Matter (standard)
Matter is an open-source connectivity standard for smart home and Internet of things devices,[2][3][4] that promises to make smart devices work with each other regardless of which company manufactures them, that smart home devices will continue to be usable on your home network even when no connection to the internet is available, and that communications with smart home devices are secure.[5][6][7]
Matter smart home connectivity standard | |
![]() | |
Status | Published[1] |
---|---|
Year started | December 18, 2019 |
First published | October 4, 2022 |
Latest version | 1.0 4 October 2022 |
Committee | |
Authors | The connectivity standards alliance and Open source contributors |
Base standards | Internet Protocol (IP) |
Related standards | Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, Wi-Fi |
Domain |
|
License | Proprietary, by certification. Code and documentation published under the Apache License. |
Website | csa-iot |
The standard is royalty-free,[8] though developers and manufacturers incur certification costs.[9] It originated in December 2019 as the Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP) working group, founded by Amazon, Apple, Google and the Zigbee Alliance, now called the Connectivity Standards Alliance.[3][5] Subsequent members include IKEA, Huawei, and Schneider.[10][11] Version 1.0 of the specification was published on 4 October 2022.[1][12][13] The Matter software development kit is open-source under the Apache License.[14]
Matter-compatible software updates for many existing hubs became available in late 2022,[15][16][17] with Matter-enabled devices and software updates expected to be released during 2023.[18]
Background
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.[19][20]
The standard is based on Internet Protocol (IP) and works through one or several compatible border routers, avoiding the use of multiple proprietary hubs. Matter products run locally and do not rely on an internet connection, although the standard is designed to talk to the cloud easily. It is intended to enable cross-platform of smart home devices, mobile apps, and cloud services, and defines a specific set of IP-based networking technologies for device certification.
The project group is also expected to be joined by some other board member companies of Zigbee Alliance.[21]
Versions
Updates to the standard are planned to occur biannually.[22]
- Version 1.0 of the specification was published on 4 October 2022.[23] It introduced support for lighting products (such as mains power plugs, electric lights and switches), doorlocks, thermostats and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning controllers, blinds and shades, home security sensors (such as door, window and motion sensors), and televisions and streaming video players.[24]
For future versions, the working group has been working on support for robotic vacuum cleaners, ambient motion and presence sensing, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, environmental sensing and controls, closure sensors, energy management, Wi-Fi access points, cameras and major appliances.[22]
Matter Casting
This part of the technology concerns an open networking protocol for audio-video wireless casting from a sender device to a receiving display.
In Early 2023, no products are available, thus Amazon is working on implementing the receiver on some of its products such as FireOS televisions.
Supported devices
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) maintains the official list of Matter certified products and restricts use of the Matter logo to certified devices. This list is available on the CSA's Certified Products Search. Matter product certification is also stored on the CSA's Distributed Compliance Ledger (DCL), which publishes attestation information about certified devices.
See also
- Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) – a service layer protocol that is intended for use in resource-constrained internet devices
- IEEE 802.15.4 is a technical standard which defines the operation of a low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) which Matter battery-operated devices rely on such as
- Thread – competing mesh network wireless protocol primarily designed for low-power battery-powered devices which Matter is partially based on
- Zigbee – competing mesh network wireless protocol primarily designed for low-power battery-powered devices for home automation which Matter is also partially based on
- 6LoWPAN – protocol to make network packets small and simple enough for low-power battery-powered devices
- Z-Wave – complementary wireless Sub-GHz mesh network protocol primarily designed for low-power battery-powered devices for home automation, smart security, and MDU
- Amazon Alexa – Smart Home home control system
- HomeKit – Apple home control system
- HomeAssistant – Open source home control system with a local control & privacy focus
- LoRaWAN - Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) networking protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery operated ‘things’ to the internet in regional, national or global networks
- Weave – Google
- SmartThings – Samsung Home control system
- Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS)
- OMA LWM2M
- MQTT
- KNX, example of a well known standard for cabled integration of home automation equipment
- ADRC – Xped Auto Discovery Resource Control
References
- "V1.0.0 Release". GitHub. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- "What Is Matter? The New Smart Home Standard, Explained". PCMag. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- Kastrenakes, Jacob (18 December 2019). "Apple, Google, and Amazon are teaming up to develop a smart home standard". The Verge. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- Purdy, Kevin (5 August 2022). "Wemo's confused Smart Dimmer shows how hard standardizing IoT may be". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- "With Amazon, Apple and Google onboard, this new alliance aims to make your smart home work properly". ZDNET. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- Hall, Christine (4 October 2022). "Matter's Internet of Things standard, certification ready for developers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- Seifert, Dan (16 April 2021). "Amazon, Apple, and Google's smart home partnership is close". The Verge. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- Hill, Simon (3 April 2022). "What's the Matter? We Explain the New Smart Home Standard". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "Certification Process | Why Certify". Connectivity Standards Alliance. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- Mihalcik, Carrie. "Apple, Amazon, Google, and others want to create a new standard for smart home tech". CNET. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- Strategy, Moor Insights and. "CHIP Shot: Will Project Connected Home Over IP Get Us Onto The IoT Green?". Forbes. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- "Matter 1.0 arrives". Connectivity Standards Alliance. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (4 October 2022). "Matter 1.0 is finally finalized — so what's next?". The Verge. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- "project-chip/connectedhomeip". Connectivity Standards Alliance. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- "Apple rolls out software updates for matter". 25 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- "Matter is now available on Google Nest and Android devices". 15 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- "Amazon announces a phased rollout of Matter to its Alexa smart home platform". 3 November 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- "One Brand Dominates the CES Smart Home Conversation This Year". Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- Gurman, Mark; De Vynck, Gerrit (18 December 2019). "Apple, Google, Amazon Want One Language for Smart Devices". Bloomberg. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- Haselton, Todd (18 December 2019). "Apple, Google and Amazon are cooperating to make your home gadgets talk to each other". CNBC. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- "Is this the end of the smart home tech war?". BBC. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- Matter, the new Global Standard for the Smart Home, Debuts at the Amsterdam Launch Event, retrieved 19 November 2022
- "Newsroom | Articles & Blogs | IOT". CSA-IOT. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- "The Matter Smart Home Standard Is Finally Available: Here's What It Means for Your Home". Consumer Reports. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- "FAQ – frequently asked questions about matter". matter-smarthome. Digitalzimmer. 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
Further reading
- Wroclawski, Daniel (18 March 2022). "Matter, Explained: What the New Standard Could Mean for Your Smart Home". Consumer Reports. Retrieved 30 April 2022.