Thread (network protocol)

Network protocol

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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 that "Membership in Thread Group is necessary to implement, practice, and ship Thread technology and Thread Group specifications."[2]

In 2019, the Connected Home over IP project (later renamed "Matter"), led by the Zigbee Alliance (now the Connectivity Standards Alliance), 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.[3][4]

## 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.[5] 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 Inc. joined the group[6] and released its first Thread product, the HomePod Mini, in late 2020.[7]

## 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.[8]

Thread is a low-power and low-latency wireless mesh networking protocol built using open and proven standards. It uses 6LoWPAN, which is based on the use of a connecting router, called an edge router. Thread calls their edge routers Border Routers. Thread solves the complexities of the IoT, addresses challenges such as interoperability, range, security, energy, and reliability. A Thread network doesn’t have a single point of failure, and it has the ability to self-heal.[9]: 8

Thread is based on existing technologies in all its layers: from routing, packeting, and security to its wireless radio technology. Similar to Wi-Fi, with its broad range of devices, Thread is an open standard that is not tied to a specific manufacturer, which minimizes the risk of incompatibilities.

Thread’s IP foundation is application-agnostic, offering product manufacturers the flexibility to choose one (or multiple) application layers to connect devices across multiple networks.[9]: 19–21 Developers can bring their apps, devices, systems, and services to market faster because they’re using the same set of tools available for the Internet.

## See also[edit]

* Home automation
* Matter (standard)
* Wi-Fi Direct
* Wi-Fi EasyMesh
* DASH7
* KNX (standard)
* LonWorks (standard)
* BACnet (standard)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "What is Thread - Overview". Thread Group. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
2. ^ "The Thread group - Thread 1.1 Specifications". Thread Group. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
3. ^ "Amazon, Apple, Google, and Zigbee join forces for an open smart home standard". TechCrunch. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-18.[permanent dead link]
4. ^ "Project Connected Home over IP". Project Connected Home over IP. Archived from the original on 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
5. ^ Noel Randewich (15 July 2014). "Google's Nest launches network technology for connected home". Reuters. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
6. ^ "Apple joins 'The Thread Group,' opening up the possibility of more advanced HomeKit tech". 9to5Mac. 2018-08-06. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
7. ^ "Apple introduces HomePod mini: A powerful smart speaker with amazing sound". Apple (Press release). 13 October 2020.
8. ^ https://openthread.io/
9. ^ a b Thread Stack Fundamentals (PDF) (Technical report). Thread Group. May 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Thread Group – official site
* OpenThread
* OpenThread on GitHub

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Wireless sensor network

Operating
systems|

* Contiki
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Communications
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* OCARI
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* Thread
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Conferences,
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