The Thread protocol is a low-power, high-reliability mesh network communication protocol for the Internet of Things (especially smart homes). Its core positioning is to provide stable local networking communication capabilities for low-bandwidth, low-power devices. At the same time, it natively supports IP technology (Internet Protocol) and is one of the key underlying technologies for achieving " interconnection " of smart home devices.
Thread Network (Image source: Thread group)
At this stage, the Thread protocol is deeply bound to the Matter standard and is one of the core underlying network options of the Matter standard (i.e., Matter over Thread). Matter over Thread runs the Matter application layer on top of the Thread network layer, which not only enables smart home devices to achieve local networking through Thread, but also enables cross-platform interoperability through Matter. It is one of the core solutions to solve the problem of traditional ecological fragmentation and promote the popularization of whole-home intelligence.
It is worth mentioning that the implementation of any communication protocol and its solution requires a mature and reliable hardware module as support. The Matter over Thread module is the core carrier connecting the Matter application layer and the Thread network layer. It is also one of the key tools for all smart home device manufacturers to quickly realize the Matterization of their products.
For example, the HM-MT2401 independently developed by HOPERF is a Matter over Thread wireless communication module based on the 2.4GHz frequency band. It has been widely used in many smart home devices such as LED lamps, smart switches, smart sockets, smart door locks, smart curtain motors, smart doorbells, smart thermostats and smart sensors.
The HM-MT2401 is equipped with a high-performance, highly integrated EFR32MG24 RF processing chip, which embeds a low-power 32-bit ARM® Cortex®-M33 processor core, equipped with 1536kB Flash and 256kB RAM, as well as a rich set of peripheral interfaces.
For smart home device manufacturers, they only need to integrate the HM-MT2401 into the terminal device through a simple interface design to upgrade the original wireless terminal device to a Matter over Thread device that complies with the Matter specification. There is no need to go through a long development process from scratch. They can also quickly obtain Matter certification through the technical support provided by HOPERF or the Certification Transfer Program (CTP), and fully integrate their products into the mainstream ecological platform on the market.
For consumers, they no longer need to understand the cumbersome protocol features and working principles. They only need to choose their favorite smart home devices (supporting the Matter standard) and scan the QR code on the device through any mainstream smart home ecosystem APP (such as Apple Home App). With the help of Bluetooth technology, they can complete the device's network configuration and network access operations, and achieve seamless interconnection with global mainstream smart home platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Smart Things.
In a home environment, maintaining long-term stable operation of smart home devices is crucial to the user's daily experience and comfort; especially for those smart home devices that rely on batteries (such as various sensors, door locks, doorbells, cameras, etc.). If their communication power consumption is too high, it will not only cause users to frequently replace batteries and reduce the user experience, but also lead to the loss of key data, posing a serious safety hazard.
The Matter over Thread solution can effectively improve the battery life of smart home devices. It allows devices to automatically enter sleep mode when idle and only wake up briefly when data needs to be transmitted, which can significantly reduce the standby power consumption of the device. At the same time, in the Mesh network supported by the Thread protocol, devices can also use the dynamic routing function to select the nearest relay node for communication, shortening the transmission distance to reduce transmission power loss.
Furthermore, in a mesh network supported by the Thread protocol, the more devices connected to the network, the more stable the network will be. Mains-powered devices can also serve as routing nodes, forwarding communications for other nodes. This provides wider coverage and redundant paths for the local network, enabling the network to self-heal and cope with interference, power outages, or device movement.
It is worth mentioning that Matter over Thread devices need to go through a Thread border router to access the user's home network. However, these devices are usually integrated into the user's existing devices (such as the Apple HomePod Mini smart speaker), eliminating the need for users to purchase additional dedicated equipment. This can greatly lower the threshold for setting up a Matter over Thread network at home.
