industry news
Subscribe Now

Introducing Thread: A New Wireless Networking Protocol for the Home

SAN RAMON, Calif. – July 15, 2014 – Recognizing the need for a new and better way to connect products in the home, seven companies today announced that they’ve joined forces to form the Thread Group (www.threadgroup.org) and develop Thread, a new IP-based wireless networking protocol. The charter of the Thread Group is to guide the adoption of the Thread protocol. Thread Group founding members consist of industry-leading companies including Yale Security, Silicon Labs, Samsung Electronics, Nest Labs, Freescale® Semiconductor, Big Ass Fans and ARM.

While currently available 802.15.4 networking technologies have their own advantages, each also has critical issues that prevent the promise of the Internet of Things (IoT) from being realized. These include lack of interoperability, inability to carry IPv6 communications, high power requirements that drain batteries quickly, and “hub and spoke” models dependent on one device (if that device fails, the whole network goes down). With Thread, product developers and consumers can easily and securely connect more than 250 devices into a low-power, wireless mesh network that also includes direct Internet and cloud access for every device.

“Existing wireless networking approaches were introduced long before the Internet of Things gained ground,” said Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist, Google, and advisor to the Thread Group. “The Thread protocol takes existing technologies and combines the best parts of each to provide a better way to connect products in the home.”

“A number of networking solutions and platforms have been introduced to address the growing demand for connected products in the home,” said Lisa Arrowsmith, associate director, connectivity, smart homes and smart cities, IHS Technology. “Built on well-proven standards, including IEEE 802.15.4, IETF IPv6 and 6LoWPAN, Thread represents a resilient, IP-based solution for the rapidly growing Internet of Things.”

Not Just Another Standard

Unlike many existing technologies or IoT approaches, Thread is not an application protocol or a connectivity platform for many types of disparate networks. Thread is an IPv6 networking protocol built on open standards, designed for low-power 802.15.4 mesh networks. Existing popular application protocols and IoT platforms can run over Thread networks. A version of Thread is already being used successfully in Nest products today.

A Better Network for Developers

Using proven standards and IPv6 technology with 6LoWPAN as its foundation, Thread offers product developers numerous technological advantages over existing wireless standards:

  • Reliable networks: Thread offers robust self-healing mesh networks that scale to hundreds of devices with no single point of failure. Devices are ready when people need them.
  • Secure networks: Thread networks feature secure, banking-class encryption. Thread closes identified security holes found in other wireless protocols and provides worry-free operation.
  • Simple connectivity: Thread devices are simple to install with a smartphone, tablet or computer. Consumers can securely connect Thread devices in the home to each other and to the cloud for easy control and access from anywhere.
  • Low power: Thread supports battery-operated devices as part of a home network. This allows the devices that people use every day – including thermostats, lighting controls, safety and security products – to be a part of the network without requiring constant charging or frequent battery changes.

Millions of existing 802.15.4 wireless devices already on the market can run Thread with just a software enhancement — no new hardware required. Thread is designed for quick implementation and deployment of devices throughout the home.

Easy to Set Up, Easy to Use

Thread is designed with a new security architecture that allows consumers to simply and securely add and remove products to the network via a smartphone, tablet or computer. Thread’s mesh network technology provides improved reliability and coverage anywhere in the home and Thread products will be tested to ensure that they work together effortlessly and securely right out of the box. Thread products will also bear the Thread logo, indicating they have been certified for quality, security and interoperability — and to help consumers identify them on the market.

Thread Group Membership

The Thread Group is focused on educating product developers and consumers on the benefits of Thread through marketing and rigorous, meaningful product certification. The Thread Group will offer two tiers of membership, Sponsor and Contributor. Interested parties can review membership benefits and register athttp://www.threadgroup.org/Join.aspx.

About Thread

Designed for consumers and devices in and around the home, Thread easily and securely connects hundreds of devices to each other and directly to the cloud using real Internet Protocols in a low-power, wireless mesh network. The non-profit Thread Group is focused on making Thread the foundation for the Internet of Things in the home, educating product developers and consumers on the unique features and benefits of Thread and ensuring a great user experience through rigorous, meaningful product certification. Thread is backed by industry-leading companies including ARM, Big Ass Fans, Freescale Semiconductor, Nest Labs, Inc., Samsung, Silicon Labs and Yale Security. For more information, please visit www.threadgroup.org.

Leave a Reply

featured blogs
Mar 18, 2024
Innovation in the AI and supercomputing domains is proceeding at a rapid pace, with each new advancement heralding a future more tightly interwoven with the threads of intelligence and computation. Cadence, with the release of its Millennium Platform, co-optimized with NVIDIA...
Mar 18, 2024
Cloud-based EDA tools are critical to accelerating AI chip design and verification; see how NeuReality leveraged cloud-based chip emulation for their 7NR1 NAPU.The post NeuReality Accelerates 7nm AI Chip Tape-Out with Cloud-Based Emulation appeared first on Chip Design....
Mar 5, 2024
Those clever chaps and chapesses at SiTime recently posted a blog: "Decoding Time: Why Leap Years Are Essential for Precision"...

featured video

We are Altera. We are for the innovators.

Sponsored by Intel

Today we embark on an exciting journey as we transition to Altera, an Intel Company. In a world of endless opportunities and challenges, we are here to provide the flexibility needed by our ecosystem of customers and partners to pioneer and accelerate innovation. As we leap into the future, we are committed to providing easy-to-design and deploy leadership programmable solutions to innovators to unlock extraordinary possibilities for everyone on the planet.

To learn more about Altera visit: http://intel.com/altera

featured paper

Reduce 3D IC design complexity with early package assembly verification

Sponsored by Siemens Digital Industries Software

Uncover the unique challenges, along with the latest Calibre verification solutions, for 3D IC design in this new technical paper. As 2.5D and 3D ICs redefine the possibilities of semiconductor design, discover how Siemens is leading the way in verifying complex multi-dimensional systems, while shifting verification left to do so earlier in the design process.

Click here to read more

featured chalk talk

High Voltage Stackable Dual Phase Constant On Time Controllers - Microchip and Mouser
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and Microchip
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Chris Romano from Microchip and Amelia Dalton discuss the what, where, and how of Microchip’s high voltage stackable dual phase constant on time controllers. They investigate the stacking capabilities of the MIC2132 controller, how these controllers compare with other solutions on the market, and how you can take advantage of these solutions in your next design.
May 22, 2023
34,648 views