Real-Time Gold Price Display Board

Overview

The Real-Time Gold Price Display Board is a connected digital display system developed for jewelry shops and other gold businesses that need to present frequently changing gold prices clearly and accurately.

The system uses an ESP32 microcontroller, Wi-Fi connectivity, and WebSocket communication to receive updated pricing data in real time. Large seven-segment displays provide clear visibility for both shop owners and customers.

The objective was to create a fast, reliable, and practical display system that reduces the need for manually updating price boards whenever market prices change.

Problem

Gold prices can change frequently, and jewelry shops need a convenient way to communicate the latest prices to customers.

Traditional manual boards require staff to update the displayed values repeatedly. This can be inconvenient, time-consuming, and may result in outdated prices remaining visible.

The display system therefore needed to provide:

• real-time price updates
• clear visibility from a distance
• simple operation
• reliable Wi-Fi communication
• fast data refresh
• a robust embedded controller
• a clean display suitable for customer-facing environments

Solution

The system uses an ESP32 as the main embedded controller.

The ESP32 connects to the local Wi-Fi network and maintains a WebSocket connection with the data source. When a new gold price is received, the controller processes the data and immediately updates the corresponding seven-segment displays.

This allows the board to show current prices without requiring the shop operator to manually change each displayed value.

The resulting system provides a transparent and convenient way for both shop owners and customers to view updated gold prices.

System Architecture

The basic data flow is:

Gold Price Data Source → WebSocket Server → Wi-Fi Network → ESP32 → Display Controller → Seven-Segment Displays

The WebSocket connection allows updated values to be delivered to the display system without repeatedly requesting the complete data set.

Hardware

The main hardware used in the system includes:

• ESP32 microcontroller
• seven-segment display modules
• display driver electronics
• power-supply circuitry
• Wi-Fi network connection
• custom wiring and interconnections
• display mounting structure

The large numeric displays were selected to keep pricing information easy to read for customers inside the shop.

Embedded Firmware

The ESP32 firmware manages the communication and display functions of the board.

Its main responsibilities include:

• connecting to Wi-Fi
• establishing the WebSocket connection
• receiving real-time price data
• parsing incoming values
• mapping prices to the appropriate displays
• updating seven-segment digits
• maintaining reliable communication
• recovering from temporary connection interruptions

The embedded design keeps the price display independent from a conventional computer at the display location.

Real-Time WebSocket Communication

WebSocket communication is used to maintain an active connection between the price data source and the display board.

When updated pricing becomes available, the new values can be sent directly to the ESP32 and reflected on the display with minimal delay.

This approach is well suited to applications where information changes frequently and should appear quickly on a remote display.

Display System

The board uses multiple seven-segment display modules arranged to show several gold-price values at the same time.

The bright numeric displays provide:

• high visibility
• simple numerical presentation
• quick readability
• clear separation of different price values

The display layout is designed so customers can understand the current pricing information without needing to interact with another device.

Connectivity

The ESP32 connects to the shop’s available Wi-Fi network.

Once connected, it communicates with the remote price-data service through WebSocket.

This architecture makes it possible to update the displayed values remotely without physically accessing the display hardware each time a price changes.

Key Features

• ESP32-based embedded controller
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• WebSocket-based real-time updates
• multiple seven-segment displays
• high-visibility price presentation
• fast display refresh
• remote price updates
• simple customer-facing information display
• robust embedded operation
• suitable for jewelry and gold shops

Engineering Challenges

The project required both communication reliability and accurate display control.

Important engineering considerations included:

• maintaining stable Wi-Fi connectivity
• keeping the WebSocket connection active
• processing updated values quickly
• controlling multiple seven-segment displays
• ensuring the correct price reaches the correct display position
• maintaining clear visibility
• recovering from temporary network interruptions
• building a reliable system for continuous shop operation

Implementation

The system was developed around an ESP32 connected to multiple display modules.

After startup, the controller connects to Wi-Fi and establishes communication with the WebSocket service. Incoming pricing data is processed by the firmware and converted into values suitable for the display hardware.

The corresponding seven-segment modules are then updated so the latest pricing information is immediately visible.

The complete system combines embedded firmware, real-time networking, display electronics, and IoT communication in a single practical retail information product.

Testing

Testing focused on both communication and display behavior, including:

• Wi-Fi connection
• WebSocket connectivity
• real-time data reception
• price update speed
• display accuracy
• repeated updates
• communication recovery
• continuous operation
• readability of the displayed values

The system was designed to remain responsive while continuously displaying updated pricing information.

Current Status

The system was developed as a completed working prototype demonstrating reliable real-time gold-price display using ESP32, Wi-Fi, WebSocket communication, and seven-segment display hardware.

It provides a practical example of how IoT and embedded systems can be used to modernize information displays in retail environments.

Business Value

For a jewelry or gold shop, the system provides a simple way to keep important pricing information visible and current.

Key benefits include:

• reduced manual price-board updates
• faster communication of new prices
• improved transparency for customers
• clear customer-facing presentation
• centralized remote updating
• convenient operation for shop staff

Technologies Used

• ESP32
• Wi-Fi
• WebSocket
• embedded firmware
• seven-segment displays
• display driver electronics
• real-time data communication
• IoT connectivity

Related Engineering Areas

This project combines several IoTSolutions capability areas:

• IoT system development
• embedded systems development
• hardware prototyping
• real-time communication
• connected displays
• retail information systems