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Bolt DevicesBolt Device

Bolt Device

A Bolt Device is a device that runs Beam Bolt and is registered to your merchant account. It is either a Bolt+ terminal supplied by Beam (BOLT_PLUS) or your own Android device running the Beam Bolt app (BOLT_APP).

A Bolt Device is not created through the API. It is registered automatically once the device is running Beam Bolt on your merchant account.

What a Bolt Device contains

FieldMeaning
idThe Bolt Device ID. You use it to read the device, rename it, or run a health check.
nameThe label you give the device, such as Front counter. You can change it at any time.
typeBOLT_PLUS or BOLT_APP.
deviceIdentifierThe identifier of the physical device.
latestMetricThe most recent report from the device, or null if it has never reported. See What a metric contains.
createdAtWhen the device was registered.

Device health

Device health is the current health of your Bolt Device: whether it is still working, and the state it is in. Each device reports a metric about itself, and the latest one is the latestMetric field on the device. You can also ask a device to report now with a health check.

Important

Keep your devices up to date for the best experience. Health checks work best on Beam Bolt v1.15.0 or later. If a device runs an older version, please contact Beam support and they can help you update it.

Bolt Device health check flow

The 202 Accepted from Health Check Bolt Device by ID only means that Beam passed your request on. The result arrives later, when the device sends its metric. A device that is switched off or has no network cannot send one, so latestMetric keeps the value it had before.

To read the result, call Get Bolt Device by ID and compare latestMetric.createdAt with the time you sent the health check. A newer timestamp means the device answered, and a latestMetric that is still null means it has never reported. A healthy device usually answers in a few seconds, and a device on a slow mobile network takes longer, so wait 2 to 5 minutes before you decide.

Important

Do not send health checks in quick succession. Each one makes the device collect and send a metric, so too many checks can overwhelm your device.

What a metric contains

FieldMeaning
modeThe mode the device runs in: STANDALONE, PAIRING or DEEP_LINK.
versionNameThe version of Beam Bolt installed on the device.
batteryPercentageBattery level, from 0 to 100.
isBatteryChargingWhether the device is charging.
connectivityTypeThe connection the device uses: WIFI or CELLULAR.
wifiConnectivityStrengthLevelWi-Fi signal strength, from 0 (weakest) to 100 (strongest). null if not reported.
cellularConnectivityStrengthLevelMobile signal strength, from 0 (weakest) to 100 (strongest). null if not reported.
createdAtWhen the device reported this metric.
Important

wifiConnectivityStrengthLevel and cellularConnectivityStrengthLevel are not the internet speed. They only tell you how strong the connection is. A device can have a strong signal and still be slow, for example on a busy network.

When a device needs attention

  • No answer to a health check within 2 to 5 minutes. The device is offline, switched off, or has no network.
  • A low batteryPercentage while isBatteryCharging is false. The battery is running out.
  • A low strength level for the connection in connectivityType. Payments may be slow or may fail.
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