Integrating OpenThread on BLE/802.15.4 Firmware for Enhanced IoT Networks

Enabling thread support on the vendor’s existing BLE/802.15.4 chip’s firmware stack was a key objective. Thread is an open standards protocol for 802.15.4 devices, creating low power mesh networks with IPv6, and ensuring reliable smart home and industrial IoT networks. The chip maker already had a BLE/802.15.4 radio and firmware stack running on ThreadX. This project integrated OpenThread (an open-source Thread implementation from Google Nest) into the existing stack to activate Thread in the device firmware. Key challenges included managing radio co-existence between BLE/802.15.4, radio resource sharing, and comprehensive Thread verification. This development equips the chip vendor’s products with a rapidly growing protocol, enhancing their marketability across various use cases.