[Matter] Apple Home cannot identify light_switch example

[robz]

Hi all,

I tested the matter light_bulb and light_switch samples. While the bulb is identified as a bulb, the switch shows as "unsupported".

Following Matter 1.0 standard, shouldn't it be identified as a switch? I did not do any changes to the code.

Light_Switch:

Light_Bulb:

Board: nrf52840-DK
nrf Connect SDK v2.2.0-rc1 (also tried the files from latest commit on Github)
Apple HomePod running OS 16.2

[AHaug]

Hi,

I will ask the Matter team if they know if our switch sample is currently undefined, but in the mean while could you verify which app (the one displayed in the screenshots)?

Kind regards,
Andreas

[robz]

Hi Andreas,

thanks for checking with them  

the app is the default Home app in iOS. 

kind regards 

Robert

[AHaug]

Hi,

The issue seems to be that currently Apple Home does not support binding on 1.0.0 release date, the and dimmer switch device implemented in the sample is not recognized, thus you see the device as unsupported.

What may be useful is to take a look on the Matter light switch example in the upstream SDK: github.com/.../nrfconnect. The generic switch device type is supported there: https://github.com/project-chip/connectedhomeip/blob/master/examples/light-switch-app/light-switch-common/light-switch-app.zap#L7924

However note that this works different than how we've designed the sample. Here, the Generic Switch likely just reports switch state to Apple controller, which processes this information and controls the light bulb. So in fact light switch is not controlling light bulb directly in such setup, which our sample is intended to do.

Let me know if this answers your question

Kind regards,
Andreas

[m17kea]

Hi Andreas,

I'm in the same boat, I'd like to add a basic switch to Apple Home to control the light_bulb app. I'd followed the same steps as Robert and can confirm the results. After discovering this support case I also followed the following tutorial, using the template application to create the generic switch implementation: https://youtu.be/9Ar13rMxGIk?t=2028. I get the same unsupported error once the device is added to Apple Home. Is it possible to get a more detailed response on how this may be accomplished?

Board: nrf52840-DK
nrf Connect SDK v2.2.0
Apple HomePod running OS 16.2

Regards

Mike

[AHaug]

Hi Mike,

Could you elaborate a bit on exactly what you want a response on? Is it why our sample is not supported by the Apple Home controller, or is it how to use the project-chip generic light switch app to create your own generic light switch?

PS: in case the topic of your question becomes unrelated to this original ticket at any point it might be worth considering creating another case for this. If it comes to that, please feel free to link to this case in the new ticket.

Kind regards,
Andreas 

[m17kea]

Hi Andreas,

Thanks for you response and sorry if I misunderstood. I got the impression from your previous message to Robert that implementing a generic switch may work with Apple Home, which it didn't. I like Robert would like to create a switch running on the nrf52840-DK that works with Apple Home. If this is not possible could you elaborate on why? If it is possible could you elaborate on how? 

Regards

Mike

[AHaug]

No worries, I just wanted to be sure I was on the same page as you

I think the following is what you need/want, but note that the control-flow is different than our samples as I described in my initial reply: "Here, the Generic Switch likely just reports switch state to Apple controller, which processes this information and controls the light bulb "

The method is based on the Matter light switch example in the upstream SDK: https://github.com/project-chip/connectedhomeip/tree/master/examples/light-switch-app/nrfconnect. The generic switch device type is supported there: https://github.com/project-chip/connectedhomeip/blob/master/examples/light-switch-app/light-switch-common/light-switch-app.zap#L7924

You may add a generic switch to endpoint 2 to the light switch sample (NCS v2.1.0) (https://github.com/lats1980/fw-nrfconnect-nrf/commits/demo/matter-generic-switch)

The endpoint 2 will be recognized as a stateless programmable button with "Short Press" and "Long Press" actions. Then you can add "ACTION" to control the light bulb example to turn on/off:

In ZAP, set endpoint 2 as Matter Generic Switch as below:

Then change the FeatureMap to 14 to enable Single press&Long press (Check Switch cluster in spec for details of Feature Map )

Please note that there are some ZAP issue in NCS 2.1.1/2.1.2, which are described in https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/known_issues.html#matter. An option is to use ZAP on v2.2.0

Let me know if this is of any help!

Kind regards,
Andreas

[robz]

Hi Andreas,

just got it to work, ported the adjustments of Larry to my code on NCS 2.2.0

Couldn't get it to work on a 2nd endpoint, but then deleted the Dimmer Switch endpoint and adjusted the code accordingly. Configuration on Apple Home App works well and reaction time is quite fast.

Next I will try to run the code on a Seeed BLE for mechanical prototyping.

Thanks a lot!

Robert

[AHaug]

Hi Robert,

Glad you got it to work! Let me know if we can close this case for now or if you have any additional questions related to this topic specifically!

Kind regards,
Andreas

[CartBlanche]

Hi Robert, 

  I'm also on 2.2.0 and even though I've read Andreas' reply, I don't understand what changes in the light_switch demo are required to get HomePod Mini to see the 52480 "app" as supported. Could you possibly share what specific code changes you made to the light_switch demo to get this working?

Thanks,

Dominique.

[robz]

Hi Dominique,

I‘m happy to share my code changes with you. I will try to fork the SDK and implement my changes on GitHub this week. Will post the link here after completion.

Cheers, Robert