What is Matter?
Matter is a smart home standard that was developed by a consortium of leading technology companies, including Google, Amazon, and Apple, with the goal of creating a common language that all smart home devices can use to communicate with each other and with smart home hubs. The standard is based on the Thread wireless protocol, which is a low-power, low-bandwidth wireless networking standard that is well-suited for use in smart home applications. But it can also support other smart home technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
One of the main benefits of the Matter standard is that it allows devices from different manufacturers to work together seamlessly, even if they use different communication protocols or operate on different frequency bands. This is because the standard defines a common set of commands and messages that all devices must support, as well as a common data format for transmitting and receiving information.
In addition to enabling inter-device communication, the Matter standard also includes support for voice control via smart assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This allows users to control their smart home devices using natural language commands, without the need to manually configure each device or learn a separate app for each device.
The Matter standard also includes support for security protocols like end-to-end encryption and secure boot, which help to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access to devices. This is especially important in the context of smart home devices, which may contain sensitive personal information and be connected to other devices in the home network.
Overall, the Matter standard is designed to make it easier for users to set up and control their smart home devices, and to ensure that these devices can work together seamlessly to create a more convenient and connected home environment.
How does the new smart home standard Matter work?
It’s great that many different smart home products can communicate with each other through Matter, but how does this communication work? Currently, there are many different ways in which different smart home ecosystems “talk” to each other.
Since the internet is now present in every household, an Internet Protocol (IP) has been chosen for Matter communication. All products will be able to communicate with each other via the IPv6 protocol.
IPv6
IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol version 6 and is the successor to IPv4. Devices that communicate with each other via the internet do so based on an IP address. Within IPv4, the number of available IP addresses is limited and they are almost no longer available. Within IPv4, it is common to assign a group of devices to one IP address, while in IPv6 each device gets its own IP address.
That is why the transition is now being made to the future-proof IPv6, which makes it possible to use almost an infinite number of IP addresses. This version provides space for no less than 340 sextillion (we had never heard of it either), written out in full that is 340,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 unique IP addresses. That’s a lot!
Matter & IP
The Matter system works with IPv6 and creates a unique IP address for each device. If you already have some smart home products in your home, you may know that there are also other ways in which the products communicate with each other. Matter has also thought of this. Below we explain that you can include products that work with Thread, WiFi, and Bluetooth in your Matter network.
Bluetooth Low Energy
Normally, Bluetooth does not have a unique IP address because it is not an internet protocol. Nevertheless, it is possible to include products that work with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in your Matter network. Data is compressed via 6LoWPAN technology, allowing BLE devices to also become part of your Matter system. In this way, you can also include smart home products that use BLE in your Matter network.
Which companies support Matter?
The Matter smart home standard is an open-source protocol, so it is supported by a wide range of companies and organizations. Some of the companies that support Matter include:
- Amazon
- ASSA ABLOY
- Comcast
- Espressif Systems
- Eve Systems
- Grundfos Holding A/S
- Huawei
- IKEA
- Infineon Technologies
- LEEDARSON
- Legrand (Netatmo)
- Nanoleaf
- Nordic Semiconductor
- NXP Semiconductors
- Qorvo
- Resideo
- Schlage
- Schneider Electric
- Signify (Philips Hue en WiZ)
- Silicon Labs
- SmartThings
- Somfy
- STMicroelectronics
- Texas Instruments
- Tuya Smart
- Ubisys
- Wulian
- Zumtobel Group
This list is not exhaustive, as there are many other companies that also support the Matter standard. Matter is a relatively new standard, so it is expected that more companies will begin to support it in the future as it becomes more widely adopted.
What are the advantages of the Matter smart home standard?
The Matter smart home standard is an open-source protocol designed to allow different smart home devices and systems to communicate with one another. There are several advantages to using the Matter standard:
- Interoperability: The Matter standard allows devices from different manufacturers to communicate with each other, so you can mix and match different brands and types of smart home devices in your home. This means you can choose the best products for your needs and budget, rather than being limited to a single manufacturer’s ecosystem.
- Security: The Matter standard includes robust security measures to protect your data and ensure the privacy of your home.
- Ease of use: The Matter standard is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to set up and control your smart home devices. This makes it accessible to people of all ages and technical backgrounds.
- Customization: The Matter standard allows you to customize your smart home to suit your needs and preferences. You can set up automations and routines to control your devices, and create custom voice commands to interact with them.
- Future-proofing: The Matter standard is constantly evolving and being updated to incorporate new technologies and devices. This means that your smart home will be able to take advantage of new developments and innovations as they become available, helping to ensure that your home remains up-to-date and relevant.
Overall, the Matter smart home standard offers a number of benefits for users, including interoperability, security, ease of use, customization, and future-proofing. It is an open-source protocol that allows different smart home devices to communicate with one another, enabling users to create a smart home that meets their specific needs and preferences.