Driving-environment setup system, in-vehicle device and program thereof, portable device and program thereof, management device and program thereof

• US 20080215209A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Hattori, Toshihiro, Matsuura, Mitsuyasu, Ikeda, Hirotane
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0027 for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2081 combined with personal settings of other vehicle devices, e.g. mirrors, seats, steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A driving-environment setup system has a plurality of portable devices, each of which transmits a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices and transmits an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user. An in-vehicle device of the system detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat and identifies one of the associated users as a driver when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the detected physical feature. The in-vehicle device sets a driving environment for the driver based on the received environment identification information item.

Claims

1. A driving-environment setup system comprising:

an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle; and

a plurality of portable devices capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein;

each of the plurality of portable devices includes;

feature information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices; and

environmental information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user; and

the in-vehicle device includes;

feature detection means for detecting a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle;

driver identifying means for identifying one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means; and

driving-environment setup means for setting a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on the received environment identification information item of the one of the associated users.

2. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein:

the feature information transmitting means is operable to transmit the feature identification information item to the in-vehicle device when the in-vehicle device requests the feature information transmitting means to transmit the feature identification information item; and

the driver identifying means requests the portable device of the associated user, which gets in the vehicle, to transmit the feature identification information item such that the driver identifying means receives the feature identification information item.

3. The driving-environment setup system of claim 2, wherein the driver identifying means requests the portable device, which is capable of communicating with the in-vehicle device, to transmit the feature identification information item.

4. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein:

the environmental information transmitting means is operable to transmit the environment identification information item to the in-vehicle device when the in-vehicle device requests the environmental information transmitting means to transmit the environment identification information item; and

the driving-environment setup means requests the portable device of the one of the associated users to transmit the environment identification information item such that the driving-environment setup means receives the environment identification information item.

5. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein:

when single feature identification information item is receivable from one of the plurality of portable devices, the driver identifying means identifies the associated user of the one of the plurality of portable devices as the driver of the vehicle.

6. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, further comprising:

a setup information management device operable to store an environment setup information item indicative of the driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, wherein;

the environmental information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the environment identification information item, an information item that is used for identifying the environment setup information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among the environment setup information items stored in the setup information management device; and

the driving-environment setup means acquires, from the setup information management device, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item and sets the driving environment of the vehicle for the driver as the driving environment indicated by the environment setup information item acquired from the setup information management device.

7. The driving-environment setup system of claim 6,

wherein the setup information management device includes setup information replying means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item, when the environment identification information item is received from the in-vehicle device, and

wherein the driving-environment setup means acquires the environment setup information item by transmitting the environment identification information item to the setup information management device.

8. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1,

wherein the in-vehicle device includes setup information storage means for storing an environment setup information item indicative of the driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices,

wherein the environmental information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the environment setup information item, an information item that is used for identifying the environment setup information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among the environment setup information items stored in the setup information storage means, and

wherein the driving-environment setup means acquires, from the setup information storage means, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item and sets the driving environment of the vehicle for the driver as the driving environment indicated by the environment setup information item acquired from the setup information storage means.

9. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1,

wherein the environmental information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the environment identification information item, an information item indicative of the driving environment for the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the driving-environment setup means sets the driving environment of the vehicle as the driving environment indicated by the environment identification information item.

10. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users is most similar to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

11. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means to satisfy an identical determination condition.

12. The driving-environment setup system of claim 11, wherein when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of another one of the associated users satisfies the identical determination condition, the driver identifying means identifies, as the driver of the vehicle, one of the one and the another one of the associated users based on an external operation.

13. The driving-environment setup system of claim 12, wherein, even in a case, where the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the another one of the associated users satisfies the identical determination condition, if the driving environments identified based on the environment identification information items of the one and the another one of the associated users are similar to each other to satisfy a similarity criterion condition, the driver identifying means identifies as the driver of the vehicle one of the one and the another one of the associated users regardless of the external operation.

14. The driving-environment setup system of claim 12, wherein, even in a case, where the physical feature indicated by the received feature identification information item of the another one of the associated users satisfies the identical determination condition, if the driving environments identified based on the environment identification information items of the one and the another one of the associated users mutually have an identical part with each other, the driving-environment setup means sets the identical part of the driving environment of the vehicle regardless of the external operation.

15. The driving-environment setup system of claim 13, wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the one and the another one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle based on the external operation for adjusting the driving environment of the vehicle.

16. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle device includes driving-environment temporary setup means for setting the driving environment of the vehicle as the driving environment for the associated user of the portable device before the driver gets in the vehicle, based on the environment identification information item received from the portable device located outside the vehicle.

17. The driving-environment setup system of claim 16, wherein the driving-environment temporary setup means sets the driving environment of the vehicle, based on the environment identification information item firstly received from the portable device located outside the vehicle.

18. The driving-environment setup system of claim 16, wherein the driving-environment temporary setup means sets the driving environment of the vehicle, based on the environment identification information item received from the portable device, which is located outside the vehicle, and the associated user of which is registered in advance.

19. The driving-environment setup system of claim 16, wherein the driving-environment temporary setup means sets the driving environment of the vehicle, based on the environment identification information item which is received from the portable device located outside on a driver'"'"'s seat side of the vehicle.

20. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, further comprising:

a feature information management device operable to store a feature information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices,

wherein the feature information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the feature identification information item, an information item used for identifying the feature information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among the feature information items stored in the feature information management device, and

wherein the driver identifying means acquires, from the feature information management device, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item and identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature indicated by the feature information item acquired from the feature information management device corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

21. The driving-environment setup system of claim 20,

wherein the feature information management device includes feature information replying means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item, when the feature identification information item is received from the in-vehicle device, and

wherein the driver identifying means acquires the feature information item by transmitting the feature identification information item to the feature information management device.

22. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1,

wherein the in-vehicle device includes feature information storage means for storing a feature information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices,

wherein the feature information transmitting means of the portable device is operable to transmit, as the feature identification information item, an information item used for identifying the feature information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of the portable devices among the feature information items stored in the feature information storage means, and

wherein the driver identifying means acquires, from the feature information storage means, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item and identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature indicated by the feature information item acquired from the feature information storage means corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

23. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1,

wherein the feature information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the feature identification information item, an information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature indicated by the feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

24. The driving-environment setup system of claim 1, wherein the physical feature is a facial feature point of the associated user.

25. An in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle for being capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices, wherein the plurality of portable devices are capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and wherein the each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user, the in-vehicle device comprising:

driver identifying means for identifying one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to a physical feature detected from a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, and

driving-environment setup means for setting a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on the received environment identification information item of the one of the associated users.

26. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, wherein when single feature identification information item is receivable from one of the plurality of portable devices, the driver identifying means identifies the associated user of the one of the plurality of portable devices as the driver of the vehicle.

27. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, further comprising:

a setup information management device operable to store an environment setup information item indicative of the driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, wherein;

the environmental information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the environment identification information item, an information item that is used for identifying the environment setup information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among the environment setup information items stored in the setup information management device; and

the driving-environment setup means acquires, from the setup information management device, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item and sets the driving environment of the vehicle for the driver as the driving environment indicated by the environment setup information item acquired from the setup information management device.

28. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, further comprising:

wherein the in-vehicle device includes setup information storage means for storing an environment setup information item indicative of the driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices,

wherein the environmental information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the environment setup information item, an information item that is used for identifying the environment setup information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among the environment setup information items stored in the setup information storage means, and

wherein the driving-environment setup means acquires, from the setup information storage means, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item and sets the driving environment of the vehicle for the driver as the driving environment indicated by the environment setup information item acquired from the setup information storage means.

29. The in-vehicle device of claim 25,

wherein the environmental information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the environment identification information item, an information item indicative of the driving environment for the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the driving-environment setup means sets the driving environment of the vehicle as the driving environment indicated by the environment identification information item.

30. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users is most similar to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

31. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means to satisfy an identical determination condition.

32. The in-vehicle device of claim 31, wherein when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of another one of the associated users satisfies the identical determination condition, the driver identifying means identifies, as the driver of the vehicle, one of the one and the another one of the associated users based on an external operation.

33. The in-vehicle device of claim 32, wherein, even in a case, where the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the another one of the associated users satisfies the identical determination condition, if the driving environments identified based on the environment identification information items of the one and the another one of the associated users are similar to each other to satisfy a similarity criterion condition, the driver identifying means identifies as the driver of the vehicle one of the one and the another one of the associated users regardless of the external operation.

34. The in-vehicle device of claim 32, wherein, even in a case, where the physical feature indicated by the received feature identification information item of the another one of the associated users satisfies the identical determination condition, if the driving environments identified based on the environment identification information items of the one and the another one of the associated users mutually have an identical part with each other, the driving-environment setup means sets the identical part of the driving environment of the vehicle regardless of the external operation.

35. The in-vehicle device of claim 33, wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the one and the another one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle based on the external operation for adjusting the driving environment of the vehicle.

36. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, wherein the in-vehicle device includes driving-environment temporary setup means for setting the driving environment of the vehicle as the driving environment for the associated user of the portable device before the driver gets in the vehicle, based on the environment identification information item received from the portable device located outside the vehicle.

37. The in-vehicle device of claim 25, further comprising:

a feature information management device operable to store a feature information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices,

wherein the feature information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the feature identification information item, an information item used for identifying the feature information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among the feature information items stored in the feature information management device, and wherein the driver identifying means acquires, from the feature information management device, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item and identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature indicated by the feature information item acquired from the feature information management device corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

38. The in-vehicle device of claim 25,

wherein the in-vehicle device includes feature information storage means for storing a feature information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices,

wherein the feature information transmitting means of the portable device is operable to transmit, as the feature identification information item, an information item used for identifying the feature information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of the portable devices among the feature information items stored in the feature information storage means, and

wherein the driver identifying means acquires, from the feature information storage means, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item and identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature indicated by the feature information item acquired from the feature information storage means corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

39. The in-vehicle device of claim 25,

wherein the feature information transmitting means of the each of the plurality of portable devices is operable to transmit, as the feature identification information item, an information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and

wherein the driver identifying means identifies the one of the associated users as the driver of the vehicle when the physical feature indicated by the feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the feature detection means.

40. A portable device for an associated user for being capable of communicating with an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, wherein the portable device is capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device identifies the associated user as a driver of the vehicle when a physical feature identified based on a received feature identification information item of the associated user corresponds to a physical feature detected by the in-vehicle device, and wherein the in-vehicle device sets a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on a received environment identification information item of the associated user, the portable device comprising:

feature information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the feature identification information item used for identifying the physical feature of the associated user of the portable device; and

environmental information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the environment identification information item used for identifying the driving environment for the associated user.

41. A management device capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices and an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, wherein the plurality of portable devices are capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, wherein the each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying an environment setup information item indicative of a driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among environment setup information items stored in the management device, wherein the in-vehicle device detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device identifies one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when a physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the in-vehicle device, wherein the in-vehicle device acquires the environment setup information item of the one of the associated users by transmitting the received environment identification information item of the one of the associated users to the management device, and wherein the in-vehicle device sets the driving environment of the vehicle for the driver as the driving environment indicated by the acquired environment setup information item, the management device comprising:

storing means for storing the environment setup information item indicative of the driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and

setup information replying means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item, when the environment identification information item is received from the in-vehicle device.

42. A management device capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices and an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, wherein the plurality of portable devices are capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a feature information item indicative of a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among feature information items stored in the management device, wherein the each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user, wherein the in-vehicle device detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device acquires the feature information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices by transmitting the received feature identification information item of the associated user to the management device, wherein the in-vehicle device identifies one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when a physical feature indicated by the acquired feature information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the in-vehicle device, and wherein the in-vehicle device sets a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on the received environment setup information item of the one of the associated users, the management device comprising:

storing means for storing the feature information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices; and

feature information replying means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item, when the feature identification information item is received from the in-vehicle device.

43. An article manufacture for an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device is capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices, wherein the plurality of portable devices are capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and wherein the each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

driver identifying means for identifying one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when the physical feature identified based on the feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to a physical feature detected from a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle; and

driving-environment setup means for setting a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on the received environment identification information item of the one of the associated users.

44. An article manufacture for a portable device for an associated user, wherein the portable device is capable of communicating with an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, wherein the portable device is capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device identifies the associated user as a driver of the vehicle when a physical feature identified based on a received feature identification information item of the associated user corresponds to a physical feature detected by the in-vehicle device, and wherein the in-vehicle device sets a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on a received environment identification information item of the associated user, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

feature information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the feature identification information item used for identifying the physical feature of the associated user of the portable device; and

environmental information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the environment identification information item used for identifying the driving environment for the associated user.

45. An article manufacture for a management device capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices and an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, wherein the plurality of portable devices are capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, wherein the each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying an environment setup information item indicative of a driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among environment setup information items stored in the management device, wherein the in-vehicle device detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device identifies one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when a physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the in-vehicle device, wherein the in-vehicle device acquires the environment setup information item of the one of the associated users by transmitting the received environment identification information item of the one of the associated users to the management device, and wherein the in-vehicle device sets the driving environment of the vehicle for the driver as the driving environment indicated by the acquired environment setup information item, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

storing means for storing the environment setup information item indicative of the driving environment of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices, and

setup information replying means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the environment setup information item identified based on the environment identification information item, when the environment identification information item is received from the in-vehicle device.

46. An article manufacture for a management device capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices and an in-vehicle device mounted in a vehicle, wherein the plurality of portable devices are capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, a feature identification information item used for identifying a feature information item indicative of a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices among feature information items stored in the management device, wherein the each of the plurality of portable devices transmits, to the in-vehicle device, an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user, wherein the in-vehicle device detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device acquires the feature information item of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices by transmitting the received feature identification information item of the associated user to the management device, wherein the in-vehicle device identifies one of the associated users as a driver of the vehicle when a physical feature indicated by the acquired feature information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the physical feature detected by the in-vehicle device, and wherein the in-vehicle device sets a driving environment of the vehicle for the driver based on the received environment setup information item of the one of the associated users, the article manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium readable by a computer; and

program instructions carried by the computer readable medium for causing the computer to serve as;

storing means for storing the feature information item indicative of the physical feature of the associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices; and

feature information replying means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, the feature information item identified based on the feature identification information item, when the feature identification information item is received from the in-vehicle device.

47. An in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle device is capable of communicating with a plurality of portable devices, each of which transmits identification information unique to the each of the plurality of portable devices, the in-vehicle device comprising:

feature detection means for detecting a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle;

driver identifying means for determining whether the physical feature detected by the feature detection means corresponds to a predetermined physical feature identified based on the identification information received from one of the plurality of portable devices; and

driving-environment setup means for setting a driving environment of the vehicle as a predetermined driving environment identified based on the identification information received from the one of the plurality of the portable devices when the driver identifying means determines that the detected physical feature corresponds to the predetermined physical feature of the one of the plurality of the portable devices.

48. A driving-environment setup system comprising:

an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle; and

a portable device capable of being carried in the vehicle, wherein;

the portable device comprising;

feature information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the portable device; and

environmental information transmitting means for transmitting, to the in-vehicle device, environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user of the portable device; and

the in-vehicle device includes;

feature detection means for detecting a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle;

driver identifying means for determining whether the physical feature detected by the feature detection means corresponds to the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the associated user of the portable device; and

driving-environment setup means for setting a driving environment of the vehicle as the driving environment identified based on the received environment identification information item of the associated user when the driver identifying means determines that the detected physical feature corresponds to the identified physical feature of the associated user.