Matter over Thread: Configuring Border Router and Android controller on separate devices

The recommended approach for Matter over Thread is to run the Thread Border Router and the Matter controller on separate devices. With the Thread Border Router installed on Raspberry Pi, this approach provides support for most functionalities. For example, it allows using a mobile controller by providing connectivity between a Wi-Fi network and a Thread network.

In such setup, Raspberry Pi runs the Thread Border Router, which provides communication between the Thread nodes and the Matter controller. The controller can be installed on a PC or a mobile phone. Both the Thread Border Router and the Matter controller must support IPv6 communication over backbone network, for example Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

In this Android-based setup, the Matter controller is installed on mobile, and a dedicated Wi-Fi Access Point and CHIP Tool for Android are used.

Setup with OpenThread Border Router and Matter controller on mobile

Requirements

To use this setup, you need the following hardware:

  • 1x smartphone with Android 8+

  • 1x Raspberry Pi Model 3B+ or newer (along with an SD card with at least 8 GB of memory)

  • 1x Wi-Fi Access Point supporting IPv6 (without the IPv6 Router Advertisement Guard enabled on the router)

  • 1x nRF52840 DK or nRF52840 Dongle - for the Radio Co-Processor (RCP) device

  • 1x compatible Nordic Semiconductor’s DK - for the Matter accessory device (compatible and programmed with one of Matter samples)

Configuring the environment

To configure and use Thread Border Router and CHIP Tool for Android on separate devices, complete the following steps.

Program the sample

Program the development kit for the Matter accessory device with one of available Matter samples. We recommend using Matter light bulb.

Configure the Thread Border Router

Configure the Thread Border Router on a Raspberry Pi. For detailed steps, see the Thread Border Router page in the nRF Connect SDK documentation.

Configure the CHIP Tool for Android

CHIP Tool for Android (also known as Android CHIPTool) is the recommended Matter controller for mobile, which allows you to test Matter applications using an Android smartphone.

Complete the following steps to configure it:

  1. Choose one of the following options:

    • Use the prebuilt tool package from the Matter nRF Connect releases GitHub page. Make sure that the package is compatible with your nRF Connect SDK version.

    • Build it manually from the source files available in the modules/lib/matter/src/android/CHIPTool directory and using the building instructions from the Building Android page in the Matter documentation.

  2. Complete the following steps from the Commissioning nRF Connect Accessory using Android CHIPTool user guide in the Matter documentation:

    • Building and installing CHIP Tool for Android - which prepares the controller for commissioning.

    • Preparing accessory device - which prepares your device programmed with the Matter sample for commissioning and provides you with the commissioning QR code.

      Note

      In the nRF Connect SDK, you can also use NFC tag for Matter commissioning.

    • Commissioning accessory device - which lets you commission your device into the network you created when configuring the Thread Border Router on Raspberry Pi.

    • Sending Matter commands - which checks the IPv6 connectivity.

Continue to testing the sample

Depending on which Matter sample you programmed onto the development kit, go to this sample’s documentation page and complete the steps from the Testing section.