Thread (network protocol)

Network protocol

Thread

Developed by| Thread Group
Industry| Home automation
Website| threadgroup.org

Thread is an IPv6-based, low-power mesh networking technology for Internet of things (IoT) products.[1] The Thread protocol specification is available at no cost; however, this requires agreement and continued adherence to an end-user license agreement (EULA), which states "Membership in Thread Group is necessary to implement, practice, and ship Thread technology and Thread Group specifications."[2]

Often used as a transport for Matter (the combination being known as Matter over Thread), the protocol has seen increased use for connecting low-power and battery-operated smart-home devices.[3]

## Organization

[edit]

In July 2014, the Thread Group alliance was formed as an industry group to develop, maintain and drive adoption of Thread as an industry networking standard for IoT applications.[4] Thread Group provides certification for components and products to ensure adherence to the spec. Initial members were ARM Holdings, Big Ass Solutions, NXP Semiconductors/Freescale, Google-subsidiary Nest Labs, OSRAM, Samsung, Silicon Labs, Somfy, Tyco International, Qualcomm, and the Yale lock company. In August 2018, Apple joined the group,[5] and released its first Thread product, the HomePod Mini, in late 2020.[6]

## Characteristics

[edit]

Thread uses 6LoWPAN, which, in turn, uses the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless protocol with mesh communication (in the 2.4 GHz spectrum), as do Zigbee and other systems. However, Thread is IP-addressable, with cloud access and AES encryption. A BSD-licensed open-source implementation of Thread called OpenThread is available from and managed by Google.[7]

The OpenThread network simulator, a part of the OpenThread implementation, simulates Thread networks using OpenThread POSIX instances.[8] The simulator utilises discrete-event simulation and allows for visualisation of communications through a web interface.[relevant?][9]

## Use cases

[edit]

In 2019, the Connected Home over IP (CHIP) project, subsequently renamed to Matter, led by the Zigbee Alliance, now the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), Google, Amazon, and Apple, announced a broad collaboration to create a royalty-free standard and open-source code base to promote interoperability in home connectivity, leveraging Thread, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Low Energy.[10][11]

## List of mobile phones with Thread

[edit]

Company  | Device name  | Availability

|
|

Apple | iPhone 15 Pro[12] | Including Pro Max
iPhone 16[13] | All models except iPhone 16e
Google | Pixel 9[14][15] | All models, including Pixel 9 Pro Fold

## See also

[edit]

* Home automation
* Wi-Fi Direct
* Wi-Fi EasyMesh
* DASH7
* KNX
* LonWorks
* BACnet

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "What is Thread - Overview". Thread Group. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
2. ^ "The Thread group - Thread 1.1 Specifications". Thread Group. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
3. ^ Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (July 29, 2022). "What is Thread and how will it help your smart home?". The Verge. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
4. ^ Noel Randewich (July 15, 2014). "Google's Nest launches network technology for connected home". Reuters. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
5. ^ "Apple joins 'The Thread Group,' opening up the possibility of more advanced HomeKit tech". 9to5Mac. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
6. ^ "Apple introduces HomePod mini: A powerful smart speaker with amazing sound". Apple (Press release). October 13, 2020.
7. ^ "OpenThread". 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
8. ^ openthread/ot-ns, OpenThread, April 18, 2024, retrieved April 22, 2024
9. ^ "Simulate Thread Networks using OTNS". OpenThread. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
10. ^ "Amazon, Apple, Google, and Zigbee join forces for an open smart home standard". TechCrunch. December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
11. ^ "Project Connected Home over IP". Project Connected Home over IP. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
12. ^ Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (September 14, 2023). "Here's why Apple put a Thread radio in the iPhone 15 Pro". The Verge. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
13. ^ "iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
14. ^ Li, Abner (July 12, 2024). "Pixel 9 series arrives at the FCC, includes Thread". 9to5Google. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
15. ^ "Giant Pixel 9 leak gives us our first real-world look at the Fold, faster charging specs, and more". Android Authority. July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* OpenThread
* OpenThread on GitHub

Portal:

* Internet

Thread (network protocol) at Wikipedia's sister projects:

* Data from Wikidata

* v
* t
* e

Wireless sensor network

Operating
systems|

* Contiki
* ERIKA Enterprise
* LiteOS
* NanoQplus
* Nano-RK
* OpenTag
* RIOT
* TinyOS
* OpenWSN

Communications
protocols|

* 6LoWPAN
* IEEE 802.15.4
* ANT
* Bluetooth
* Bluetooth Low Energy (Wibree)
* DASH7
* ISA100.11a
* MiWi
* Near-field communication
* OCARI
* One-Net
* OSIAN
* Sidewalk
* Thread
* TIBUMAC
* TSMP
* WirelessHART
* Zigbee
* Z-Wave

Programming
languages|

* C
* LabVIEW

Hardware|

* Arduino
* Iris Mote
* Sun SPOT
* XBee

Software|

* NS-2
* LinuxMCE
* OPNET
* TinyDB-TOSSIM

Applications|

* Key distribution
* Location estimation
* Sensor network query processor
* Sensor web
* Wireless powerline sensor
* Telemetry

Routing
protocols|

* Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing (AODV)
* Dynamic Source Routing (DSR)

Conferences,
journals|

* European Conference on Wireless Sensor Networks (EWSN)
* International Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks (IPSN)
* Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems (SenSys)

* v
* t
* e

Automation protocols

Process automation|

* AS-i
* BSAP
* CC-Link Industrial Networks
* CIP
* CAN bus
* CANopen
* DeviceNet
* ControlNet
* DF-1
* DirectNET
* EtherCAT
* Ethernet Global Data (EGD)
* Ethernet Powerlink
* EtherNet/IP
* Factory Instrumentation Protocol
* FINS
* FOUNDATION fieldbus
* H1
* HSE
* GE SRTP
* HART Protocol
* Honeywell SDS
* HostLink
* INTERBUS
* IO-Link
* MECHATROLINK
* MelsecNet
* Modbus
* Optomux
* PieP
* PROFIBUS
* PROFINET
* RAPIEnet
* SERCOS interface
* SERCOS III
* Sinec H1
* SynqNet
* TTEthernet

Industrial control system|

* MTConnect
* OPC DA
* OPC HDA
* OPC UA

Building automation|

* 1-Wire
* BACnet
* BatiBUS
* C-Bus
* CEBus
* DALI
* DSI
* DyNet
* EnOcean
* EHS
* EIB
* FIP
* KNX
* LonTalk
* Modbus
* OpenTherm
* oBIX
* VSCP
* X10
* xAP
* xPL
* Z-Wave
* Zigbee

Power-system automation|

* IEC 60870
* IEC 60870-5
* IEC 60870-6
* DNP3
* Factory Instrumentation Protocol
* IEC 61850
* IEC 62351
* Modbus
* PROFIBUS

Automatic meter reading|

* ANSI C12.18
* IEC 61107
* DLMS/IEC 62056
* M-Bus
* Modbus
* Zigbee

Automobile / Vehicle|

* AFDX
* ARINC 429
* CAN bus
* ARINC 825
* SAE J1939
* NMEA 2000
* FMS
* Factory Instrumentation Protocol
* FlexRay
* IEBus
* J1587
* J1708
* Keyword Protocol 2000
* Unified Diagnostic Services
* LIN
* MOST
* SENT (SAE J2716)
* VAN
* Cyphal

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