WiFriends

Project: CN-Lab PS TU Darmstadt (WiSe-2014/15)

Description:

One-Liner: Decentralized Social Networking App using WiFi Direct (An Android App which helps in Socializing with Trusted Friends in Proximity using D2D Communication)

As a part of the research idea, from the Peer-to-Peer Systems Engineering Lab, TU Darmstadt, to estimate the feasibility of latest mobile technology in creating an ad-hoc peer to peer networks, this project involved developing a Decentralized Social Networking application, that uses Wi-Fi P2P API for the overlay creation and it dynamically discovers peers in proximity to exchange profile information in JSON format.

The project considers security as a major aspect of concern in such ad-hoc communication and addresses by data encryption using pre-shared key (AES 256) exchanged securely via Near Field Communication(NFC) during the add friend stage. Material Design UI (Android Lollipop) is also incorporated into the application.

Technologies Tag: Android, Java, SQLite, WifiP2P API, Cryptography, AES 256 Encryption, Spongy Castle API, Git, Material Design UI, Android Lollipop, Android Studio

Key features:

• Decentralized and without Internet - using Wi-Fi P2p API of Android
• Exchanges only with Trusted Friends - using NFC and local PINs to securely Add Friends to Trust Zone
• Collected profiles are stored Locally on user's devices - using SQLite DataHandlers and JSON objects
• User can later browse friends Profile - using Profile View UIs
• Automatic Content Exchange whenever friends are in Proximity via any D2D Communication Technique(WifiP2P) Network Service Discovery
• The app should be Secure - Only friends can exchange Contents - using Encrypted exchange of Profile data AES-256
• UI - As Less Interactions as possible - Implementing as foreground Service
• UI – Appealing to view profiles

Code Modules:

• Module: MAIN
  
• Module: addfriends
• Module: castle
• Module: datahandlers
• Module: profilepage

Tutor:

Leonhard Nobach, M.Sc.

Members:

• Hariharan Gandhi (hariharangandhi17@gmail.com)
• Harini Gunabalan (harinigunabalan24@gmail.com)

Screenshots:

WiFriends App's Material UI

• The Material Design UI and the Add Friends Feature screenshot is shown:

News Feed Before Profile Exchange

• The News Feed with the friend's current Status is shown on two friend devices.

Users' Statuses Updated

• The users update their status on their respective devices.

News Feed After Profile Exchange

• Now the devices come into proximity, connect to each other through WiFi Direct to exchange profiles and the updated statuses are reflected on the friend's devices.