Remote video access capability for a wireless video monitoring/cordless phone system

• US 20040203386A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tischler, Ralph, Ryley, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A multimode cordless telephone system that can be used for remote video monitoring. The system includes a base station, at least one camera that is in wireless communication, at least periodically, with the base station, and a cordless handset, having a viewing screen, also in wireless communication, at least periodically, with the base station, the cordless handset having a first mode that is operable when the cordless handset is within a predetermined range of the base station wherein the cordless handset operates in conjunction with the base station to provide telephonic communication and image monitoring of images captured by the cameras, and a second mode that is operable when the cordless handset is beyond the predetermined range of the base station wherein the cordless handset communicates with the base station over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to monitor images captured by the cameras.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring system, comprising:

a cordless telephone base station;

a cordless telephone handset that is operable to be in periodic communication with the base station when in a predetermined first distance from the base station, the handset including a viewing screen that can display an image; and

at least one camera that is wirelessly connected to the base station and which is operable to capture a first image of a predetermined area;

the handset further comprising an interface to connect directly with the PSTN and communicate over the PSTN to the base station when the handset is beyond the predetermined first distance,

wherein the first image is communicated to the base station and further communicated therefrom to the handset after the handset establishes a communication link to the base station over the PSTN.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is a color display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera can be controlled to change its viewing angle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset comprises a telephone interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset comprises a modem adapter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station comprises a modem.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset is operable to store images viewed on the display for later retrieval.

8. A multimode cordless telephone system, comprising:

a base station;

at least one camera that is in wireless communication, at least periodically, with the base station; and

a cordless handset, having a viewing screen, also in wireless communication, at least periodically, with the base station, the cordless handset having a first mode that is operable when the cordless handset is within a predetermined range of the base station wherein the cordless handset operates in conjunction with the base station to provide telephonic communication and image monitoring of images captured by the at least one camera, and a second mode that is operable when the cordless handset is beyond the predetermined range of the base station wherein the cordless handset communicates with the base station via the PSTN to monitor images captured by the at least one camera.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the viewing screen is a color display.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the camera can be controlled to change its viewing angle.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the handset comprises a telephone interface.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the handset comprises a modem adapter.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the base station comprises a modem.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the handset is operable to store images viewed on the display for later retrieval.

15. A method of monitoring a remote location, comprising:

capturing images with a camera;

transmitting the images from the camera to a base station;

receiving a telephone call at the base station from a cordless handset associated with the base station; and

transmitting the images from the base station to the cordless handset.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step is performed wirelessly.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the handset comprises a telephone interface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the handset comprises a modem adapter.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the base station comprises a modem

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the viewing angle of the camera.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing images in the handset for later retrieval.