Matter smart home connectivity standard | |
Status | Published [1] |
---|---|
Year started | December 18, 2019 |
First published | October 4, 2022 |
Latest version | 1.4 7 Nov 2024 |
Committee | |
Authors | The connectivity standards alliance and open source contributors |
Base standards | Internet Protocol (IP) |
Related standards | Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, Wi-Fi, Aliro |
Domain |
|
License | Proprietary, by certification. Code and documentation published under the Apache License. |
Website | csa-iot |
Matter is a freely available connectivity standard for smart home and IoT (Internet of Things) devices. [2] [3] [4] It aims to improve interoperability and compatibility between different manufacturers and security, and always allowing local control as an option. [5] [6] [7]
Matter originated in December 2019 as the Project Connected Home over IP (or CHIP for short) working group, founded by Amazon, Apple, Google and the Zigbee Alliance, now called the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). [3] [5] Subsequent members include IKEA, Huawei, and Schneider. [8] [9] Version 1.0 of the specification was published on 4 October 2022. [1] [10] [11] The Matter software development kit is open-source under the Apache License. [12]
A software development kit (SDK) is provided royalty-free, [13] [14] though the ability to commission a finished product into a Matter network in the field mandates certification and membership fees, [15] [16] entailing both one-time, recurring, and per-product costs. [17] This is enforced using a public key infrastructure (PKI) and so-called device attestation certificates. [15]
Matter-compatible software updates for many existing hubs became available in late 2022, [18] [19] [20] with Matter-enabled devices and software updates starting to release in 2023. [21]
In December 2019, Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung SmartThings and the Zigbee Alliance announced the collaboration and formation of the working group of Project Connected Home over IP. The goal of the project is to simplify development for smart home product brands and manufacturers while increasing the compatibility of the products for consumers. [22] [23]
The standard operates on Internet Protocol (IP) and functions via one or more controllers that connect and manage devices within your local network, eliminating the need for multiple proprietary hubs. Matter-certified products are engineered to operate locally and do not depend on an internet connection for their core functions. [24] Leveraging IPv6 addressing, [25] the standard facilitates seamless communication with cloud services. Its goal is to facilitate interoperability among smart home devices, mobile apps, and cloud services, employing a specific suite of IP-based networking technologies such as mDNS and IPv6. [26] By adhering to a network design that operates at the Application Layer of the OSI 7 layer model, Matter differs from protocols like Zigbee or Z-Wave and theoretically can function on any IPv6-enabled network. Presently, official support is limited to Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and the wireless mesh network Thread. [27]
Updates to the standard are planned to occur biannually. [28]
For future versions, the working group has been working on support for ambient motion and presence sensing, environmental sensing and controls, closure sensors, energy management, Wi-Fi access points, cameras, and major appliances. [28]
CSA maintains the official list of Matter-certified products, [35] and restricts use of the Matter logo to certified devices. Matter product certification is also stored on the CSA's Distributed Compliance Ledger (DCL), [36] which publishes attestation information about certified devices.
Company | Platforms | Device types | Hubs | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Product name(s) | Thread support included? | |||
Android, Wear OS, iOS, iPadOS | Bridges, lights, locks, outlets, sensors (contact, flow, humidity, illuminance, motion, occupancy, pressure, & temperature), speakers, thermostats, and window coverings (except tilting) [37] | Chromecast with Google TV (4K) [38] | No | |
Google Home speaker [39] [40] | No | |||
Google Home mini | No | |||
Google TV Streamer | Yes | |||
Nest Mini | No | |||
Nest Audio | No | |||
Nest Hub (first-gen) | No | |||
Nest Hub (second-gen) | Yes | |||
Nest Hub Max | Yes | |||
Nest Wifi Pro | Yes | |||
Samsung | Android, Wear OS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, Windows | Bridges, lights, locks, outlets, sensors (contact & motion), televisions, thermostats, and window coverings [41] [42] | Samsung SmartThings Hub v2 [43] [44] | No |
Samsung Family Hub refrigerator (2017 and newer) | No (can be added using external dongle) | |||
Samsung Smart Monitors 2022 models | No | |||
Samsung smart TVs 2022 models | No | |||
Aeotec SmartThings Smart Home Hub | Yes | |||
Samsung SmartThings Station | Yes | |||
Samsung SmartThings Hub Dongle | Yes | |||
Samsung SmartThings Hub v3 | Yes | |||
Samsung Smart TVs CU8000 and CU7000 (2023) | Yes | |||
Samsung MicroLED TV MNA89MS1BA (2023) | Yes | |||
Samsung Smart Monitor M80C (2023) | Yes | |||
Samsung Soundbar HW-Q990C (2023) | Yes | |||
Samsung NEO QLED 8k and 4K (2023) | Yes | |||
Family Hub refrigerator, model numbers RF29CB9900QKAA (US), RF23CB9900QKAA (US), RF85C9581APW (Korea) | Yes | |||
Apple | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS | Air conditioners, bridges, lights, locks, outlets, switches, blinds & shades, sensors (motion, ambient light, contact, temperature, and humidity), thermostats, and window coverings [45] | Apple HomePod (first-gen) | No |
Apple HomePod (second-gen) | Yes | |||
Apple HomePod Mini | Yes | |||
Apple TV 4K (2021 version) | Yes | |||
Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi (2022 version) | No | |||
Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet (2022 version) | Yes | |||
Amazon | Android, iOS, iPadOS | Lights, locks, outlets, switches, sensors (contact), thermostats, and window coverings [46] | Amazon Echo smart speakers, Echo Pop, Echo Dot, and Echo Dot with Clock (third-gen and newer) | No |
Echo Studio | No | |||
Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 (second-gen and newer) | No | |||
Echo Show 10 (third-gen) | No | |||
Echo Input, Flex, and Plus (v2) | No | |||
Echo (4th-gen) | Yes | |||
Eero Pro 6E, Pro 6, 6 Plus, 6, PoE 6, and PoE Gateway | Yes | |||
Echo Show 8 (third-gen) | Yes | |||
Eero Max 7 | Yes | |||
The primary goal of Matter is to improve interoperability for the current smart home ecosystem. CSA and its members aim for the Matter logo to become ubiquitous and for consumers to instantly recognise it as a smart home device that will "just work". [47]
There are numerous other benefits that Matter brings when compared to the current smart home ecosystem:[ citation needed ]
Zigbee is an IEEE 802.15.4-based specification for a suite of high-level communication protocols used to create personal area networks with small, low-power digital radios, such as for home automation, medical device data collection, and other low-power low-bandwidth needs, designed for small scale projects which need wireless connection. Hence, Zigbee is a low-power, low-data-rate, and close proximity wireless ad hoc network.
Nordic Semiconductor ASA was founded in 1983 and is a Norwegian fabless technology company with its headquarters in Trondheim, Norway. The company specializes in designing ultra-low-power wireless communication semiconductors and supporting software for engineers developing and manufacturing Internet of Things (IoT) products.
Z-Wave is a wireless communications protocol used primarily for residential and commercial building automation. It is a mesh network using low-energy radio waves to communicate from device to device, allowing for wireless control of smart home devices, such as smart lights, security systems, thermostats, sensors, smart door locks, and garage door openers. The Z-Wave brand and technology are owned by Silicon Labs. Over 300 companies involved in this technology are gathered within the Z-Wave Alliance.
6LoWPAN was a working group of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It was created with the intention of applying the Internet Protocol (IP) even to the smallest devices, enabling low-power devices with limited processing capabilities to participate in the Internet of Things.
Internet of things (IoT) describes devices with sensors, processing ability, software and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet or other communication networks. The Internet of things encompasses electronics, communication, and computer science engineering. "Internet of things" has been considered a misnomer because devices do not need to be connected to the public internet; they only need to be connected to a network and be individually addressable.
The Internet Protocol for Smart Objects (IPSO) Alliance was an international technical standards organization promoting the Internet Protocol (IP) for what it calls "smart object" communications. The IPSO Alliance was a non-profit organization founded in 2008 with members from technology, communications and energy companies. The Alliance advocated for IP networked devices in energy, consumer, healthcare, and industrial uses. On 27 March 2018, the IPSO Alliance merged with the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) to form OMA SpecWorks.
Wi-Fi Direct is a Wi-Fi standard for wireless connections that allows two devices to establish a direct Wi-Fi connection without an intermediary wireless access point, router, or Internet connection. Wi-Fi Direct is single-hop communication, rather than multi-hop communication like wireless ad hoc networks. The Wi-Fi Direct standard was specified in 2009.
Silicon Laboratories, Inc., commonly referred to as Silicon Labs, is a fabless global technology company that designs and manufactures semiconductors, other silicon devices and software, which it sells to electronics design engineers and manufacturers in Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure worldwide.
GreenPeak Technologies was an Utrecht, Netherlands-based fabless company developing semiconductor products and software for the IEEE 802.15.4 and Zigbee wireless market segment. Zigbee technology is used for Smart Home data communications and to facilitate the Internet of Things, the term used to refer to devices designed to be operated and managed by internet-enabled controllers and management systems.
Amazon Fire TV is a line of digital media players and microconsoles developed by Amazon since 2014. The devices are small network appliances that deliver digital audio and video content streamed via the Internet to a connected high-definition television. They also allow users to access local content and to play video games with the included remote control or another game controller, or by using a mobile app remote control on another device.
Thread is an IPv6-based, low-power mesh networking technology for Internet of things (IoT) products. The Thread protocol specification is available at no cost; however, this requires agreement and continued adherence to an end-user license agreement (EULA), which states "Membership in Thread Group is necessary to implement, practice, and ship Thread technology and Thread Group specifications."
Apple Home is a smart home platform developed by Apple Inc. that lets users configure, communicate with and control smart appliances using Apple devices. Apple Home communicates with devices using HomeKit, the software framework and communication protocol developed by Apple, and the open Matter standard. By designing rooms, items and actions in Apple Home, users can enable automations in the home through a voice command to Siri or through Apple's Home app or third party apps. With Apple Home, developers are able to create complex applications in order to manage accessories at a high level.
An eSIM is a form of SIM card that is embedded directly into a device as software installed onto a eUICC chip. First released in March 2016, eSIM is a global specification by the GSMA that enables remote SIM provisioning; end-users can change mobile network operators without the need to physically swap a SIM from the device. eSIM technology has been referred to as a disruptive innovation for the mobile telephony industry. Most flagship devices manufactured since 2018 that are not SIM locked support eSIM technology; as of October 2023, there were 134 models of mobile phones that supported eSIMs. In addition to mobile phones, tablet computers, and smartwatches, eSIM technology is used for Internet of things applications such as connected cars, artificial intelligence translators, MiFi devices, smart earphones, smart metering, GPS tracking units, database transaction units, bicycle-sharing systems, advertising players, and closed-circuit television cameras. A report stated that by 2025, 98% of mobile network operators were expected to offer eSIMs.
Google Nest, previously named Google Home, is a line of smart speakers developed by Google under the Google Nest brand. The devices enable users to speak voice commands to interact with services through Google Assistant, the company's virtual assistant. Both in-house and third-party services are integrated, allowing users to listen to music, control playback of videos or photos, or receive news updates entirely by voice. Google Nest devices also have integrated support for home automation, letting users control smart home appliances with their voice command. The first device, Google Home, was released in the United States in November 2016; subsequent product releases have occurred globally since 2017.
Weave is a network application layer protocol and, in implementation, a comprehensive toolkit for building connected Internet of Things-class applications, with a primary and current focus on consumer and residential applications.
Home Assistant is free and open-source software used for home automation. It serves as an integration platform and smart home hub, allowing users to control smart home devices. The software emphasizes local control and privacy and is designed to be independent of any specific Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Its interface can be accessed through a web-based user interface, by using companion apps for Android and iOS, or by voice commands via a supported virtual assistant, such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Home Assistant's own "Assist" using natural language.
Develco Products is a B2B wireless technology producer, headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark. The company was established in 2007 and develops white label devices for B2C solution providers and has over 3,500,000 devices deployed worldwide... Their main business areas are home care, security, and smart energy. They are a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance as their main technological expertise lies in Zigbee-based devices that communicate through a mesh network. The company claims their most popular product is the Squid.link gateway.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), formerly the Zigbee Alliance, is a group of companies that maintain and publish the Zigbee and Matter standard, along with several others.
A smart home hub, sometimes also referred to as a "smart hub", "gateway'", "bridge", "controller" or "coordinator", is a control center/centre for a smart home, and enables the components of a smart home to communicate and respond to each other via communication through a central point. The smart home hub can consist of dedicated computer appliance, software appliance, or software running on computer hardware, and makes it possible to gather configuration, automation and monitoring of a smart house by communicating and controlling different smart devices that consist of for example home appliances, sensors and relays or robots, many of which are commonly categorized under Internet of things.
Tuya Inc. is a Chinese artificial intelligence and Internet of things (IoT) platform as a service (PaaS) provider founded in 2014.