Evaluating Protocol for Smart Lighting System

[chunjie]

Hi,

I’m exploring the use of the Thread/Matter protocol for a smart lighting system. My goal is to have the system communicate seamlessly with the cloud—allowing commands to be sent from the cloud to lighting nodes and enabling the nodes to report data back to the cloud.

From what I’ve read, a Thread Border Router is necessary to act as a bridge between the Thread network and other IP-based networks. Additionally, I understand that Thread operates at the network layer, while Matter functions at the application layer.

I’d like to know:

1. Is it feasible to implement this using Thread/Matter?
2. If feasible, what are the recommended steps to get started?
3. Is Matter necessary for this setup, or would Thread alone suffice?
4. With a Thread Border Router in place, does that mean my nodes can communicate directly with the internet?

For context, I’m working with nRF5340 and have nRF Connect SDK v2.8.0 set up.

Looking forward to your advice! Thanks in advance.

[Charlie]

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out. Let me address your questions one by one:

Is it feasible to implement this using Thread/Matter?

Based on the information you’ve shared so far, I believe Thread/Matter could be a good fit for your requirements. However, I encourage you to try it out and make a decision after gaining hands-on experience with how it works.

If feasible, what are the recommended steps to get started?

If you decide to use Thread/Matter for your system and proceed with developing your own Matter device, I recommend starting with the following sections in the NCS documentation:

Matter

Matter samples

Is Matter necessary for this setup, or would Thread alone suffice?

Using Matter will simplify your deployment significantly. It provides management features such as secure device provisioning and predefined device types and functions. While Thread alone is an option, you would need to invest additional effort to develop the necessary application logic. You can learn the following pages about OpenThread develpment:
Thread
Thread samples

With a Thread Border Router in place, does that mean my nodes can communicate directly with the internet?

Yes, having a Thread Border Router enables devices to communicate with external networks, including the internet.

Please feel free to reach out if you have more questions during your evaluation and development process. I’ll be happy to assist further.

Best regards,

Charlie