Broadband muscles in on Matter in the smart home
Broadband vendors are aiming to tap into the smart home market using the Matter protocol, which is seen as too fragmented.
A new cloud-based device management specification from the Broadband Forum will enable broadband service providers to deploy compatible devices in the smart home faster and to manage them more easily using the Matter protocol.
Under the Matter 1.0 protocol released in October 2022, networks and devices, such as a TV or speaker, are managed, monitored, and controlled via a smartphone, hub, or smart display application. The User Services Platform (USP) being developed by the forum will allow all supported devices to be controlled by a standards-driven cloud-based controller regardless of the brand in use.
Alif sampling BLE and Matter MCU with neural co-processor
“As the application space is currently fragmented by the big smart home players, this project will level the playing field,” said Broadband Forum’s Broadband User Services (BUS) Work Area Co-Director and QA Cafe Director of Technical Marketing Jason Walls.
“Broadband Service Providers will be able to simplify and unify the end-user experience in the smart home using a single managed Matter-enabled gateway in the home. Industry-wide collaboration across the smart home is paramount in unleashing the full potential of Matter and we look forward to driving this project forward in the months ahead.”
The MatterService Data Model for USP-enabled Devices (WT-517) specification is set to be completed by Summer 2025 and will provide greater connected device management in the smart home and can enable communications between the application layer and control layer, with the latter orchestrating how resources are allocated to applications.
With USP, the broadband network is made up of USP Agents (which expose the data) and USP Controllers (which retrieve and consume the data). The project defines how the MatterService data model can be incorporated into USP Agents, which typically reside in CPE (like routers and gateways) and provide services, such as a firewall or speed test, and are manipulated by the USP Controller.
Earlier this year Panasonic started offering multi-tier wireless certificates for the different connectivitions in smart home devices using the Matter protocol.
“As the owners of home connectivity, network operators play a crucial role in the end-user experience in the smart home,” said Orange Senior VP Home Services Innovation Chem Assayag. “Orange is a member of both CSA and Broadband Forum and we recognize that embracing standardized protocols is essential in establishing a holistic understanding of the entire home network. By incorporating Matter into the USP data model and exposing Matter device capabilities, network operators and BSPs can streamline the deployment and monitoring of new services, making it easier than ever to enhance user experiences.”
“This is not just a technical upgrade; it is a strategic opportunity to drive widespread adoption of the Matter standard, preparing the entire home ecosystem for the smart home revolution,” Assayag continued.
The MatterService data model will work within the Broadband Forum’s TR-181 specification and Device:2 data model for USP Agents framework.
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