Thread Group recently hosted a virtual Panel Session Event regarding Thread’s role in IoT convergence and how that relates to the Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP) initiative driven by the Zigbee Alliance. It was an engaging and informative panel consisting of Thread Group Board Directors representing product companies and moderated by Bill Curtis from Moor Insights who wrote an article for Forbes about IoT, IP and Project CHIP. And, thanks to the great participation, we had dozens of insightful questions from the audience during the interactive portion of the webinar. Due to time constraints, we were unable to answer all questions so we put together this summary that categorizes and answers all audience questions.
Project Connected Home over IP: General Questions
Many of the questions received on Project CHIP were around what it is, where the work is being done, how it relates to Thread, what it means for Zigbee products and what the schedule is. For information about this new initiative, please visit www.connectedhomeip.com.
What is Project CHIP
Project CHIP is a new initiative within the Zigbee Alliance created to develop a new unified IP-based application layer using market-proven technologies that will run on existing IP networks with Thread, Wi-Fi, and an IP adaption of Bluetooth LE as the initial focus. Thread Group members can participate in the Project CHIP Working Group if they are also a member of the Zigbee Alliance and have opted into the Project CHIP Working Group.
Thread, an IP-based secure, robust, and low power mesh networking protocol that runs on standard IEEE 802.15.4 radios, was built to be application-layer agnostic so that any or multiple application layers could be supported based on the application and product requirements. Project CHIP will create a unified application layer that can run on top of Thread network layers.
There are multiple implementations of the Thread spec including an open-source option OpenThread, available from several Thread Group member companies and supported by a robust community. Project CHIP is also being developed as an open-source technology which can be implemented over an OpenThread solution.
Regarding compatibility with Zigbee and Dotdot, it’s important to look at the individual components separately. Zigbee PRO is a mesh networking protocol that runs on standard IEEE 802.15.4 radios, just like Thread. Unlike Thread, Zigbee PRO is not an IP-based technology. Project CHIP is creating an IP-based application layer that must run on IP networks such as Thread. Since Thread uses the same 802.15.4 radio as Zigbee PRO, devices built with Zigbee can theoretically be updated to support Project CHIP over Thread. Dotdot is Zigbee's unified application layer (based on the well established Zigbee Cluster Library) over IP with the first implementation being on Thread. We see Project CHIP as the next step for Dotdot.
Transitioning from currently used protocols
The Zigbee Alliance was early in their recognition of the importance of IP through early efforts in Zigbee IP and later, through liaison and collaboration with the Thread Group. With Dotdot data models identified as a key ingredient of Project CHIP, the transition path is through the use of bridge devices.
For the application layer, connectedhomeoverip.com states that “The Project intends to leverage development work and protocols from existing systems such as: Amazon’s Alexa Smart Home, Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Weave, and Zigbee Alliance’s Dotdot data models.” Migration and transition from these platforms to Project CHIP, once it’s available, are up to the platform providers. As an IP-based network layer, Thread can support any or multiple applications layers.
Project CHIP Timeline
According to connectedhomeoverip.com, “To quicken development, the Project intends to start with components of market-tested technologies, modified as needed. The Working Group has a goal to release a draft specification and a preliminary reference open source implementation in late 2020.”
Market and Adoption Questions
Project CHIP is publicly supported by industry leaders such as Amazon (Alexa Smart Home), Apple (HomeKit), Google (Weave) and Zigbee Alliance (Dotdot data models). According to the press release issued in December, these companies have "plans to develop and promote the adoption of" Project CHIP. With this support and collaboration, we believe that Thread + Project CHIP will address the challenges consumers sometimes face setting up and using smart home devices, while also improving interoperability.
Beyond Smart Home
Based on the information available today, Project CHIP is focused on the connected home. However, many basic commercial applications, such as small buildings and offices or small retail kiosks, can use connected home technology for their IoT needs. In these situations, operating the lights, controlling door locks or window blinds or setting the HVAC system can be performed using off-the-shelf equipment. In addition, many connected home appliances are installed by professionals, and these connected home products overlap with the commercial market. Thread is built on the well-established IPv6 protocol making it an ideal network to use for smart home and commercial building markets.
Thread Market Momentum
According to OnWorld, “By 2023, 4.5 billion cumulative 802.15.4 mesh devices will be sold worldwide. The majority of these will use smart home protocols such as Zigbee and Thread.”
The number of Thread certified products - components and end products - continues to grow at a steady pace. A list of these certifications as well as example case studies are available on the Thread Group website.
Project CHIP aims to converge app layers to increase compatibility of smart home products. Thread Group views this benefit as an enabler to increase adoption of IoT.
Part 2 of the blog addressing detailed questions about Thread and Project CHIP from the Thread perspective will follow.