초록 ▼

A monitoring apparatus (10) includes a video camera (12) with a section (16) that permits remote control of the camera. A computer 24 subjects video images from the camera to video processing (61-63), which includes temporal sampling, spatial sampling, and dithering. The processed image (71) is inte

A monitoring apparatus (10) includes a video camera (12) with a section (16) that permits remote control of the camera. A computer 24 subjects video images from the camera to video processing (61-63), which includes temporal sampling, spatial sampling, and dithering. The processed image (71) is integrated into a document in hypertext mark-up language format. A portable unit (46) is operatively coupled to the computer through a wireless link (49), a cellular base station (36), and a network (38) or telephone line (41). An infrared sensor (19) can detect an event of interest in the monitored area, causing the computer to place a telephone call to the portable unit. The person possessing the portable unit can then use the portable unit to access the document which contains the processed image through the network, in order to observe or verify the event. The person can also use the portable unit to remotely control the operation of the video camera.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus, comprising:a detector operative to periodically detect an image of a monitored area; a system operative to receive the detected image from said detector; a portable unit having a display; and a wireless communication link which includes portions of said system and said portable unit

1. An apparatus, comprising:a detector operative to periodically detect an image of a monitored area; a system operative to receive the detected image from said detector; a portable unit having a display; and a wireless communication link which includes portions of said system and said portable unit and which is operative to facilitate wireless communication between said system and said portable unit, including transmission of the detected image from said system to said portable unit; said portable unit being operative to present the detected image on said display; and said system being further operative to detect an occurrence of an event of interest in the monitored area, and to automatically transmit through said wireless communication link to said portable unit an indication of the occurrence of the event of interest.