1. Introduction
One of the key features of the Matter protocol is that its software code is open source, which means that anyone can develop devices that are compatible with it. However, in order to ensure that these devices are fully compliant with the Matter standard and support all of its security mechanisms, they must be certified by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).
The certification process involves testing and validation by a third-party testing lab to ensure that the device meets all the necessary hardware and software requirements for full compliance with the Matter standard. Only devices that have received official certification from the CSA are allowed to carry the Matter logo.
2. Matter certification types
CSA defines two types of certifications:
- Matter HW solution
- Matter HW solution certification includes whole Matter SW and underlying transport layer (Thread/BLE)
- Matter SW component
- Matter SW component certification only includes a subset of Matter HW solution and is only applicable to Software Components that run within the context of a Supported Operating Environment (SOE).
SOE shall support, at minimum, all the mandatory requirements for a Matter Software Component.
- Matter SW component certification only includes a subset of Matter HW solution and is only applicable to Software Components that run within the context of a Supported Operating Environment (SOE).
3. Transport layer certification
Matter protocol runs over various technologies such as Thread, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet. To obtain Matter certification, devices must be certified according to these technologies. STMicroelectronics provides a Matter over Thread end device. Matter over Thread requires BLE for commissioning as per Matter standard. Matter SDK runs on top of a Thread/BLE dynamic concurrent mode protocol stack. To get Matter certification, the underlying transport layer must also be certified. This means that the certifications below are required:
- Thread with Thread Group (Thread certification process wiki article)
- BLE (Bluetooth SIG)
4. Matter certification process
Whatever the type of Matter certification, the process is the following:
- Become a member of the CSA
- Select an Authorized Test Provider (ATL) and submit testing. The list of ATLs can be found on the CSA website.
- ATL delivers a final test report to the applicant and the CSA
- Submit certification application to the CSA
- CSA review application (Processing)
- CSA approves certification
- Public visibility of certified products on CSA website
- Matter certified logos
| Matter certification process |
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5. Test harness for Matter certification
As mentioned previously, the ATL runs the test harness for the specific candidate. The candidate also may conduct in-house testing to detect any possible issues that may arise during formal certification testing. This approach can be beneficial in terms of time and cost savings.
The list of tests requested by the CSA depends on the product to be certified. You can find all the necessary instructions and guidelines for CSA membership on their website.
To certify Dimmable Light device, with Matter SDK1.1, STMicroelectronics performed:
- 75 tests for Core including OTA and device discovery tests
- 56 tests for Clusters including On/Off, Level Control and Access Control clusters tests
6. Certification application documents for Matter
The four required documents for certification are:
- Document of Conformity (DoC)
- PICS (Protocol Implementation Conformance Statements), which is an XML file containing the mandatory and the optional functions supported by the product under certification. It can be generated using the CSA’s PICS tool.
- Network Transport Attestation, which is an attestation confirming that you have obtained certification for the transport platform being used for your Matter component. This attestation is required for technologies such as Bluetooth, Thread, and Wi-Fi. The network transport attestation is not necessary for Matter SW component certification.
- Security Attestation, which provides detailed information about the security level of the Matter component.
7. Acronyms and definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ATL | Authorized Test Lab |
| FTD | Full Thread Device |
| MTD | Minimum Thread Device |
| PICS | Protocol Implementation Conformance Statements |
| SOE | Supported Operating Environment |