currently doesn't support over-the-air firmware updates for devices that utilize Static Tokens. Such functionality is planned for future releases.
Device Activation With Static Tokens
The workflow proposed below covers these steps:
Generating Static Tokens
Flashing Tokens to your devices
Prepare for the product delivery. Working with QR codes
Claiming devices by end-customers
Managing Static Tokens
1. Generating Static Tokens
You have two options for generating the number of Tokens you need based on the number of devices you plan to deploy:
Automatically generate the number of tokens you need
Generate Tokens based on the CSV file you provide
Generate tokens automatically
This is the simplest way to generate any number of Static Tokens you need.
The number of tokens you can create is limited by your plan limits. If you need more tokens, upgrade to a higher plan.
Go to Blynk.Console → Static Tokens
Click on Create Static Tokens
Choose Auto-create
Choose the Template to create tokens for
Input the number of Tokens you need
Each token can now be seen in the list. Each token is associated with a QR code image.
Export the full list as a zip file which will contain a CSV file with all the AuthTokens and a folder with all the QR code images as PNG files. You can also extract the detail of each token in the list one by one.
Now the new AuthTokens are ready to be flashed to the hardware.
Generating Static Tokens from a CSV file
In some cases, you may already have devices ready for a specific customer, or you already have some information like serial number on the devices and you need to map this information to Static Tokens.
The process of generating Static Tokens from a file looks like this:
1. Data preparation:
Identify the data you would like to associate with devices
In the Device Template -> Metadata create Metadata fields for each data item you would need
Create a CSV file with headers that correspond to the Metadata field names
Example: Let's say you have 3 devices and they already have a Serial Number, a MAC address, and device names assigned.
First of all, you would need to create 2 new metadata fields in the Device Template: Serial Number and MAC address. Device Name is a default Metadata provided by Blynk and there is no need to duplicate it.
Then create a CSV file like the one below.
SN000001
2C:54:91:88:C9:E3
Temperature Sense Node AGHJ
SN000002
5C:62:91:82:C9:E8
Temperature Sense Node KJGF
SN000003
4A:33:54:68:K9:F1
Temperature Sense Node CVBN
CSV file headers are case-sensitive and should fully match Metadata Field names.
2. Generate Static Tokens from the file
Go to Blynk.Console → Static Tokens
Click on Create Static Tokens → Create From File
Choose Template
Upload the file
Blynk will parse the CSV file and will identify all the columns (or find errors in the file)
The number of Tokens will be based on the number of rows in your file
You will have the ability to remap the columns in your file to metadata fields
After this process is finished each token can be found in the list of Static Tokens. Each token is associated with a QR code image. Now you can export Tokens as a .zip file. It will contain AuthTokens and a folder with all the QR code images as PNG files.
Now you have AuthTokens that can be flashed to devices.
2. Flashing AuthTokens to devices
While Static Tokens are favorable for end-users because they enable an amazing user experience (scan the QR code and the device is ready), working with them brings challenges to the manufacturing process.
The biggest challenge is that since every device would need to have a unique AuthToken stated in the firmware, every firmware file will be different. For example, if you have 100 devices, you would need 100 versions of the firmware file.
Depending on the volumes you are working with, you should take this factor into account.
3. Preparing for device delivery
Once your devices are flashed with AuthTokens and tested, you will need to prepare QR codes. These codes will be used by your clients to claim their devices.
If you plan to test, set up, calibrate or perform any actions with the device before sending it to a customer, you can safely do so. Devices will remain working in your organization, but stay unclaimed before the QR code is scanned.
Only after the QR code is scanned, the device will change its status to "Claimed" and move to the client's organization.
Printing QR codes
QR code images can be printed on the packaging, inserted in the box, or delivered to your clients electronically.
All you need to do is export QR code images by going to Blynk.Console → Static Tokens. There you can select the tokens you need and export them. You can also do it manually for an individual token.
Every QR code image file is named after an AuthToken it belongs to.
Printing QR codes and putting them onto the device with the same AuthToken can be challenging. You need to plan this process together with flashing the firmware to the devices. These two processes should be synchronized.
Manual for end customers
It's also beneficial to prepare a manual for your customers outlining the steps they need to make to activate their device (read below).
4. Device claiming (activation) by end customers
When customers receive your device, they will need to claim (activate) it. For that they would need:
The device itself (this is optional because the device can be activated with just a QR code)
QR code image
Account in Blynk
Keep in mind, that in order to claim the device it doesn't have to be connected to Blynk.Cloud. End users can claim both connected and non-yet-connected devices. Both Blynk.Apps and Blynk.Console has a "device online" indicator, so the user will always know if the device is connected or not.
This is what the flow with the connected device looks like in detail:
User unpacks your device
User turns on the device
The device shows some indicator that it's online
When the device connects to the Blynk.Cloud, it doesn't have an owner yet. So at that moment, the device is placed under the organization of the manufacturer (the organization where Static Token was created)
The user accepts your invite within Blynk.App
The user scans the QR printed on the device box
The device is transferred from the manufacturer organization to the end user organization
Deleting a device by the end customer
If the user deletes the device from their account, it becomes unclaimed. After that, it can be claimed again by other customers by scanning the QR code.
PRO Plan Workflow
Create a new sub-organization for your client in Blynk.Console → Organizations
Invite your client to this organization using their email. Your customer will get an invitation to create a new account by simply creating a password
The customer logs in using Blynk.Apps for iOS and Android or Blynk.Console in their browser
Make sure your customer has a QR code image
The customer scans the provided QR code
The device appears under their account and is ready for use
BUSINESS plan workflow
With BUSINESS plan you no longer need to invite each client manually like in PRO plan. They can create accounts and claim devices by themselves. Here is how it works:
The customer downloads your branded app and creates a new account there. Or they can use your branded web console.
When logged in, the customer clicks on Add New Device and scans the provided QR code
The device appears under their account and is ready for use
It's beneficial to prepare instructions for your customers outlining the steps they need to take to activate their devices
5. Managing Static Tokens
Blynk.Console allows you to manage Static Tokens.
Disclaiming a Static Token
Disclaiming removes any ownership of the device and sets it back as unclaimed. After that, it can be claimed again.
Disclaiming can only be done by the organization where it was created.
After the Static Token becomes unclaimed, the device is removed from the organization it belonged to, but it stays in the system. If it connects to the cloud again, it will automatically return to the organization where the Static Token was created.
Examples when disclaiming can be needed:
Testing. You may test the tokens and then disclaim them before sending the device to end customers.
Device return. If a device was returned and you need to resell it again. Disclaiming will allow new customers to claim the device again.
Ownership change. When your customer wants to give the device to another user. (You can also use device transfer for that without disclaiming)
Deleting a Static Token
This is a critical action that can't be undone. You won't be able to restore this device
When you delete a Static Token, an associated AuthToken becomes invalid. If it was flashed to the device, this device would not be able to connect. You need to generate a new Static Token and use the new AuthToken.
If you delete a Static Token after a device was claimed, this device will be deleted permanently. Customers won't be able to claim it.
If you deleted a Static Token before the device was claimed, the device will not be able to connect.
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