Aug 01, 2022Thread Group, an industry alliance focused on enabling Internet of Things (IoT) convergence, as well as on addressing challenges involving security, energy footprint and architecture at the network layer, has announced the next iteration of its wireless networking protocol, Thread 1.3.0. The protocol will now enable the Matter home-automation connectivity standard. Building on previous iterations, Thread 1.3.0 is backward-compatible.
This, Thread Group says, opens up possibilities for widespread IoT adoption in homes and at commercial buildings by resolving barriers for device manufacturers and end users alike. According to the organization, homeowners and building planners expect a seamless experience from smart environments, one that relies on easy-to-use, interoperable and secure devices. It has been challenging in the past for smart device manufacturers to make that happen, Thread Group notes, due to issues with interoperability when new products are brought to market.
Thread's wireless networking protocol, along with Matter, are designed to allow manufacturers to provide solutions to connect devices at home and in commercial building environments. The enablement of Matter devices through Thread 1.3.0 brings the functionality of IP routing and service discovery to Thread networks, allowing Matter to operate seamlessly on Thread networks. This, according to Thread Group, lets manufacturers focus on innovation and less on connectivity.
The secure, ultra-low-power network protocol was created to offer fast response times, extended coverage and years of battery life. As an IP-based open standard, Thread allows home-automation devices, such as lighting, thermostats, door locks, sensors and smart speakers, to be securely integrated into smart homes or buildings, and to connect directly to the cloud. Thread can work with any IP-based application layer.
In addition to supporting Matter, Thread 1.3.0 will also support KNX IoT, DALI+, OCF and BACnet. Thread 1.3.0 enables Matter devices to join users' IP-based networks while enabling low-power, long-range use cases. Matter end devices can use any certified Thread Border Router and work with all smart devices, allowing them to be added to a new network and to be joined to existing networks. The Thread 1.3.0 spec and certification program are now available to Thread Group members, and support for additional partner ecosystems, such as KNX, DALI and OCF, is expected to be offered soon as well.
Thread Border Routers allow devices to be discovered and communicate with other devices outside the Thread network, since they appear like any other Wi-Fi device on the network. They can be reached via IP and can discover services using mDNS. Like Wi-Fi access points, Thread Border Routers can be built into existing devices made by any company. This, according to Thread Group, minimizes the need for additional dedicated hardware.
Firmware can be quickly and automatically updated on Thread devices without impacting the responsiveness of controls or the timeliness of event delivery, Thread Group reports. Upgrading an installed device can be cumbersome, the organization adds, so Thread 1.3 allows simultaneous firmware updates to all Thread devices at the same time, without sacrificing network performance.
"The Thread Group is always looking for ways to harness the power of the Internet of Things through its IP-based, low-power, low-latency, reliable and secure mesh networking technology," said Vividh Siddha, Thread Group's president. "With Thread 1.3.0, users can more easily connect, configure, and use their Matter devices as they can be used with any certified Thread Border Router and work with other smart devices. This ensures users can easily experience a stronger, faster and more dependable network from its Thread products."
