The latest update to the CSA’s Matter standard aims to help users set up their smart-home devices more easily.

With the release of Matter 1.4.1, three features – enhanced setup flow (ESF), multi-device setup QR code, and onboarding info in NFC tag – aim at making device setup and regulatory compliance easier, benefiting device makers and end users.

The ESF is an update to the core commissioning process. It now supports the display of a manufacturer’s terms and conditions (T&Cs) directly in the commissioner app, including enabling the collection of customer consent. These responses are transmitted to the device being set up, enabling the device to adjust functionalities as outlined in the T&Cs.

Previously, devices requiring T&C acceptance, for instance to comply with GDPR, would need to direct users to connect first to it using a dedicated app, a process known as custom commissioning flow (CCF) in Matter. With ESF, T&Cs can be localised, displayed and updated for user acceptance within the commissioner app, such as that from a smart-home ecosystem, streamlining the setup process. If a commissioner does not support ESF, the process can still revert to CCF.

For device makers, this means T&Cs can be shown on interfaces beyond the manufacturer’s app, helping meet regulatory requirements in various regions. For end users, this enables a streamlined, continuous setup journey without hopping between apps just to manage T&Cs.

Many Matter devices use a QR code on the device or in the packaging to enable simple and secure setup. For popular multi-packs of devices such as light bulbs and smart plugs, it’s not always clear which code is for which device, and adding devices requires scanning the QR codes one by one and waiting for completion of the steps for that device before scanning the next one. With support in Matter for multi-device QR codes, users can scan a single QR code to set up multiple devices at once, with compatible commissioners.

The onboarding info in NFC tag feature lets manufacturers embed the same information found in Matter QR codes into NFC tags. This expands options for embedding onboarding information into products, making it suitable for devices difficult to move or reorient, such as lightbulbs in fixtures or light switches whose QR codes might be hidden once installed. Users can simply tap their smartphone to the device for commissioning. This mechanism will be used alongside QR and manual (numeric) setup codes.

For device makers, this provides an additional method for delivering onboarding information, complementing QR codes and numeric setup codes. For end users, it offers convenience and flexibility, making setup easier in various real-world situations.

The CSA says these features represent the next step forward for Matter setup, enhancing compliance and user experience. Device makers and end users alike can benefit from the streamlined processes and increased flexibility.

As Matter’s first minor release, 1.4.1 focuses on expanding the certification programme to include previously provisional specifications for enhanced setup flow and NFC tags, and includes minor fixes and improvements that enhance the overall quality and reliability of Matter.

Developers interested in learning more about these enhancements can access the following resources:

• Matter 1.4.1 specification and test plan (csa-iot.org/developer-resource/specifications-download-request)
• Matter 1.4.1 SDK Release (github.com/project-chip/connectedhomeip)

Learn more about Matter at csa-iot.org/all-solutions/matter.