Blog

2020
May
28

Part 1: Webinar Q&A Follow-Up - “IoT Convergence with Thread and Project Connected Home over IP”

By Sujata Neidig, VP Marketing for Thread Group / Director Product Marketing for NXP Semiconductor

Thread Group recently hosted a virtual Panel Session Event regarding Thread’s role in IoT convergence and how that relates to the Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP) initiative driven by the Zigbee Alliance. It was an engaging and informative panel consisting of Thread Group Board Directors representing product companies and moderated by Bill Curtis from Moor Insights who wrote an article for Forbes about IoT, IP and Project CHIP. And, thanks to the great participation, we had dozens of insightful questions from the audience during the interactive portion of the webinar. Due to time constraints, we were unable to answer all questions so we put together this summary that categorizes and answers all audience questions.


Project Connected Home over IP: General Questions
Many of the questions received on Project CHIP were around what it is, where the work is being done, how it relates to Thread, what it means for Zigbee products and what the schedule is. For information about this new initiative, please visit www.connectedhomeip.com.


What is Project CHIP
Project CHIP is a new initiative within the Zigbee Alliance created to develop a new unified IP-based application layer using market-proven technologies that will run on existing IP networks with Thread, Wi-Fi, and an IP adaption of Bluetooth LE as the initial focus. Thread Group members can participate in the Project CHIP Working Group if they are also a member of the Zigbee Alliance and have opted into the Project CHIP Working Group.

Thread, an IP-based secure, robust, and low power mesh networking protocol that runs on standard IEEE 802.15.4 radios, was built to be application-layer agnostic so that any or multiple application layers could be supported based on the application and product requirements. Project CHIP will create a unified application layer that can run on top of Thread network layers.

There are multiple implementations of the Thread spec including an open-source option OpenThread, available from several Thread Group member companies and supported by a robust community. Project CHIP is also being developed as an open-source technology which can be implemented over an OpenThread solution.

Regarding compatibility with Zigbee and Dotdot, it’s important to look at the individual components separately. Zigbee PRO is a mesh networking protocol that runs on standard IEEE 802.15.4 radios, just like Thread. Unlike Thread, Zigbee PRO is not an IP-based technology. Project CHIP is creating an IP-based application layer that must run on IP networks such as Thread. Since Thread uses the same 802.15.4 radio as Zigbee PRO, devices built with Zigbee can theoretically be updated to support Project CHIP over Thread. Dotdot is Zigbee's unified application layer (based on the well established Zigbee Cluster Library) over IP with the first implementation being on Thread. We see Project CHIP as the next step for Dotdot.


Transitioning from currently used protocols
The Zigbee Alliance was early in their recognition of the importance of IP through early efforts in Zigbee IP and later, through liaison and collaboration with the Thread Group. With Dotdot data models identified as a key ingredient of Project CHIP, the transition path is through the use of bridge devices.

For the application layer, connectedhomeoverip.com states that “The Project intends to leverage development work and protocols from existing systems such as: Amazon’s Alexa Smart Home, Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Weave, and Zigbee Alliance’s Dotdot data models.” Migration and transition from these platforms to Project CHIP, once it’s available, are up to the platform providers. As an IP-based network layer, Thread can support any or multiple applications layers.


Project CHIP Timeline
According to connectedhomeoverip.com, “To quicken development, the Project intends to start with components of market-tested technologies, modified as needed. The Working Group has a goal to release a draft specification and a preliminary reference open source implementation in late 2020.”


Market and Adoption Questions
Project CHIP is publicly supported by industry leaders such as Amazon (Alexa Smart Home), Apple (HomeKit), Google (Weave) and Zigbee Alliance (Dotdot data models). According to the press release issued in December, these companies have "plans to develop and promote the adoption of" Project CHIP. With this support and collaboration, we believe that Thread + Project CHIP will address the challenges consumers sometimes face setting up and using smart home devices, while also improving interoperability.


Beyond Smart Home
Based on the information available today, Project CHIP is focused on the connected home. However, many basic commercial applications, such as small buildings and offices or small retail kiosks, can use connected home technology for their IoT needs. In these situations, operating the lights, controlling door locks or window blinds or setting the HVAC system can be performed using off-the-shelf equipment. In addition, many connected home appliances are installed by professionals, and these connected home products overlap with the commercial market. Thread is built on the well-established IPv6 protocol making it an ideal network to use for smart home and commercial building markets.


Thread Market Momentum
According to OnWorld, “By 2023, 4.5 billion cumulative 802.15.4 mesh devices will be sold worldwide. The majority of these will use smart home protocols such as Zigbee and Thread.”

The number of Thread certified products - components and end products - continues to grow at a steady pace. A list of these certifications as well as example case studies are available on the Thread Group website.

Project CHIP aims to converge app layers to increase compatibility of smart home products. Thread Group views this benefit as an enabler to increase adoption of IoT. 

 

Part 2 of the blog addressing detailed questions about Thread and Project CHIP from the Thread perspective will follow.

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

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2024
January
08

Thread Group to Fix Smart Home Protocol's Biggest Problem

Thurrott

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PAST EVENTS

  • CES 2024 January 9-12, 2024  Las Vegas, Nevada  
  • Thread Group Members Meeting Oct 23-26, 2023 Budapest, Hungary 
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  • 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 
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  • 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 
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  • Smart Home Summit NOVEMBER 20-21 2019 San Francisco, California View Presentation 
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    JANUARY 5, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada
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    JUNE 25, 2015 San Francisco, California
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    MAY 19, 2015 San Francisco, California
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