As the common communication protocol for smart home ecosystems, Matter plays a pivotal role in addressing interoperability issues between devices and ecosystems from different brands. By adopting the Matter protocol, users can confidently select smart home products from various brands to build smart home applications tailored to their needs. Currently, a wide range of products supports the Matter standard, including:
- Smart lighting
- Smart speakers and voice assistants
- Smart sockets and power plugs
- Smart switches
- Smart locks
- Smart thermostats
- Smart sensors
- Smart cameras and doorbells
Smart Home Ecosystem
For consumers, choosing devices certified by Matter is an excellent way to enjoy a more seamless smart home experience. This choice helps avoid compatibility issues and enhances the overall smart home application experience!
Challenges Faced by Customers
For companies seeking Matter certification, how can they successfully obtain it? The certification process, as outlined by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), is illustrated below:
Source: Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA)
Even after reviewing the certification process carefully, manufacturers may still encounter numerous questions and uncertainties regarding how to meet Matter’s requirements, such as:
- Protocol version selection: Which protocol version is most suitable for their product?
- Hardware limitations: Are there hardware restrictions associated with different protocol versions?
- Certificate application: How should communication protocol certificates be applied for?
- OTA requirements: Is it mandatory for the product to have over-the-air (OTA) functionality?
- Test item relevance: What is the relationship between product functions and test items?
Despite thorough preparation, delays often occur during the testing and review phases due to issues like:
- Unclear descriptions in submitted documentation
- Uncertainty about how to complete required forms
These challenges not only waste valuable time but can also impact the planned product launch timeline.
Success Story: Allion Helps a Smart Lighting Manufacturer Achieve Matter Certification
This success story involves a smart lighting manufacturer that submitted Wi-Fi products for testing to Allion. Allion’s Matter certification team conducted tests based on the Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS) provided by the client. However, the test results revealed multiple failures:
- Thermostat functions: Four test items failed due to misunderstandings about PICS functionality, leading to misconfigurations.
- Wi-Fi stability: Frequent issues with unstable Wi-Fi connections were observed.
Results and Value Delivered
To assist the client in obtaining certification, Allion’s Matter consulting team provided guidance and recommendations. By fine-tuning the Wi-Fi module and adjusting PICS functionality settings, the client achieved the following outcomes:
Optimized test configurations
Reduced the number of test items from 113 to the correct 78 items. (Reduce 30.9%)
Enhanced testing efficiency
Shortened the testing process from three weeks to the correct two-week duration. (Shorter 33.3%)
Certification achieved
Successfully obtained Matter certification one week faster than anticipated (Save 1 week time)
Faster! Easier! Better!
Allion Helps You Accelerate Time-to-Market and Achieve Matter Certification
Clients often encounter the following challenges during the Matter certification process:
- Information security: Ensuring the product meets security requirements and passes related tests.
- Network stability: Addressing connectivity methods and maintaining stable connection quality without interference.
- PICS complexity: Understanding the intricate commands and parameters in PICS to align them with product functions can be difficult, resulting in failed tests.
- Documentation complexity: Testing is hindered when documents for numerous test items are overly complex.
These challenges make Matter certification relatively tedious and time-consuming. However, Allion’s Matter consulting team, with its expertise and extensive experience, offers Faster! Easier! Better! solutions to help clients achieve certification efficiently.
Learn more: Matter Certification and Consulting
Faster
Allion’s Matter consulting team possesses rich technical expertise and experience, enabling them to resolve any product-related issues quickly and secure certification in the shortest time possible.
Easier
Allion ensures reliability, accuracy, and reproducibility in every test through AI technology and automated testing methods, significantly saving time and resources.
Better
In addition to providing complete certification testing and services, Allion leverages its extensive testing experience to validate products across various user scenarios and ecosystems. This ensures product quality, reduces customer complaints, and provides a final safeguard before product launch.
