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Technically speaking... how exactly do the remote services work?

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nickc72

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
For example...

Using the App to...

Check charge status
Remote conditioning
Remote locking or unlocking
Find my car

So here is my assumption...

1. The car has it's own 3G or 4G mobile radio modem providing internet connectivity.

2. You ask for something via the App so the App speaks to Toyota via the internet.

3. Toyota then sends a request to your car via the internet including via mobile internet radio link (making use of 1.).

4. Your car complies with the request and reports back to Toyota ... again via mobile internet.

5. Toyota then sends the App a message with details of what was sent to them from the car.

In other words, it all goes via Toyota's servers.

That was how my last PHEV SUV worked albeit the servers were down probably 4 out of 5 times I ever tried to do any of this stuff.

This then makes me think that electrical power is constantly being used (probably from the 12V battery) to ensure the modem (radio) is on in case it gets a request from Toyota. That'll flatten that little battery in a couple or so weeks I'm sure.

Is it like this or is something else going on?

I'm especially confused about why the car wants to use your phone as a hot spot or internet access via tethering (usb cable or bluetooth) when it absolutely must have it's own radio modem (internet connection).

Any ideas?




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#2 ·
I imagine it uses bluetooth if you're close enough to the car, and then AT&T's internet inside the car if you are any further out.

I believe there's a default setting in the car that if you don't drive it for 5 days then the Toyota app functionality stops working until you drive the car again to prevent any excessive battery drain(I could be wrong however let me know if anyone has tested this)

I have a dashcam that runs 24/7 but only turns on when it detects motion. Only drains about 2-4% of the battery per day. It would take a good month of not driving to deplete the battery to where the car may have issues starting.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
AlexRav4xse said:
I imagine it uses bluetooth if you're close enough to the car, and then AT&T's internet inside the car if you are any further out.

I believe there's a default setting in the car that if you don't drive it for 5 days then the Toyota app functionality stops working until you drive the car again to prevent any excessive battery drain(I could be wrong however let me know if anyone has tested this)

I have a dashcam that runs 24/7 but only turns on when it detects motion. Only drains about 2-4% of the battery per day. It would take a good month of not driving to deplete the battery to where the car may have issues starting.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't bluetooth range be too short? 15ft or something?

It would make sense if the app functionality auto disabled on the car after 5 days like you say but then again I'd still want to be able to find my car on a 5 mile square UK airport car park after returning from 2 weeks of travel! But, if designed properly the car should broadcast its location to Toyota when you switch off and lock up. So last position is stored on the Toyota server. That means when you use the App to find my car the App is only actually talking to Toyota and not the car. Hence no need to keep powering the modem. I'm guessing. But that's how I'd engineer it.

Intrigued by your dashcam. What model is it and is it PIR triggered? That's very low power consumption. I want one like that because the park mode is important for me.

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#4 ·
Most modern cars have cellular modems built in. They can run for quite a while on a typical 12v battery, but not indefinitely, which is why they go to sleep after a certain number of days.

I‘m not sure where you’re seeing that the car wants to use hotspot on your phone. Are you sure you’re not just seeing the car‘s hotspot option? That’s for sharing the car’s Internet connection with other devices.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
generaltso said:
Most modern cars have cellular modems built in. They can run for quite a while on a typical 12v battery, but not indefinitely, which is why they go to sleep after a certain number of days.

I‘m not sure where you’re seeing that the car wants to use hotspot on your phone. Are you sure you’re not just seeing the car‘s hotspot option? That’s for sharing the car’s Internet connection with other devices.
Click to expand...
It was in the MyT Totoya UK set up video on YouTube.

I am starting to think it needs a higher bandwidth connection for downloading traffic information etc as an alternative to RDS traffic.

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#6 ·
nickc72 said:
This then makes me think that electrical power is constantly being used (probably from the 12V battery) to ensure the modem (radio) is on in case it gets a request from Toyota. That'll flatten that little battery in a couple or so weeks I'm sure.
Click to expand...
The current draw is really quite minimal. Think of how long your phone will last if you just leave it sleeping waiting for a possible call... Then think of the massive difference in battery capacity between the ~3AH and ~100AH batteries in each... Certainly, modern automobiles do use a small amount of power every day (< 30ma), even if unused. But the reserve capacity in a car battery should be sufficient to keep it powered for well over a month. And I would not be surprised if they do in fact include some kind of low voltage detection that completely shuts down all activity until it recognizes a physical input of some kind (door opening requiring a key) to keep it from discharging completely and damaging the battery as a result.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
TomKatt said:
The current draw is really quite minimal. Think of how long your phone will last if you just leave it sleeping waiting for a possible call... Then think of the massive difference in battery capacity between the ~3AH and ~100AH batteries in each... Certainly, modern automobiles do use a small amount of power every day (< 30ma), even if unused. But the reserve capacity in a car battery should be sufficient to keep it powered for well over a month. And I would not be surprised if they do in fact include some kind of low voltage detection that completely shuts down all activity until it recognizes a physical input of some kind (door opening requiring a key) to keep it from discharging completely and damaging the battery as a result.
Click to expand...
That's a good point.

What I did realise was that it needs a Wifi internet connection to complete an OTA update of the map. 20 minutes to download and 40 minutes to install it.

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#8 ·
That DCM and signal bars on the top right of the multimedia screen I believe is the signal of your Data Communication Module. The issues with the 12V battery dying overnight seemed to be connected to the DCM draining power overnight.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
kniveshu said:
That DCM and signal bars on the top right of the multimedia screen I believe is the signal of your Data Communication Module. The issues with the 12V battery dying overnight seemed to be connected to the DCM draining power overnight.
Click to expand...
Where is that? Do you have a screenshot? I can't see that on mine. Thx

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#10 ·
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Thanks each.

Definitely can connect to WiFi. Tried both my home WiFi and also Monile phone hotspot. This was part of the instructions to get things registered and also allowed me to do map updates over the air.

It must have a mobile comms module also. Only way the the aircon can be started and charge status checked. All that works even when I disconnected the car from my home wifi and disabled the hotspot on my phone. But I think this must be a really low bandwidth link. Perhaps 2G or 3G.

But, I dont see the DCM thingy on the infotainment display.

Car gets traffic and speed cam updates which I assume come over this DCM module. I also have the emergency Toyota button or on call subscription.

All a bit confusing?

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