Importance

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Abstract

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.

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First Claim