The Matter protocol, formerly known as Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP), is really shaking things up in the world of smart devices. Remember December 2019? That’s when Matter popped up, back when it was known as Project Connected Home over IP (or simply Project CHIP).

This wasn’t some small time gig – no, it was backed by the likes of big players, such as Amazon, Apple, Google and the group once called Zigbee Alliance (now known as the Connectivity Standards Alliance). Their mission? To create a unified and open source interoperability standard for smart home devices.

Matter’s Version 1.0 was officially published on October 4, 2022. It was a big day for tech nerds (myself included!) everywhere. This release became a major stepping stone, making it easier for everyone to plug into this smart ecosystem. Matter’s basic tricks include flipping lights, controlling devices and getting alerts from your smoke alarm, which is just the start of what it can do.

Matter Protocol Key Goals

The principal goals of the Matter protocol are centered around interoperability, ease of use and security. Here’s an overview of these essential objectives:

• Interoperability: Ensuring that smart home devices from different manufacturers can get on like a house on fire. Matter aims to eliminate compatibility issues that often arise when integrating diverse products into a singular smart home environment. This universal standard allows devices to work harmoniously, regardless of brand.
• Ease of Use: Simplifying the setup and control of smart home devices for consumers. By creating a unified protocol, Matter makes it easier for users to manage their smart home systems. This ease of use reduces the complexity traditionally associated with smart home installations and daily operation.
• Security: Incorporating robust security features to protect user data and ensure the safe operation of smart home devices. Matter’s open source nature allows for continuous improvements in security measures as the protocol evolves, which is essential in safeguarding users’ privacy.

The Open Source Nature of Matter Explained

One of the defining features of Matter is its open source nature. The Matter software development kit (SDK) is available under the Apache License, making it freely accessible to developers worldwide. This open source approach promotes innovation and collaboration, enabling developers to contribute to the protocol’s improvement.

However, while the SDK is royalty free, there are associated costs for certifying and commissioning a product into a Matter network. These costs include one-time fees, recurring fees and per product fees, which ensures compliance and standards.

Matter Specification

Now, we’ll go through a rundown of Matter’s first steps, the updates that have rolled out and what’s cooking for the future.

Matter 1.0: Initial Release

The first version of the Matter specification laid the groundwork for an open standard aimed at enhancing interoperability between smart home devices.

Matter 1.0 supports a variety of smart home devices, such as lights, locks, sensors and HVAC controls. It makes use of existing networking protocols, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Thread to ensure reliable and secure connectivity.

Specification	Details
Version	1.0
Release Date	October 4, 2022
Supported Devices	Lights, locks, sensors, HVAC controls
Networking Protocols	Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Thread

Updates and Enhancements

Since its kickoff, Matter hasn’t sat still. Its development team is committed to keeping the protocol up-to-date through biannual updates. These updates ensure that the protocol continuously evolves to support new features and improve existing functionalities.

Here’s a quick overview of recent updates:

Version	Release Date	Notable Features
Matter 1.0	2022	Basic functions like on/off, lock/unlock, motion/no motion and brighten/dim
Matter 1.1	May 2023	Minor improvements and bug fixes
Matter 1.2	Oct 2023	Support for nine new device types including refrigerators, robot vacuums and air purifiers
Matter 1.3	May 2024	Features like energy management, EV charging and expanded device support including ovens and laundry dryers

Implementing the Matter Protocol

So, you want to get your hands dirty with the Matter protocol? Buckle up, because it’s quite the adventure! You’ve got the whole package waiting for you – a nifty open source SDK to play with, some certification hoops to jump through (don’t worry, they’re there for a good reason) and a roadmap of steps to help you build something awesome with Matter.

Certification Requirements

Certification is your golden ticket to proving that Matter products hit the mark for security, smooth operation with others, and functionality. To get certified, products face a battery of tests like:

• Compliance Testing: Checking if the device plays by Matter’s rules and ticks all the protocol boxes.
• Interoperability Testing: Making sure your device plays well with other Matter certified gizmos.
• Security Evaluation: Testing if the device is up to par with the Matter protocol’s strict security demands.

Building with Matter

Local Network Functionality

One notable feature of the Matter protocol is its local network functionality. Designed to operate without the need for an Internet connection, Matter ensures that core functionalities, such as on/off controls and start/stop commands continue to operate even when Internet access is unavailable.

Matter makes this happen using specific network layers:

Network Layer	Functionality
Wi-Fi	High bandwidth, low latency connections
Thread	Reliable, low power mesh networking
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)	Device pairing and initial setup

By keeping all communications within the local network, Matter ensures low latency and high reliability. This is particularly beneficial for critical devices like sensors and alarms, which need to function promptly and accurately.

Key Steps in Building with Matter Protocol

When building with the Matter protocol, there are several key considerations for developers to keep in mind. For starters, it’s essential to ensure that devices are compatible with the necessary radios, such as BLE/Wi-Fi or BLE/Thread combo radios. Meeting the minimum hardware requirements for running a compliant Matter software library is crucial.

Let’s take a look at a few of the recommended steps for building a Matter device:

• Hardware Selection
  • Radio Compatibility: Go for radios like BLE/Wi-Fi or BLE/Thread.
  • Chipset: Scope out a new chipset as needed, ensuring compatibility with radio and software needs.
• Software Development
  • Matter SDK Integration: Use the open source Matter SDK to craft your software layer.
  • Adapt Mobile App: Make sure the mobile app can support the pairing and interaction models unique to the Matter protocol.
• Compliance and Certification
  • Testing: Conduct thorough testing based on compliance, interoperability and security.
  • Certification: Complete your device’s certification journey to proudly showcase its Matter compliant status. This final step ensures your product stands out in the smart home market.

Tools and Resources for Development

To assist developers in navigating the Matter protocol, several tools and resources are available.

• Technical Documentation: Comprehensive technical documentation is provided on the Google Developers site, offering detailed guidelines for developing Matter compliant devices.
• Device and Mobile SDKs: Google offers Device SDKs and Mobile SDKs with Matter support. These SDKs are designed to help developers quickly implement core user functionalities, integrate branding and build new experiences.

Matter in Smart Home Integration

The Matter protocol is poised to redefine the smart home scene with its promise of easy connections and smooth teamwork between devices.

Matter Joins Hands with Popular Platforms

Some major industry players have adopted Matter and this has been a game changer. Check out the power players making things happen:

• Google: Google has really started to take Matter seriously, integrating it into most of their Nest range, including speaker and hubs.
• Amazon: Matter’s joined the Echo family, letting users link up various devices through Alexa without a hitch.
• Apple: Apple’s in the loop too, allowing seamless control using Apple TV and HomePod through the Home app.
• Samsung SmartThings: Samsung’s SmartThings also jumped on the Matter train, making it easier for users to mix and match all sorts of gadgets.

Device Integration

With support from big names like Google, Amazon and Apple, Matter ensures that devices from these brands can integrate effortlessly into your smart home.

• Standardized Controls: Matter allows for basic functionalities – such as on/off controls, start/stop commands and notifications from devices like sensors and smoke alarms.
• Content Casting: An exciting feature of the protocol is Matter Casting, enabling the casting of content from supported smartphone apps to TVs and smart displays. This feature has potential uses in multiplayer gaming and displaying device notifications on TV screens.

Matter Adoption and Challenges

While the Matter protocol promises universality and seamless integration across smart home devices, several adoption hurdles exist. Here are a couple of examples:

• Adoption Levels: One of the primary challenges lies in achieving full adoption by the major tech players like Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung. Currently, only Apple’s iOS fully supports Matter 1.2. Google Home supports a subset of Matter devices up to Matter 1.2, highlighting a slower integration process. This fragmented support can hinder the seamless operation that Matter strives to achieve.
• Technical Complexity: Moreover, the diversity in device ecosystems presents compatibility challenges. Each platform has its own unique set of requirements and standards, which means manufacturers will have to conform to multiple specifications, adding complexity to the adoption process.
• Legacy Device Integration: While Matter promises a bright future for new smart home devices, integrating existing non-Matter products remains a challenge. Creating bridges or updates for legacy devices could be costly and technically demanding, potentially leaving some users with a fragmented smart home experience.

It’s Simply a Matter of Progress

Let’s face it – we’ve all been there. You’re standing in your living room, juggling three different apps just to turn on the lights, adjust the thermostat and play some music. It’s enough to make you want to go back to the stone age of manual switches and boomboxes.

Cue the dramatic music – it’s Matter protocol to the rescue! This new hero swoops into your smart home chaos as the diplomatic genius who finally gets your opinionated smart devices to work together.

So, keep your eyes peeled for Matter. It’s overcoming some bumps in the road but still making impressive strides toward delivering a truly smart home experience. In the world of IoT, it turns out that Matter really does… well, matter!