Blog

2024
January
08

Thread’s 2024 Enhancements and What They’ll Mean to You

By Thread Group

Whether it's for a smart home or a smart building, people want to choose the devices and platforms that are best for them and have confidence they’ll work together. That’s why the new era of the smart home is an open, interoperable one.


It’s also why the Thread Group’s 2024 roadmap includes six new features and enhancements to enable developers and product makers to build for this new era.


Informed by Thread Group members’ real-world challenges and experience, these new features will make Thread devices more interoperable, reliable, and flexible for the many different ways businesses, developers, and users build their connected experiences.

The features and enhancements include:

  • Credential sharing
  • More ubiquitous Internet connectivity
  • Thread over Infrastructure
  • Network diagnostics
  • Secure Commissioning at scale
  • Numerous additional enhancements to robustness and scalability

To bring these benefits to market quickly, Thread Group members are encouraged to access the new specifications and implementation content for their integration efforts now. Details related to testing and certification are underway and should be finalized soon.

 

What Thread’s Enhancements Will Mean for Developers, Installers and End Users
Product managers and developers of smart home and commercial building devices who use Thread at the network layer will have more opportunities to innovate, less overhead, and can offer better customer support — all of which can ultimately deliver richer end user experiences and boost brand loyalty.

 

Professional installers can improve their profitability and productivity, as these enhancements can ease the installation process, provide more troubleshooting capabilities, and reduce on-site time and support requests.

 

As a result, end users of these Thread devices will benefit from a more robust, scalable, and secure smart home experience.

 

Credential Sharing
Thread is standardizing the way Thread Border Routers and devices from different vendors can share credentials with each other. As smart home platforms, mobile OS, and app developers integrate credential sharing, it will be easier to add a new Thread Border Router or Thread device to an existing Thread network. The result will be a single, larger-ranging Thread mesh network, including multiple Border Routers, which in turn can increase the reliability of all the devices in it.

 

More Ubiquitous Internet Connectivity
With this enhancement, Thread networks will require Thread Border Routers to provide a standardized path to the Internet for the devices connected to it. This assurance of connectivity means product makers can build devices that leverage the cloud for more dynamic features (like a thermostat that responds to weather changes) or give users the ability to remotely control their devices. They can also send software updates to the devices and perform diagnostics to provide better technical support.

 

Thread Over Infrastructure
Thread can be a great technology for devices at the edge of networks — providing greater range and battery life to devices in and outside of buildings. With Thread over Infrastructure enhancements, Thread Border Routers connected to each other only over existing infrastructure like Wi-Fi or Ethernet can leverage those connections as additional paths in the Thread network. By reusing these links, users can experience greater range, reliability, and robustness, with less complexity.

 

Network Diagnostics
Newly standardized methods for Thread devices to provide network configuration and status data will enable product developers and installers more visibility into Thread networks. This can make device testing and network troubleshooting easier and reduce support costs. The resulting opportunities range from delivering more robust network performance to end users, providing installers more insight into the network and advanced troubleshooting features, to building commercial-grade network monitoring and diagnostic tools.

 

Secure Commissioning at Scale
Developed to address the needs of professional installation and commercial building scenarios, commissioning at scale makes it easy to wirelessly onboard Thread devices that are pre-installed in difficult-to-reach places, such as inside a ceiling or embedded in a wall. Instead of scanning physical install codes once installed devices are powered, Thread commissioning can be implemented over authenticated TLS (Transport Layer Security) by exchanging security certificates This authenticated commissioning can be performed while in proximity using a mobile device (phone, tablet) over a wireless connection such as a Bluetooth Low Energy radio.

 

New Enhancements
There are also maintenance updates being made to enable more robust operation and performance across Thread mesh networks. Overall, these new features will enhance the deployment and performance of Thread-enabled devices and networks, as well as the experiences people have using them.

 

These features and enhancements are currently being developed and deployed by member companies of the Thread Group. Members can learn more and start working with these updates via the member portal.

 

Thread members come together to bring their expertise, in-market experience, and needs, to continue making Thread the best wireless technology for IoT and Smart Home devices. Learn more about how to join and contribute at threadgroup.org


Product developers can also visit the open-source Thread community to learn more about these enhancements Thread Group’s developer resources site. The Thread Group will post more details and specifics as these enhancements are released publicly to its website.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


2024
April
23-25

Thread Group Members Meeting

Toronto, Canada

Press Releases

2022
July
18

Thread Group Opens Access to Third Evolution of its Wireless Networking Protocol, Enabling Matter, Improving Seamless Connectivity in Smart Homes and Buildings

The Thread Group, an industry alliance enabling IoT convergence, and addressing challenges around secu...

2022
June
13

Thread Group Establishes New Marketing Chapter in China

The Thread Group, an industry alliance addressing IoT convergence, and challenges around security, energy footprint, and architecture at the network layer, today announced the addition of a Regional Marketing Working Group in China to educate...

2021
November
03

Amazon Joins Thread Group Board of Directors

The Thread Group, an industry alliance addressing IoT convergence, and challenges around security, energy footprint, and architecture at the network layer, today announced the addition of Amazon to its Board of Directors. Amazon’s increased backing of Thread Group further demonstrates its commitment to Matter, over both Thread and Wi-Fi, and to supporting a broad range of smart home protocols, which benefits both device makers and their customers.
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Thank you for your interest in Thread!

Please provide your contact information below and we will keep you informed about our activities.


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This email will be used for all email list subscriptions & all other Thread Group automated communications.

NEWSLETTERS

In The News

2024
January
10

Thread Border Router Fix Should Improve Smart Home Networking

By: Apple Insider

Read More

2024
January
09

Thread Group Unveils Credential Sharing Feature to Propel Smart Home Interoperability

SamMobile

Read More

2024
January
08

Thread Group to Fix Smart Home Protocol's Biggest Problem

Thurrott

Read More

PAST EVENTS

  • CES 2024 January 9-12, 2024  Las Vegas, Nevada  
  • Thread Group Members Meeting Oct 23-26, 2023 Budapest, Hungary 
  • Thread Group Members Meeting April 25-27, 2023 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
  • CES 2023 January 5-8, 2023 Las Vegas, Nevada 
  • Thread Group Members Meeting OCTOBER 25-17, 2022 Málaga, Spain 
  • Light+Building 2022 OCTOBER 2-6, 2022 Frankfurt, Germany 
  • WEBINAR: Thread 1.3.0  SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 Watch Webinar, View Presentation 
  • Thread Group Members Meeting APRIL 26-28, 2022 Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Thread Group Members Meeting OCTOBER 5-7, 2021 Virtual
  • Thread Group Members Meeting APRIL 20-22, 2021 Virtual
  • Thread Group Members Meeting NOVEMBER 3-5, 2020 Virtual
  • Works With By Silicon Labs SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2020 Virtual Conference Endorsed by Thread Group Read More
  • WEBINAR: How to Keep Your Solar Plant Safe With Google's Full-wireless OpenThread System SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 View Presentation 
  • IoT World US AUGUST 11-13 2020 Virtual Event Endorsed by Thread Group
  • WEBINAR: IoT Convergence With Thread And Project CHIP  APRIL 21, 2020 Listen to Webinar, View Presentation 
  • Thread Technology Day NOVEMBER 22 2019 Taipei, Taiwan View Presentations 
  • Smart Home Summit NOVEMBER 20-21 2019 San Francisco, California View Presentation 
  • Thread Group Members Meeting NOVEMBER 5-7 2019 Zug, Switzerland, Hosted at Siemens 
  • Arm TechCon OCTOBER 8-9 2019 San Jose, California, Thread Endorsed Learn More
  • WEBINAR: New Membership Tier, IPR Considerations And Certification
    MAY 30, 2019 View Webinar
  • Internet of Things World
    MAY 13-16, 2019 Santa Clara, California Thread Endorsed  
  • WEBINAR: Dotdot + Thread: Learn About The Specification And Streamlined Certification Programs
    JANUARY 30, 2019 View Webinar
  • Connections Summit At CES
    JANUARY 8, 2019 Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Wireless Congress
    NOVEMBER 14-15, 2018 Munich, Germany
  • Arm TechCon
    OCTOBER 16-18, 2018 San Jose, California
  • Thread Group Members Meeting
    OCTOBER 16-18, 2018 Munich, Germany
  • Particle Webinar: Going Beyond The Connected Home
    OCTOBER 11, 2018 View Webinar
  • Spectra
    OCTOBER 3, 2018 San Francisco, California
  • Thread Group Members Meeting
    JUNE 26-28, 2018 Austin, Texas
  • Thread Webinar: Developing IoT Devices With Thread
    JUNE 20, 2018 View Webinar
  • Connections
    MAY 22-24, 2018 San Francisco, California
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    MARCH 18-23, 2018 Frankfurt, Germany
  • Smart Energy Summit
    FEBRUARY 19-21, 2018 Austin, Texas
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    FEBRUARY 13-15, 2018 Long Beach, California
  • Digital Experience! @ CES 2018
    JANUARY 8, 2018 Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Thread Group Members Meeting
    NOVEMBER 15-17, 2017 Lisbon, Portugal
  • Thread + One IoT Stakeholders Summit
    SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 Munich, Germany
  • Thread Group Technology Workshop
    SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 Munich, Germany
  • Thread Group Members Meeting
    JUNE 27-29, 2017 Vancouver, Canada
  • Connected Plus
    JUNE 20-21, 2017 Vancouver, Canada
  • CONNECTIONS 2017
    Speakers Panel: Connected CE Strategies: Building Product Ecosystems
    MAY 23-25, 2017 San Francisco, California
  • IoT World Speakers Panel: Understanding The Complexity And Interoperability Of IoT Platforms
    MAY 16-18, 2017 Santa Clara, California
  • CABA Forum
    APRIL 26-28, 2017 Santa Clara, California
  • Thread Technology Workshop
    MARCH 27, 2017 Mountain View, California
  • Thread Group All Members Meeting
    FEBRUARY 14-16, 2017 Atlanta, Georgia
  • CONNECTIONS Summit At CES
    JANUARY 5, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada
  • CES 2017
    JANUARY 5-8, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Strategies In Light Europe
    NOVEMBER 23-24, 2016 London, UK
  • Internet Of Things World
    NOVEMBER 21-22, 2016 Dublin, Ireland
  • Thread Group All Members Meeting
    NOVEMBER 15-17, 2016 Lisbon, Portugal
  • Wireless Congress
    NOVEMBER 9-10, 2016 Munich, Germany
  • Electronica
    NOVEMBER 8-11, 2016 Munich, Germany
  • CONNECTIONS Europe
    NOVEMBER 2-3, 2016 Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Smart Home Summit
    NOVEMBER 1-2, 2016 Palo Alto, California
  • Thread Group Webinar
    JUNE 28, 2016, 2016 Online
  • Smart Home World
    JUNE 21-22, 2016 London, UK
  • Computex CPX Conference
    MAY 31-JUNE 4, 2016 Taipei, Taiwan
  • Connected Conference
    MAY 25-27, 2016 Paris, France
  • Connections
    MAY 24-26, 2016 San Francisco, California
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    MAY 11-13, 2016 Shanghai, China
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    MAY 10-12, 2016 Santa Clara, California
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    MAY 10, 2016 Shanghai, China
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    APRIL 21-22, 2016 San Francisco, California
  • IoT West 2016
    APRIL 19-21, 2016 Taipei, Taiwan
  • Thread Group All Members Meeting
    MARCH 22-24, 2016 Redwood City, California
  • Wearable Tech Show 2016
    MARCH 15, 2016 London, UK
  • Strategies In Light
    MARCH 1-3, 2016 Santa Clara, California
  • CES
    JANUARY 6-9, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Thread Group All Members Meeting
    NOVEMBER 18-19, 2015 Evian Resort, France
  • Cedia
    OCTOBER 16, 2015 Dallas, Texas
  • Internet Of Things World Europe
    OCTOBER 5-7, 2015 Berlin, Germany
  • Thread Open House
    OCTOBER 5, 2015 Berlin, Germany
  • Connected + Conference & Exhibition
    SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2015 Toronto, Canada
  • IoT Security 2015
    SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2015 Boston, Massachusetts
  • Thread Group All Members Meeting
    JULY 23-24, 2015 Austin, Texas
  • O'Reilly Solid, Platforms, Devices And Interoperability In The Smart Home
    JUNE 25, 2015 San Francisco, California
  • Pepcom! Digital Experience
    JUNE 18, 2015 New York City, New York
  • IoT Silicon Valley Meetup
    JUNE 18, 2015 Mountain View, California
  • Connections, Innovative Partnerships: The Connected Home Panel
    MAY 19, 2015 San Francisco, California
  • Internet Of Things World 2015
    MAY 13, 2015 San Francisco, California
  • Mobile World Congress
    MARCH 5, 2015 Barcelona, Spain
  • Stack Tutorials & First All Members Meeting
    FEBRUARY 9-11, 2015 San Jose, California
  • Thread Group Information Event
    SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 Google Campus, Mountain View, California
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