Alexa Connect Kit Glossary

This document defines common terms used throughout the Alexa Connect Kit (ACK) documentation. A  |  C  |  D  |  E  |  F  |  H  |  L  |  M  |  O  |  P  |  S  |  U  |  V  |  W  |  Y

​

A

ACK Analytics Service Use the ACK Analytics service to collect, store, and analyze data about the performance and use of your ACK products. The ACK Analytics service enables collection of device logs, device metrics, heartbeat metrics, and registration metrics associated with your ACK products. For more details, see ACK Analytics Service. ACK developer console An Amazon-managed developer console to manage and configure your ACK-based products and devices. You can use the developer console to view registered devices, create and edit virtual products, view and edit the Alexa interfaces associated with your product, and download resources. ACK development kit Provides a starting point for you to build an ACK-based device prototype quickly. Available for purchase from multiple vendors. ACK Device SDK An embedded C-language SDK that contains tools, libraries, example apps and documentation for developers to build ACK Alexa-connected HMCU applications. The ACK Device SDK works with the ACK module solution. ACK managed services Provides product-specific functions, such as management of the device fleet, over-the-air updates, and support for device operational metrics. Also includes the ACK developer console where you can create and edit virtual products. ACK module An Amazon-managed system-on-a-module that you integrate into your devices. The ACK module runs Amazon-managed firmware that provides connection with Alexa and the ACK managed services, and connection with your device’s host microcontroller unit (HMCU) through the universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART). The module works with the ACK module solution. ACK module firmware ACK module firmware developed and managed by Amazon. The firmware is preprogrammed on the ACK module and is responsible for network connections and general device operation. New releases of this firmware are released periodically in the ACK developer console. The module works with the ACK module solution. Alexa app The mobile app that customers use to set up devices, change settings, group devices, and view the state of their Alexa-connected smart home devices. Information you provide during discovery, such as the friendly name and display category, determines how a device appears in the app. Alexa service Converts user utterances into directives, registers ACK-based devices with Alexa accounts, and provide access to other Alexa capabilities and features.

​

C

Canonical user ID The canonical user ID identifies your Amazon Web Services (AWS) account. To access AWS S3 buckets for ACK SDKs, logs, and metrics, send the canonical user ID to your ACK solution architect. For more details, see Find the canonical user ID for your AWS account. ACK Certification ACK-based devices must pass Works with Alexa (WWA) and Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) certification before they can be released. Matter devices must pass CSA Matter certification. Cloud registration Cloud registration is the process of a customer connecting your device to Alexa so that the device can communicate with ACK cloud services. Cloud registration occurs as part of zero-touch setup, user-guided setup, and barcode setup. For Matter devices, registration (and commissioning) occurs as part of zero-touch setup, low-touch setup, and Matter simple setup.

​

D

ACK Development The process of creating a working demo of all your ACK product features and Alexa functionality, including using the one of the ACK SDKs and porting your development code into your own HMCU app. Device states The different states that an ACK-based device cycles through during normal use. For example, ready for setup or device connected. Matter device discriminator The Matter device discriminator is a randomly-generated number in the range of 0–4095 programmed onto the device in the factory. The discriminator is used during the advertising and commissioning process to correctly identify a device.

​

E

Espressif Development Kit One of the ACK development kits available for purchase. For the ACK module solution, the kit Includes an integrated ACK module, but doesn’t include a HMCU development board.

​

F

Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) An Amazon program that simplifies device setup. With Frustration-Free Setup, a customer powers on a compatible device and it automatically connects to their Wi-Fi network and registers with their Amazon account, without manual configuration. FFS is a required feature that you must integrate into your ACK-based devices. For more details, see Understanding Frustration-Free Setup.

​

H

HMCU A microcontroller that runs your application logic on your ACK-based device. The HMCU interfaces with the ACK module to control your hardware, drive your product experience, and respond to Alexa control directives. Used in the ACK module solution only. HMCU application The HMCU app runs the logic that uses the ACK Device SDK to communicate with the ACK module, manage ACK device lifecycle states, and handle Alexa directives. Used in the ACK module solution only.

​

L

Light-touch setup Light-touch setup (LTS) simplifies device setup to as few as two taps, removing the need for high-friction activities, such as entering network credentials or scanning QR codes. LTS is available for devices not purchased from Amazon.com, or those bought as gifts, transferred between accounts, or lacking a suitable packaging barcode. With LTS, an existing device looks for any new devices within range and offers a setup prompt in the Alexa app. Available for the ACK for Matter solution only. Locked module A locked module permanently represents a product, meaning the module is ready to be sold to customers. One of the three primary stages of the module provisioning process.

​

M

ACK Manufacturing The process of building your ACK-based devices on your manufacturing line. This process includes ACK specific steps, such as provisioning your ACK modules and generating Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) barcodes. Matter administrator A Matter administrator or Matter admin is a device or application that creates, maintains, and manages security and privileges for devices on the Matter network. A Matter admin can commission devices onto the Matter network. Amazon Echo devices can act as a Matter administrator to discover and connect Matter devices to Alexa locally. Matter commissioning Matter commissioning is the process of bringing a device into the Matter network. During commissioning, the Matter commissioner verifies the authenticity of the device, and then assigns network credentials to the device. Commissioning (and cloud registration for ACK devices) occurs as part of Matter simple setup. Matter provisioning Matter provisioning is the one-time process of loading security certificates and device information, such as discriminator, Product ID, and Vendor ID, onto a Matter device during manufacturing. Module provisioned A modules default factory setting. Here, a module doesn’t represent a product, you can’t register it with Alexa, and it has limited functionality. One of the three primary stages of the module provisioning process. Used in the ACK module solution only. Module provisioning The process of programming your physical ACK module through different module lifecycle states to facilitate the ACK development process, for example to enable or disable certain functionality. The primary module states of module provisioning include module provisioned, product provisioned, and locked. Used in the ACK module solution only. Module utility tool A Java command tool that you use manage your ACK module. You can use this tool to perform common tasks either from the command line, or in scripts when you develop and manufacture products built with ACK.

​

O

Over-the-Air update Over-the-Air (OTA) update enables you to deliver firmware updates to your ACK-based devices from the AWS cloud without the need for physical access to the devices. Over-the-wire update Over-the-wire is a secondary update mechanism primarily intended for developers and factories to set the image for production. After you distribute your device, you use over-the-air (OTA) updates to upgrade your image.

​

P

ACK Prototype The process of creating a prototype of your ACK product features and Alexa functionality. To build a working prototype of your device, create a virtual product using the ACK development console. After you create a virtual product, use your ACK development ACK SDK to build a working prototype of your device. Package barcode A Frustration-Free Setup barcode that you typically include inside the packaging of an ACK-based device (ideally on the device surface). Customers typically scan this barcode to start your device setup process. Product barcode A Frustration-Free Setup barcode that you typically include on the outside of your ACK-based device packaging. This barcode is typicallly scanned at an Amazon fulfillment center before shipping the device. Product provisioned A module that represents a product and can be registered with Alexa. You typically move your module to product provisioned as you develop and test your product. One of the three primary stages of the module provisioning process. Used in the ACK module solution only. Product provisioned–registered A module automatically enters this state when it’s registered in the Alexa app with Wi-Fi Simple Setup (WSS), while in the product provisioned state. Here, your module represents a product and is registered with Alexa and ACK managed services. One of the two secondary stages of the module provisioning process. Matter Product ID A 16-bit ID that uniquely identifies your product. The Matter Product ID (PID) is issued by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) and encoded in your device firmware. For more details, see Connect Your Device to Alexa with Matter.

​

S

Smart Home API Devices built with ACK use the smart home capability interfaces to communicate to Alexa. These interfaces define your user utterances and device functionality.

​

U

Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) The hardware you use to connect and communicate with the ACK module. Utterance The words a user says to Alexa to convey what they want to do, or to provide a response to a question Alexa asks. ACK provides predefined utterances and associated requests. User-initiated trigger An action that occurs on a ACK-based device, after a user completes a pre-programmed pattern, such as pressing a unique button combination. For example, to initiate a factory reset after completing 10 consecutive physical power on/off cycles.

​

V

Matter Vendor ID A 16-bit ID that uniquely identifies the manufacturer, vendor, or ecosystem. The Matter Vendor ID (VID) is issued by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) and encoded in your device firmware. For more details, see Connect Your Device to Alexa with Matter. Virtual product When you create an ACK-based device, you first create a virtual product. A virtual product represents your physical product in the cloud and defines how users can interact with your device. When you create or edit a virtual product, you choose its Alexa capabilities and define aspects of the Alexa app experience. You associate the virtual product with your physical product in a process called provisioning. Voice interaction model The words and phrases that users can say to communicate with an ACK-based device. ACK-based devices include pre-built voice interaction models. You don’t have to define your own utterances.

​

W

Works with Alexa (WWA) A certification program that establishes a product’s compatibility with Alexa and lets a qualifying product carry the Works with Alexa badge in the Amazon smart home store, on the retail site, and on packaging. The badge increases customer confidence that your product integrates seamlessly with Alexa. To receive WWA certification, your product must meet WWA requirements. For more details, see Works with Alexa Overview. Wi-Fi Simple Setup (WSS) WSS is an Amazon Frustration-Free Setup feature makes it easier for your customers to register their devices with Amazon and Alexa services. WSS offers zero-touch setup, barcode registration, and customer-guided setup flows for device registration.

​

Y

YubiKey The certifying authority that issues product certificates for your devices on your manufacturing line. Required to provision your ACK modules during the manufacturing stage.