Blog

2017
March
27

Thread – Providing an Experience

By Sujata Neidig, VP of Marketing, Thread Group

The Scenario

Imagine that you are at work and getting ready to leave for home to let Spot (your dog and best friend) out because he's been inside all day. Just when you're leaving, a co-worker comes and invites you to an impromptu happy hour at a new bar that you've been eager to check out for months. Everyone is going so you immediately say yes. But wait! What about Spot? Not only does he need an outdoor break, but it's been a warm day and you're worried the house might be too hot for him. Bummer! Guess you can't go after all.

How could this situation play out differently? Let's look at "the Internet of Things" (IoT) to answer this question.

The Internet of Things

IoT or the Internet of Everything (IoE), are just two terms that have been used to describe the idea of having a "smart" world where devices have intelligence about themselves and other devices. The idea has been around for a few years, but the technology and infrastructure have not truly been available until recently. The growth that industry analysts have projected now seems truly achievable - tens of billions of units by 2020. That's huge!

IoT covers many markets including healthcare, professional and commercial buildings and automotive. However, the area that IoT will impact persons like you and me the most, is in the home.

Today, the right hardware to create smart-end products that are affordable to the average consumer and the software to enable the "Internet" in IoT continues to evolve. More and more dots exist and the thread to connect them in a way to create a truly smart environment is where Thread comes into play.

Thread is a networking protocol that solves the key challenges associated with IoT. It allows simple, direct connectivity from edge devices to the cloud and to each other to create simple, secure and low-power connections between devices in the home with the ability to scale to hundreds of devices.

You may ask, "Doesn't that already exist? Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy and even Target have displays showcasing connected devices such as thermostats, lighting, door locks and security surveillance devices. Yes, these things exist, but are they ready for the mass market?

To answer that questions, we have to ask a few more:

How easy is it to install? Setting up the connectivity in some cases is a technical challenge and not easily implemented by the typical consumer. Also, is the network secure? How many different items can it connect? Can these devices talk to each other? What about supporting your battery-operated devices that have to last for years? How long will a charge last on these if they are connected to your home network? These are all real challenges today. Thread addresses all of them.

Thread solves all of these challenges because it is;

  • Internet-based: IPv6 technology enables device-to-device and device-to-cloud connectivity and gives developers of end products the ability to easily create applications for multiple ecosystems.
  • Reliable: Thread networks are robust and self-healing meaning the network won't go down if even one device in the network stops working.
  • Scalable: Thread can scale to 250+ devices to support the growing number of applications.
  • Secure: Thread networks have security built-in. Devices must be authenticated before joining a Thread network and then messages are secured using banking-class encryption.
  • Simple: Thread devices are easy to install with a smartphone or tablet. Consumers can connect smart devices in the home to each other and to the cloud, allowing easy control and access from anywhere by using a simple, easy to remember key or a QR Code (no need to write down and save a 16-digit alphanumeric key!)
  • Low power: Thread supports battery-operated devices to be part of a home network. This allows the devices that you use every day - including door locks, lighting controls and sensors - to be a part of the network without requiring constant charging or frequent battery changes.

The Experience

What does this all mean? Think back to the scenario I painted in the beginning.

Now, when your co-worker invites you to a last-minute happy hour, you can say yes and mean it. You use your smartphone to activate the dog door at home, change the thermostat setting and turn on the fan. You can then pack up your things and head out to meet your friends. When Spot goes outside, you get a notification on your phone. You also get a notification when he goes back in so you know he's safe. Worried about the safety of your home? Your security system is already enabled and connected to your dog door. If something or someone besides Spot tries to open the dog door, it sends a message to your security system, which then sounds off an alarm and sends you an alert. You're on your way to the bar and get a notice that Spot is safely back in the house. When he's back in the house, you check the amount of food and water he has through your smart Doggie Diner app and push a button to dispense more of both. As you're enjoying the evening with your co-workers, you decide to stay a little longer and have dinner, too. Since its getting dark outside, you use your phone to turn on select lights at home because you know Spot fears the dark. After a fun evening, you head home and are greeted with lots of kisses from Spot ☺

Pretty cool scenario, right? This is the type of lifestyle that Thread enables.

For more information, visit www.threadgroup.org.

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
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    FEBRUARY 13-15, 2018 Long Beach, California
  • Digital Experience! @ CES 2018
    JANUARY 8, 2018 Las Vegas, Nevada
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    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
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    MARCH 27, 2017 Mountain View, California
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    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
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    JUNE 21-22, 2016 London, UK
  • Computex CPX Conference
    MAY 31-JUNE 4, 2016 Taipei, Taiwan
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    MAY 25-27, 2016 Paris, France
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    MAY 24-26, 2016 San Francisco, California
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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
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    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
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    OCTOBER 5-7, 2015 Berlin, Germany
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    OCTOBER 5, 2015 Berlin, Germany
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    SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2015 Toronto, Canada
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    SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2015 Boston, Massachusetts
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    JULY 23-24, 2015 Austin, Texas
  • O'Reilly Solid, Platforms, Devices And Interoperability In The Smart Home
    JUNE 25, 2015 San Francisco, California
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    JUNE 18, 2015 New York City, New York
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    JUNE 18, 2015 Mountain View, California
  • Connections, Innovative Partnerships: The Connected Home Panel
    MAY 19, 2015 San Francisco, California
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    MAY 13, 2015 San Francisco, California
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    MARCH 5, 2015 Barcelona, Spain
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    FEBRUARY 9-11, 2015 San Jose, California
  • Thread Group Information Event
    SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 Google Campus, Mountain View, California
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