In a previous article, we explored how to build and use an Android app as an external commissioner to onboard Thread devices into a network. This article takes it a step further by demonstrating how to implement a Java-based external commissioner. The thread commissioning process involves the following key steps: Discovering the Border Router Connecting to the Border Router Adding Joiner Rules Joining the Thread Network In this guide, we will implement these steps in a Java application, providing a clear and structured approach to external commissioning in OpenThread.

In our previous article, we set up an external commissioner outside a Thread network using a command-line tool on a PC. However, OpenThread also provides a mobile app that can serve as an external commissioner. This guide will walk you through building and using the OpenThread Commissioner mobile app to provision a device onto a Thread network. Building the OpenThread Commissioner Mobile App OpenThread provides an Android app source, which requires Android Studio and Android NDK to build.