Warning apparatus, warning server, warning system, and automobile Number:7,170,398 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Warning apparatus, warning server, warning system, and automobile

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a warning apparatus for an automobile, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a driver's information from a memory device memorizing said driver's information; a memorizing unit for memorizing an automobile insurance information; a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of said driver's information and the automobile insurance information; and a warning unit for warning the driver not to drive when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not said insurant.

Patent Number: 7,170,398 Issued on 01/30/2007 to Yuhara

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Inventors:	Yuhara; Masahiro (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee:	Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JP)
Appl. No.:	11/357,322
Filed:	February 17, 2006

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Related U.S. Patent Documents

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	Application Number	Filing Date	Patent Number	Issue Date
	10693063	Oct., 2003	7023328

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Foreign Application Priority Data

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Oct 28, 2002 [JP]			2002-312805

Current U.S. Class:	340/425.5 ; 340/457; 340/539.1; 340/539.22; 340/901; 340/933
Current International Class:	B60Q 1/00 (20060101)
Field of Search:	340/425.5,426,539.1,457,901,933,539.22

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

	5325291		June 1994		Garrett et al.
	6233563		May 2001		Jefferson et al.
	6847965		January 2005		Walker et al.
	2002/0135466		September 2002		Bunyan

Foreign Patent Documents

	100 57 423		Jul., 2001		DE
	0 926 023		Jun., 1999		EP
	2 125 813		Mar., 1999		ES
	2 704 670		Nov., 1994		FR

Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Tai
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pearne & Gordon LLP

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Parent Case Text

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a DIV of application 10/693,063 filed on Oct. 24, 2003, now U.S Pat. No. 7,023,328

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Claims

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What is claimed:

1. A warning server, comprising: a communications unit for receiving driver's information on personal details; a memorizing unit having automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant; and a first determining unit for determining whether or not said personal details are conformable to a contract basis of said automobile insurance by comparing said driver's information received by said communications unit with said automobile insurance information memorized in said memorizing unit, and said communications unit being operative to transmit results information on results determined by said first determining unit and in which said communications unit is operative to receive condition information on start of said automobile, and in which said results information storing unit is operative to produce supervisory information on mutual relation between said results information memorized therein with said condition information received by said communications unit, and to have said supervisory information memorized therein.

2. A warning server as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a results information memorizing unit having memorized therein said results information on results determined by said first determining unit.

3. A warning server as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises an accounting model deciding unit for deciding on an accounting model on the basis of said supervisory information memorized in said results information storing unit.

4. A warning system, comprising: a warning apparatus to be installed into an automobile; and a warning server to be communicated with said warning apparatus, said warning server, including: a communications unit for receiving driver's information on personal details from said warning apparatus; a memorizing unit having automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant; and a first determining unit for determining whether or not said personal details are conformable to a contract basis of said automobile insurance by comparing said driver's information received by said communications unit with said automobile insurance information memorized in said memorizing unit, and said warning apparatus including a warning unit for warning a driver on the basis of results determined by said first determining unit of said warning server when said first determining unit of said warning server is operated to determine that said personal details are conformable to said contract basis of said automobile insurance and a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit said driver to operate said automobile when said first determining unit of said warning server is operated to determine that said personal details are conformable to said contract basis of said automobile insurance.

5. A warning system as set forth in claim 4, in which said warning apparatus further includes a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent said driver from operating said automobile when said first determining unit of said warning server is operated to determine that said personal details are not conformable to said contract basis of said automobile insurance.

6. A warning system as set forth in claim 4, in which said warning server further includes a results information storing unit having memorized therein results information on results determined by said first determining unit of said warning server.

7. A warning system as set forth in claim 6, in which said communications unit of said warning server is operative to receive condition information on a start of said automobile from said warning apparatus, and in which said results information storing unit of said warning server is operative to produce supervisory information on mutual relation between said results information memorized therein with said condition information received by said communications unit of said warning server, and to have said supervisory information memorized therein.

8. A warning system as set forth in claim 7, in which said warning server further includes an accounting model deciding unit for deciding on an accounting model on the basis of said supervisory information memorized in said results information storing unit.

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Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a warning apparatus, a warning server, a warning system, and an automobile, and more particularly to a warning apparatus to be installed into an automobile, and decide whether or not to immobilize an automobile on the basis of driver's information and insurance information.

2. Description of the Related Art

Up until now, there have been provided a wide variety of warning apparatus available in the process of preventing an automobile from being started and driven by an unqualified driver.

The conventional warning apparatus of this type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication No. 08-96042. The conventional warning apparatus comprises a communications unit for communicating with an electronic driver's license having license information on driver's license and automobile insurance information on the expiration date of insurance and the telephone number of insurance company, and a determining unit for determining whether or not to update the insurance on the basis of the automobile insurance information on the expiration date of the insurance received from the electronic driver's license.

The conventional warning apparatus constructed as previously mentioned, however, encounters such a problem that the automobile tends to be started and operated by the unqualified driver who is not conformable to age restriction, family rider, and other requirement for being insurant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a warning apparatus, a warning server, and a warning system can prevent the automobile from being started and operated by the unqualified driver.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning apparatus for an automobile, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a driver's information from a memory device memorizing the drover's information; a memorizing unit for memorizing an automobile insurance information; a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of the driver's information and the automobile insurance information; and a warning unit for warning the driver not to drive when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The warning apparatus may further comprise a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the determining unit has determined that the driver is the insurant.

The warning apparatus may further comprise a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The receiving unit may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device by performing wireless communications with the memory device.

The memorizing unit may be constituted of a detachable memory device having memorized the automobile insurance information.

The warning apparatus may further comprise a communications unit for obtaining an automobile insurance information from the server memorizing the automobile insurance information. The memorizing unit may be operative to memorize the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit.

The determining unit may be operative to determine whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning system, comprising: a server having automobile insurance information; and a warning apparatus for an automobile, the warning apparatus, including: a receiving unit for receiving the driver's information; a communications unit for obtaining the automobile insurance information from the server by performing communications with the server; a memorizing unit for memorizing the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit; a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the receiving unit with the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit; and a warning unit for warning the driver not to drive when the determining unit of the warning apparatus has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the determining unit of the warning apparatus has determined that the driver is the insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the determining unit of the warning apparatus has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The receiving unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to receive the driver's information by performing wireless communications.

The determining unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to determine whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of the driver's information received by the receiving unit of the warning apparatus and the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit of the warning apparatus when the automobile insurance information is not obtained from the server by the communications unit of the warning apparatus within a predetermined time period.

The warning system may further comprise a memory device having driver's information. The receiving unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device.

The memory device may be constituted of an electronic key to the automobile.

The memory device may be constituted of an electronic driver's license having license information on the automobile.

The warning apparatus may further include a determining unit for determining whether or not the license information is legitimate on the basis of the license information memorized in the electronic driver's license.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning server, comprising: a communications unit for receiving driver's information; a memorizing unit for memorizing automobile insurance information; and a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the communications unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit, and the communications unit being operative to transmit results information on results determined by the determining unit.

The warning server may further comprise a results information memorizing unit for memorizing the results information on results determined by the determining unit.

The communications unit may be operative to receive condition information on a start of the automobile. The results information storing unit may be operative to produce supervisory information on mutual relation between the results information with the condition information received by the communications unit, and to memorize the supervisory information.

The warning server may further comprise an accounting model deciding unit for deciding on an accounting model on the basis of the supervisory information memorized in the results information storing unit.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning system, comprising: a warning apparatus for an automobile; and a waning server to be communicated with the warning apparatus, the warning server, including: a communications unit for receiving driver's information from the warning apparatus; a memorizing unit for memorizing automobile insurance information; and a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the communications unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit, and the warning apparatus including a warning unit for warning the driver not to drive when the determining unit of the warning server has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the determining unit of the warning server has determined that the driver is the insurant.

The warning apparatus further includes a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile a prevention when the determining unit of the warning server has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The warning server may further include a results information storing unit for memorizing results information on results determined by the determining unit of the warming server.

The communications unit of the warning server is operative to receive condition information on a start of the automobile from the warning apparatus. The results information storing unit of the warning server may be operative to produce supervisory information on mutual relation between the results information with the condition information received by the communications unit of the warning server, and to memorize the supervisory information.

The warning server may further include an accounting model deciding unit for deciding on an accounting model on the basis of the supervisory information memorized in the results information storing unit.

The warning system may further comprise a memory device for memorize driver's information. The receiving unit of the warning server may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device through the warning apparatus.

The memory device may be constituted of an electronic key to the automobile.

The memory device may be constituted of an electronic driver's license having license information on the automobile.

The warning server may further include a determining unit for determining whether or not the license information is legitimate on the basis of the license information memorized in the electronic driver's license.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile, comprising: an engine control unit for controlling an engine; and a warning apparatus for an automobile, the warning apparatus, including: a receiving unit for receiving driver's information from the memory device memorizing the driver's information; a memorizing unit for memorizing automobile insurance information; a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the receiving unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit; and a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the determining unit has determined that the driver is the insurant, and the engine control unit is operative to have the engine start in response to the permission signal produced by the permission signal producing unit of the warning apparatus.

The warning apparatus may further include a warning unit for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the determining unit when the determining unit has determined that the driver is the insurant.

The receiving unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device by performing wireless communications with the memory device.

The memorizing unit of the warning apparatus may be constituted of a detachable memory device previously have memorized therein the automobile insurance information.

The communications unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to obtain automobile insurance information from the server memorizing the automobile insurance information. The memorizing unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to memorize the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit of the warning apparatus.

The determining unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to determine whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit of the warning apparatus when the automobile insurance information is not obtained from the server by the communications unit of the warning apparatus within a predetermined time period.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning apparatus to be installed into an automobile, and operable in combination with a memory device having driver's information on personal details, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the driver's information from the memory device; a memorizing unit having automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant; a first determining unit for determining whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the receiving unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit; and a warning unit for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit when the first determining unit is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further comprise a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the first determining unit is operated to determine that the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further comprise a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the first determining unit is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The receiving unit may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device by performing wireless communications with the memory device.

The memorizing unit may be constituted by a detachable memory device previously having the automobile insurance information on the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further comprise a communications unit operable in combination with a server having the automobile insurance information on the requirement for being insurant, the communications unit being operative to obtain the automobile insurance information from the server by performing communications with the server. The memorizing unit may be operative to have memorized therein the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit.

The first determining unit may be operative to determine whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit when the automobile insurance information is not obtained from the server by the communications unit within a predetermined time period.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning system, comprising: a server having automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant; and a warning apparatus to be installed into an automobile, the warning apparatus, including: a receiving unit for receiving the driver's information; a communications unit for obtaining the automobile insurance information from the server by performing communications with the server; a memorizing unit having memorized therein the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit; a first determining unit for determining whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the receiving unit with the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit; and a warning unit for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit when the first determining unit is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the first determining unit of the warning apparatus is operated to determine that the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the first determining unit of the warning apparatus is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The receiving unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to receive the driver's information by performing wireless communications.

The first determining unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to determine whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received by the receiving unit of the warning apparatus and the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit of the warning apparatus when the automobile insurance information is not obtained from the server by the communications unit of the warning apparatus within a predetermined time period.

The warning system may further comprise a memory device having driver's information on personal details. The receiving unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device.

The memory device may be constituted by an electronic key to the automobile.

The memory device may be constituted by an electronic driver's license having license information on the automobile.

The warning apparatus may further include a second determining unit for determining whether or not the license information is legitimate on the basis of the license information memorized in the electronic driver's license.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning server, comprising: a communications unit for receiving driver's information on personal details; a memorizing unit having automobile insurance information on an insurance; and a first determining unit for determining whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the communications unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit, and the communications unit being operative to transmit results information on results determined by the first determining unit.

The warning server may further comprise a results information memorizing unit having memorized therein the results information on results determined by the first determining unit.

The communications unit may be operative to receive condition information on a start of the automobile. The results information storing unit may be operative to produce supervisory information on mutual relation between the results information memorized therein with the condition information received by the communications unit, and to have the supervisory information memorized therein.

The warning server may further comprise an accounting model deciding unit for deciding on an accounting model on the basis of the supervisory information memorized in the results information storing unit.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning system, comprising: a warning apparatus to be installed into an automobile; and a waning server to be communicated with the warning apparatus, the warning server, including: a communications unit for receiving driver's information on personal details from the warning apparatus; a memorizing unit having automobile insurance information on an insurance; and a first determining unit for determining whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the communications unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit, and the warning apparatus including a warning unit for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit of the warning server when the first determining unit of the warning server is operated to determine that the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the first determining unit of the warning server is operated to determine that the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the first determining unit of the warning server is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning server may further include a results information storing unit having memorized therein results information on results determined by the first determining unit of the warning server.

The communications unit of the warning server may be operative to receive condition information on a start of the automobile from the warning apparatus. The results information storing unit of the warning server may be operative to produce supervisory information on mutual relation between the results information memorized therein with the condition information received by the communications unit of the warning server, and to have the supervisory information memorized therein.

The warning server may further include an accounting model deciding unit for deciding on an accounting model on the basis of the supervisory information memorized in the results information storing unit.

The warning system may further comprise a memory device having driver's information on personal details. The receiving unit of the warning server may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device through the warning apparatus.

The memory device may be constituted by an electronic key to the automobile.

The memory device may be constituted by an electronic driver's license having license information on the automobile.

The warning server may further include a second determining unit for determining whether or not the license information is legitimate on the basis of the license information memorized in the electronic driver's license.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile, comprising: an engine control unit for controlling an engine; and a warning apparatus operable in combination with a memory device having driver's information on personal details, the warning apparatus, including: a receiving unit for receiving the driver's information from the memory device; a memorizing unit having automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant; a first determining unit for determining whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant by comparing the driver's information received by the receiving unit with the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit; and a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the first determining unit is operated to determine that the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant, and the engine control unit is operative to have the engine start in response to the permission signal produced by the permission signal producing unit of the warning apparatus.

The warning apparatus may further include a warning unit for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit when the first determining unit is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The receiving unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device by performing wireless communications with the memory device.

The memorizing unit of the warning apparatus may be constituted by a detachable memory device previously having the automobile insurance information on the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus may further include a communications unit operable in combination with a server having the automobile insurance information on the requirement for being insurant, the communications unit of the warning apparatus being operative to obtain the automobile insurance information from the server by performing communications with the server.

The memorizing unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to have memorized therein the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit of the warning apparatus.

The first determining unit of the warning apparatus may be operative to determine whether or not the personal details are conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit of the warning apparatus when the automobile insurance information is not obtained from the server by the communications unit of the warning apparatus within a predetermined time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of a warning apparatus, a warning server, a warning system, and an automobile according to the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the warning system According to the first to third embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the warning system according to the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the warning system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the warning system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the warning system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the warning system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic table showing supervisory information on mutual relation between results information memorized in the memorizing unit of the warning server according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention with condition information received by the communications unit of the warning server according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Throughout the following detail description, similar reference characters and numbers refer to similar parts and elements in all figures of the drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of the warning system according to the present invention. The warning system is shown in FIG. 1 as having a reference number 100, and comprises an electronic driver's license 110, and a warning apparatus 120 to be installed into an automobile, and adapted to communicate with the electronic driver's license 110 to be carried with a driver.

The electronic driver's license 110 includes a memorizing unit 111 for having driver's information on personal details of the driver and driver's license, an enciphering unit 112 for enciphering the driver's information memorized in the memorizing unit 111, and a transmitting unit 113 for transmitting the driver's information enciphered by the enciphering unit 112 to the warning apparatus 120 by communicating with the warning apparatus 120.

The warning apparatus 120 includes a receiving unit 121 for receiving the enciphered driver's information from the electronic driver's license 110 by communicating with the electronic driver's license 110, a deciphering unit 122 for deciphering the enciphered driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, a memorizing unit 123 having automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant, a clock unit 124 for producing date information on current date and hour, a second determining unit 125 for determining whether or not the driver's license is legitimate on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, a first determining unit 126 for determining whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110 and the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123, and a warning unit 127 for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the second determining unit 125 and results determined by the first determining unit 126.

The warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to warn the driver on the basis of results determined by the second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 when the second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the driver's license is not legitimate. In the similar manner, the warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to warn the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus 120 further includes a permission signal producing unit 128 for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant, and a setting unit 129 for allowing the memorizing unit 123 to have memorized therein detailed information on, for example, the names of the restricted members with respect to family rider.

The personal details includes one's name, one's address, the expiration date of the driver's license, the registration number of the driver's license, the classification of the driver's license, the point for the driving infraction, and others.

The requirement for being insurant includes the name of a covenantee, vehicle's details, the expiration date of the insurance, age restriction, the family rider, the maximum limit of the insurance, and others.

The second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110 is represented by unlawful format. The second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, for example, the point for the driving infraction is smaller than a predetermined point. The second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's information, for example, the classification of the driver's license is conformable to the type of the automobile. The second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's information, for example, the expiration date of the driver's license has passed on the basis of the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's information, for example, the driver's age is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120. The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's information, for example, the driver's name is conformable to the requirement for being insurant, to determine whether or not the driver's name is the same as the name of the covenantee, and to determine whether or not driver's name is conformable to the names of the restricted members with respect to the family rider on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120. The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the expiration date of the insurance has passed on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to warn the driver, for example, by displaying on a screen the results determined by the second determining unit 125, i.e., "the unlawful driver's license" and others, and by displaying on the screen the results determined by the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120, i.e., "the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant" and others.

The warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to warn the driver, for example, by outputting a sound in association with the results determined by the second determining unit 125, i.e., "the unlawful driver's license" and others, and by outputting a sound in association with the results determined by the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120, i.e., "the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant" and others.

The setting unit 129 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to allow the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120 to have memorized therein the detailed information on, for example, the names of the restricted members with respect to the family rider. This leads to the fact that the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 can accurately determine whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the detailed information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120.

On the other hand, the warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to warn and demand the detailed information when the names of the restricted members with respect to the family rider is not memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the driver's name is conformable to the names of the restricted members with respect to the family rider on the basis of the automobile insurance information and the detailed information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120, and the driver is not the same as the assured person.

The warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to warn the driver about the family rider and other contract basis of the insurance, for example, the driver who is separated from his or her spouse being not conformable to the family rider.

The following description will be directed to the operation of the first embodiment of the warning apparatus according to the present invention.

The driver's information on the personal details and the driver's license memorized in the memorizing unit 111 of the electronic driver's license 110 to be carried with the driver is firstly enciphered by the enciphering unit 112 of the electronic driver's license 110 when the driver gets in the automobile. The enciphered driver's information is then transmitted to the receiving unit 121 of the warning apparatus 120 by the transmitting unit 113 of the electronic driver's license 110, while the enciphered driver's information is received by the receiving unit 121 of the warning apparatus 120, and deciphered by the deciphering unit 122 of the warning apparatus 120.

The second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is then operated to determine whether or not the driver's license is legitimate on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110.

Here, the clause "the driver's license is legitimate" intends to indicate the effect that the driver's information received from the electronic deriver's license 110 is represented by the lawful format, the point for the driving infraction is smaller than the predetermined point, the classification of the driver's license is conformable to the type of the automobile, the driver's license has not expired yet.

When the second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is then operated to determine whether or not the driver's license is not legitimate on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is firstly operated to warn the driver on the basis of results determined by the second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120. The prevention signal producing unit 128 of the warning apparatus 120 is then operated to fail to produce the permission signal, i.e., to assume "OFF" operational state to-prevent the driver from operating the automobile.

When, on the other hand, the second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the driver's license is legitimate on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120, the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine on whether or not the personal details of the driver, for example, the driver's age is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120, the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver, for example, the driver's name is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120, the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver, for example, the driver's license has expired on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

When the second determining unit 125 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the driver's license is legitimate on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to warn the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120. The permission signal producing unit 128 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to assume "OFF" state to fail to produce the permission signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile.

While there has been described in the present embodiment about the fact that the warning apparatus 120 includes a permission signal producing unit 128 for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant, the permission signal producing unit 128 may be replaced by a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the personal details are not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

The warning apparatus constructed as previously mentioned can prevent the automobile from being started and operated by the driver who is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant when the prevention signal producing unit is operated to assume "ON" state to produce the prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile.

In the above embodiment, the warning apparatus 120 is installed into an automobile, however, the automobile may comprise a warming apparatus 100 for communicating with the electronic driver's license 110, and preventing the automobile from being started and driven by the unqualified driver.

The warning apparatus may further include a control signal producing unit for producing a control signal in response to results determined by the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120. The automobile may be immobilized by each of the engine control unit 131 and the transmission control unit 132 in response to the control signal produced by the control signal producing unit when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 that the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant.

From the above detailed description, it will be understood that the warning apparatus 120 can prevent the automobile from being started and driven by the unqualified driver, such as for example a driver who is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant, by including a receiving unit 121 for receiving the driver's information from the electronic driver's license 110, a first determining unit 126 for determining whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, and a warning unit 127 for warning the driver on the basis of results determined by the first determining unit 126.

The warning apparatus 120 can decide whether or not to immobilize the automobile by determining whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant with relatively high accuracy.

The warning apparatus 120 can completely immobilize the automobile by reason that the permission signal producing unit 128 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to assume the "OFF" state to immobilize the automobile in combination with the engine control unit 131 and the transmission control unit 132 of the automobile when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 that the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110.

The electronic driver's license 100 may be constituted by a contact-free IC card. The receiving unit 121 of the warning apparatus 120 may be operative to receive the driver's information on the personal details of the driver by performing wireless communications with the contact-free IC card. The warning apparatus constructed as previously mentioned can determine whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant, and can prevent the automobile from being started and operated by the driver who is not conformable to the requirement for being insurant by reason that the receiving unit 121 is operative to receive the personal details of the driver from the contact-free IC card by performing wireless communications with the contact-free IC card.

The warning apparatus may comprises a receiving unit for receiving a driver's information from a memory device memorizing the drover's information; a memorizing unit for memorizing an automobile insurance information; a determining unit for determining whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of the driver's information and the automobile insurance information; and a warning unit for warning the driver not to drive when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not the insurant. The warning apparatus may further comprise a permission signal producing unit for producing a permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile when the determining unit has determined that the driver is the insurant. The warning apparatus may further comprise a prevention signal producing unit for producing a prevention signal to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

The receiving unit may be operative to receive the driver's information from the memory device by performing wireless communications with the memory device. The memorizing unit may be constituted of a detachable memory device having memorized the automobile insurance information. The warning apparatus may further comprise a communications unit for obtaining an automobile insurance information from the server memorizing the automobile insurance information. The memorizing unit may be operative to memorize the automobile insurance information obtained by the communications unit. The determining unit may be operative to determine whether or not the driver is an insurant on the basis of the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit when the determining unit has determined that the driver is not the insurant.

Although there has been described in the above about the first embodiment of the warning system according to the present invention, this embodiment may be replaced by the second to seventh embodiments of the warning system according to the present invention in order to attain the objects of the present invention. The second to seventh embodiments of the warning system will now be described hereinafter.

Referring then to FIGS. 1 to 3, and 5 of the drawings, there are shown block diagrams of the second to seventh embodiments of the warning system according to the present invention. The constitutional elements and the steps of the second to seventh embodiments of the warning system according to the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and 5 are entirely the same as those of the first embodiment of the warning system according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 except for the constitutional elements and the steps appearing in the following description. Therefore, only the constitutional elements and the steps of the second to seventh embodiments of the warning system different from those of the first embodiment of the warning system will be described in detail hereinafter. The constitutional elements and the steps of the second to seventh embodiments of the warning system entirely the same as those of the first embodiment of the warning system will not be described but bear the same reference numerals and legends as those of the first embodiment of the warning system in FIG. 1 to avoid tedious repetition.

The following description will be directed to the constitutional elements and the steps of the second embodiment of the warning system different from those of the first embodiment of the warning system.

The warning system is shown in FIG. 1 as having a reference number 100, and comprises an electronic driver's license 110, and a warning apparatus 120 to be installed into an automobile, and adapted to communicate with the electronic driver's license 110 to be carried with a driver.

The electronic driver's license 110 includes a memorizing unit 111 for having driver's information on personal details of the driver and driver's license, an enciphering unit 112 for enciphering the driver's information memorized in the memorizing unit 111, and a transmitting unit 113 for transmitting the driver's information enciphered by the enciphering unit 112 to the warning apparatus 110. The memorizing unit 111 of the electronic driver's license 110 further has memorized therein automobile insurance information on a requirement for being insurant.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information and the automobile insurance information received from the electronic driver's license 110 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver, for example, the driver's age is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information and the automobile insurance information received from the electronic driver's license 110 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit. 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver, for example, the driver's name is conformable to the requirement for being insurant, i.e., the driver is conformable to the covenantee of the insurance on the basis of the driver's information and the automobile insurance information received from the electronic driver's license 110 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver, for example, the driver is conformable to the family rider of the insurance on the basis of the driver's information and the automobile insurance information received from the electronic driver's license 110 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120 when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the driver is not conformable to the covenantee of the insurance.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operative to determine whether or not the expiration date of the insurance has not passed yet on the basis of the automobile insurance information received from the electronic driver's license 110 and the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

The following description will now be directed to the operation of the warning system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the requirement for being insurant on the basis of the driver's information received from the electronic driver's license 110, the automobile insurance information memorized in the memorizing unit 123 of the warning apparatus 120, the date information produced by the clock unit 124 of the warning apparatus 120.

When the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine whether or not the personal details of the driver is conformable to the contract, the permission signal producing unit 128 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to produce the permission signal to permit the driver to operate the automobile.

When, on the other hand, the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine on whether or not the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the contract, the warning unit 127 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to warn the driver on the basis of results determined by the determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120. The permission signal producing unit 128 of the warning apparatus 120 is then operated to assume "OFF" state to prevent the driver from operating the automobile when the first determining unit 126 of the warning apparatus 120 is operated to determine that the personal details of the driver is not conformable to the requireme