Web access as a service for CSA matter protocol: Bridging matter and the W3C Web of Things framework for smart home interoperability

The rapid proliferation of smart home appliances has highlighted the growing need for enhanced interoperability across diverse IoT ecosystems. The Matter protocol, emerging as a global standard for smart home devices, provides a unified communication framework, while the W3C Web of Things (WoT) framework facilitates the seamless integration of IoT devices through web technologies. Despite the potential benefits, the interworking between Matter and WoT remains an underexplored area, which, if addressed, could substantially improve the accessibility and interoperability of smart home systems. This paper introduces a novel approach for integrating Matter-enabled devices with the W3C Web of Things, ultimately enabling Web Access as a Service for Matter devices. We propose a comprehensive solution that makes Matter devices discoverable and interactable within the WoT ecosystem. The proposed solution comprises: (1) a Thing model for Matter and an adaptive translation algorithm that maps Matter device specifications to WoT concepts, (2) a Matter controller that exposes Matter devices as WoT Thing Descriptions, enabling bi-directional communication between Matter devices and WoT-based applications, and (3) an extensive evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the integration. The results indicate that the proposed solution is both feasible and practical for deployment in real-world settings. This approach lays the groundwork for a more unified and user-friendly smart home experience, thereby advancing the potential for smart home ecosystems in broader, cross-domain contexts.