With the rapid development of science and technology, smart home has gradually moved from concept to reality and has become an indispensable part of people's lives. Among the many technologies that promote the development of smart home, the Matter protocol stands out and is leading the smart home system to a new level.

1.Matter Protocol: Unified Language for Smart Home
Matter aims to provide a unified communication standard for smart home devices. Before the birth of the Matter protocol, smart home devices of different brands and types often used their own unique communication protocols, which is like people in different countries speaking different languages, making it difficult for devices to communicate and collaborate smoothly. For example, a user may buy a smart speaker of a certain brand and a smart lighting system of another brand, but cannot directly control the lights through the smart speaker. This compatibility issue seriously hinders the popularity and development of smart homes.
The emergence of the Matter protocol is like creating a common language for smart home devices around the world. No matter which manufacturer the device comes from, as long as it supports the Matter protocol, it can easily achieve interconnection. It is based on existing network technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread, providing a simple, secure and reliable way for various smart devices to be seamlessly integrated in the home network.

2.Smart home system architecture based on Matter protocol
The smart home system based on Matter protocol mainly includes the following key parts:

Smart home platform
Refers to a smart home system that can connect and control Matter devices from multiple vendors. Common smart home platforms include Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.

Smart Home Hub
A smart home hub is the connection center for multiple smart home devices in the home. It usually corresponds to a specific smart home platform manufacturer and sometimes includes multiple connection technologies to support multiple devices. Many smart home hubs already support Matter and can act as Matter administrators and controllers. Some also have network configuration or bridging functions. In addition, smart home hubs can also implement local automation processing and support additional functions such as voice or display control. Common Matter smart home hub references are shown in the figure:

Gateway
Hardware devices that enable communication between local networks and the Internet, such as Wi-Fi routers and access points.
Thread border router
Thread border routers can connect Thread devices to local networks and communicate with IP devices built on technologies such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Thread border routers can be built into other products, such as Wi-Fi access points, smart speakers, smart home hubs, etc.
3. Three networking methods of Matter networks
There are three main networking methods for Matter networks:
1. Networking based on Wi-Fi or Ethernet: Wi-Fi and Ethernet devices that support the Matter protocol can be directly connected to wireless routers to form a network. This method is simple and convenient and is suitable for most smart devices, such as smart speakers, smart cameras, etc.
2. Networking based on Thread: Thread devices that support the Matter protocol need to be connected to IP-based networks such as Wi-Fi through border routers. Thread network is a low-power, self-healing wireless network suitable for devices with high power consumption and stability requirements such as smart door locks and sensors. Multiple Thread networks can be connected to the main network through border routers to form a star network structure.
3. Networking through bridge devices: Devices that do not support the Matter protocol, such as Zigbee or Bluetooth devices, can be connected to bridge devices such as Matter Bridge/Gateway, perform protocol conversion, and then connect to the wireless router to achieve interconnection with other Matter devices.

4. Advantages of Matter Smart Home System
Compatibility and interoperability
As mentioned earlier, the Matter protocol breaks down the compatibility barriers between devices, allowing smart home devices of different brands to work together. This means that when users choose smart home products, they are no longer limited to the ecosystem of a single brand. They can freely match various devices according to their preferences and needs to create a personalized smart home system.
Security
In the field of smart home, security is of vital importance. The Matter protocol uses advanced encryption technology and security authentication mechanisms to ensure the security of communication between devices and the privacy protection of user data. Each device that supports the Matter protocol has a unique digital certificate. When the device is connected to the network, strict identity authentication will be performed to prevent unauthorized device access. At the same time, data will also be encrypted during transmission to effectively avoid the risk of data leakage.
Easy to use and deploy
For ordinary users, the installation and use of smart home systems should be simple and easy to understand. The Matter protocol simplifies the pairing and setup process of devices. Users only need to follow the prompts of the APP to quickly add new devices to the smart home system. Moreover, since the compatibility between devices is guaranteed, the problems encountered by users in the subsequent use process will be greatly reduced, which improves the user experience.