Rethink Matter commissioning flows

[mkerstner]

Problem statement

With multiple additional ways for commissioning Matter devices in HA like Matter's NFC based approach introduced in Matter 1.6 or the built-in BLE proxy support in HA core

• Add BLE proxy support to matter integration home-assistant/core#171384

enables new or more refined ways for further shaping the Matter commissioning flow as it is today.

With this opportunity we want to investigate how we're able to surface improvements to the existing Matter commissioning flows before going into factual development.

Community signals

• Pass network_only: false when commissioning Matter devices home-assistant/frontend#52456

• Home Assistant Native Discovery Implementation: Responding to a suggestion from the community during June's Monthly Matter community sync we could further investigate utilizing Home Assistant's native discovery features for Matter noting that using mDNS to detect commissionable devices on the network is a viable idea, though we must first determine how to handle the short-lived nature of Matter commissioning announcements.

Scope & Boundaries

In scope

• Rethink ways with the improved BLE proxying capabilities to commission Matter device without the requirement for the Companion App

Not in scope

• Changes in non-BLE proxy flows

Foreseen solution

wip

Risks & open questions

Risks

• Introducing option that potentially overcomplicates existing flow
• Clear communication of handling a BLE proxy for the commissioning flow rather than using the mobile phone + Companion app in proximity of the device to be commissioned

Appetite

No response

Execution issues

No response

Decision log

Date	Decision	Outcome

[Hedda]

While I am fully aware that using ESPHome Bluetooth Proxies is an option, I would like to point out though that from the perspective of an end-user it would probably be more logical and user-friendly if the computer/appliance that runs their Home Assistant OS instance instead had built-in Bluetooth radio support or a direct-attached Bluetooth USB-dongle, like via a local Bluetooth USB-adapter (Bluetooth USB radio dongle with an external antenna).

• https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/bluetooth#installing-a-usb-bluetooth-adapter

I would therefore by the way also like to suggest that you consider making and selling an official Bluetooth USB radio dongle adapter, (that is, an external USB-dongle similar to the ZBT-2 and ZWA-2 adapters but one with a Bluetooth radio chip instead). An maybe obvious side-benefit to having an official Bluetooth USB-dongles is that it would be that selling those would be an extra monetary income to the Open Home Foundation. Anyway, I think it would at least make Matter commissioning simpler for beginners if could simply buy an official Bluetooth USB-adapter and just plug-in to then trust it will always work without even having any external dependecies.

• https://www.amazon.com/FEASYCOM-Bluetooth-Adapter-than100m-transceiver/dp/B07KK843ZK

Yes I know that this is possible by buying a third-party Bluetooth USB-dongle that is listed on the "known working high-performance adapters", but still believe that it would be much better if could also recommend an official Bluetooth USB-dongle made (by Nabu Casa) which will always have/get the correct firmware and can be used as a reference hardware.

• https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/bluetooth

The Bluetooth integration documentation mentioned that currently for development and testing, the developers of that Bluetooth integration primarily use a Feasycom FSC-BP119 (based on the older CSR8510A10 chip from the CSR plc company, formerly the Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited, which is now part of Qualcomm), which is only compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 (however if looking for a new product to be a little more future-proof for potential other uses too then suggest find a newer chip that is compatible with Bluetooth 5.4 or even Bluetooth 6.0?).

• https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/bluetooth#known-working-high-performance-adapters

(Note that adapters based on CSR-chips generally offer the fastest connect times and do not require additional drivers or patch files).

Regardless, developers want to test Matter commissioning with local Bluetooth USB-dongles (as an alternative to Bluetooth Proxy).

[mkerstner]

Updated with Home Assistant Native Discovery Implementation proposal mentioned during June's Matter community monthly @Apollon77