UCONNECT Access: Notes

DESCRIPTION 

Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

The Uconnect® Access system includes the following major components:

1.	Refer to LONG TERM EVOLUTION 2 (LTE2) ANTENNA .
2.	Refer to RADIO  - The radio and display are separate components for the 257 mm (10.1 in.) radio but are integral for the 213 mm (8.4 in.) radio.
3.	Refer to BLUETOOTH®/WI-FI ANTENNA .
4.	Refer to SOS SWITCH  - the ASSIST switch is a soft button on the radio touchscreen.
5.	Refer to MICROPHONES .
6.	Refer to COMBINATION ANTENNA .
7.	Refer to RADIO FREQUENCY HUB (RFH) MODULE .
8.	Refer to ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER (EVIC) SWITCH POD .
9.	Refer to OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER (ORC) .
10.	Refer to BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) .

A Uconnect® feature for the Uconnect® Access system is optional equipment that uses an embedded cellular module within the radio to enable several mobile connectivity features. Vehicles equipped with the Uconnect® Access system can be readily identified by a switch button on the inside rear view mirror identified with an SOS  label. The ASSIST  button is a soft button on the radio touchscreen.

To enable Uconnect® Access, a subscription must be completed by the customer. Detailed directions for subscription along with other information relating to Uconnect® Access can be found on within the Uconnect® Access owner manual supplement for the supported radios.

Subscription to Uconnect® Access provides many features that allow cellular smart phones to be put away in favor of the integrated mobile connectivity features and functionality accessible through the use of the radio, steering wheel and voice controls in the vehicle. All Uconnect® Access features are only available based on subscription. Features are continually being added or changed and offerings at the time this information was last updated included:

• SOS/ASSIST  - The following call features are executed through the embedded cellular module of the radio:
  • SOS  - Pressing the SOS  button will initiate an emergency call to a Uconnect® Access Customer Care operator. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of the vehicle are made available to the customer care operator in the event help needs to be sent. In addition it opens a two way voice channel with the customer care operator allowing communication between the vehicle occupant and the operator.
  • ASSIST  - Pressing the ASSIST  soft button on the radio touchscreen will present the customer with four choices. Uconnect® Care, Vehicle Care, Roadside Assistance or Uconnect® Access Customer Care. These selection options are presented as soft keys in the radio display. Selecting any one of these choices will place a call to the selected group. If there are questions about Uconnect® Services, Uconnect® Care can be contacted; if there are questions related to vehicle functionality, Vehicle Care can be contacted; if Roadside Assistance is needed, a direct call can be made; or, if assistance from a Uconnect® Access Customer Care operator is needed, a call can be placed to connect with a customer care operator.
• Applications  - Some of the Uconnect® Access applications (apps) presently available include:
  • Alexa Built-In  - This app runs the Alexa voice service software internally to the radio that receives messages and sends messages back. It allows voice activation of many radio controlled functions in the vehicle.
  • Apple CarPlay  - Apple CarPlay offers navigation and other related services, helping drivers find optimal driving routes, avoid traffic jams, update map data, locate parking lots, and more. It also supports hands free calling and music steaming.
  • Google Android Auto  - Google Android Auto allows access to Google Maps, media and messaging.
  • Points Of Interest Search  - A Points Of Interest (POI) Search app gives the vehicle owner access to local business and destination information previously available on the internet or through a mobile app, adapted for use on the radio in their vehicle. The POI Search app provides searches using predefined search categories, or custom searches using keywords and voice recognition.
• Notifications  - Customers have the option to sign up for automatic electronic mail (email) or text message (Short Message Service/SMS) notifications when an Access remote services command is processed or if their vehicle theft alarm has been triggered. These notifications are set up through the Mopar® Owner Connect account of the customer.
• Remote Services  - The distance of remote services normally available through the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) FOB with Integrated Key (FOBIK) can be extended through Uconnect® Access. These services may include remote door Lock/Unlock, remote horn and lights (Panic Mode) and remote start. An active Uconnect® Access subscription is required and the customer must install the Uconnect® Access smart phone app on their phone. The app can be obtained by downloading it from the play store for their phone. Once the smart phone app is installed, the remote services can be controlled by the customer online through their Uconnect® Access account.

  Remote services can also be controlled through the customer's https://www.mopar.com/dodge  or https://www.mopar.com/chrysler  site. This site will allow the customer to manage their Uconnect® Access account if desired as well.

  NOTE:

  Remote services are only available based on factory installed options. Options installed at the dealer are not eligible for these services.

• Stolen Vehicle Assistance  - If the vehicle is stolen, stolen vehicle assistance can be used to help the police locate the vehicle. This service is based on the request of the customer to Uconnect® Care and must first be reported to local authorities and a police report reference number obtained. Uconnect® Care will not provide stolen vehicle assistance without a police report reference number.

The Uconnect® system includes the following major components, which are described in additional detail elsewhere in this service information:

• Uconnect® Access Switches  - In vehicles equipped with Uconnect® Access, the inside rear view mirror also contains an integral push button switch and a Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator located on the rearward-facing housing just below the center of the mirror glass for activation of the SOS  feature. The ASSIST  feature is accessed through the soft button on the radio touchscreen.
• Bluetooth® Antennas  - Bluetooth® antennas are internal and integral to the radio.
• Bluetooth® Phone  - A customer-supplied and paired Bluetooth® smart phone is a required component of the Uconnect® system to enable remote services.
• Body Control Module  - The BCM is the configuration master node for the vehicle. Refer to MODULE, BODY CONTROL (BCM), DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .
• Combination Antenna  - The radio sends and receives cellular data through a roof-mounted combination antenna that also receives satellite audio and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation signals. Refer to DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .
• Electronic Vehicle Information Center Switch Pod  - The EVIC switch pod is located in the left horizontal spoke of the steering wheel. In addition to the EVIC switch buttons this switch pod contains the Voice Recognition (VR) switch button and the Phone switch button of the hands free phone system. Refer to DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .
• Microphones  - Stereo microphones are mounted in the headliner just above the driver and front passenger in vehicles equipped with the hands free phone system.
• Occupant Restraint Controller  - The ORC module has a dedicated hardwired circuit that provides an input to the radio whenever a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) deployment occurs in the vehicle.
• Radio Frequency Hub Module  - The RFH is a key component of the Uconnect® Access remote vehicle services features. The RFH is located on the rear shelf panel support and concealed beneath the shelf panel trim behind the rear seat back within the passenger compartment. Refer to MODULE, RADIO FREQUENCY (RF HUB), DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .
• Radio Receiver Module  - The radio is located near the top of the instrument panel center stack area and is the primary component of the Uconnect® system in this vehicle. The radio includes a microcontroller, a Bluetooth® transceiver, a navigation module, flash memory and sophisticated Advanced Speech Recognition (ASR) input capability through VR software. The ASR software includes many different available languages. Each vehicle is equipped with a list of available languages, which are made available from the factory based upon languages most commonly used for the market destination. Refer to DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .
• Uconnect® Access Registration And Applications  - Uconnect® Access registration must be completed before individual radio apps or Uconnect® Access subscription packages can be purchased from the Uconnect® Store Front. The Uconnect® Access Via Mobile smart phone app must also be installed on the user's compatible smart phone for the remote vehicle services features to operate. Many additional Uconnect® Access apps are under development for later release.

The radio contains a microcontroller and programming that allows it to communicate with other electronic modules in the vehicle over the Controller Area Network - Interior High Speed (CAN-IHS) data bus. In vehicles equipped with the Uconnect® system, the radio also uses electronic message communication with other electronic modules in the vehicle over the CAN-C data bus. Refer to COMMUNICATION, DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION .

The Uconnect® system components cannot be adjusted or repaired. If any Uconnect® system component is damaged or ineffective, that component must be replaced. The external combination antenna can be repaired separately from the radio. The Uconnect® system software is flash programmable through the USB port.

OPERATION 

Uconnect® Access capability relies on cellular (telematics) technology and subscribed services that are controlled through Digital Rights Management (DRM). The management or DRM along with specific services occur wirelessly through the cloud. Digital rights and a subscription determine the specific services a customer is eligible to receive. Data feeds between assembly plants and its radio suppliers are provided to the cellular provider to enable initial capability or provisioning. This initial data must exist in the database of the cellular provider or functionality will be unavailable. Base features are supported through software that exists within the applicable radio platform and cellular connectivity is provided through the embedded cellular module.

Signal strength and data capability is shown adjacent to the Apps  orb soft key found at the lower center of the radio touchscreen. Depending on location and coverage, data capability can change. Signal strength is a major factor for any wireless connectivity. Fourth Generation (4G) LTE data is the highest connectivity available at this time. Remote Service features (Start, Lock, Unlock, and others) rely on data capability. If the vehicle is located in an area of no or low coverage, the Remote Services features may not function. Signal strength and data capability can suffer from the same situations any cellular device might experience. Parking structures, blocks, drops and dead zones can affect performance at any time.

The two switch buttons on the inside rear view mirror identified with ASSIST  and SOS  provide a resistor multiplexed input to the Local Interface Network (LIN) slave node integral to the inside rear view mirror. The LIN slave node sends an electronic switch press  message to the LIN master node integral to the BCM. The BCM relays the message over the CAN-IHS data bus, where it is retrieved by the radio.