Remote digital image viewing system and method

• US 6,166,729 A
• Filed: 05/07/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OptiMorphix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Broadcloud Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Kao, Frank, Acosta, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/852,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/723, 345/327, 709/217, 709/219, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.2, 370/310, 370/338, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A remote viewing system is for viewing digital images of remote locations. The viewing system includes a plurality of digital image acquisition devices. The devices are located at remote locations. The system also includes a plurality of digital image transmission devices connected to respective ones of the digital image acquisition devices. A digital image receiving device is communicatively connected to each of the digital image transmission devices. A digital image server device is connected to the digital image receiving device. The digital image server device is connected to a network, such as the Internet. A network-enabled computer can access select ones of the digital images over the network. The digital image receiving device and the digital image server device cooperate to make available to the network-enabled computer the select ones of the digital images for download from the network.

Claims

1. A remote viewing system for viewing a digital image of a remote location, comprising:

a digital image acquisition device located at the remote location;

a digital image transmission device located at the remote location and communicatively coupled to the digital image acquisition device, the digital image transmission device configured to transmit over a wireless cellular communication channel, the digital image transmission device converting an acquired digital image to packetized data prior to transmission;

a digital image receiving device communicatively connected to the digital image transmission device for receiving the packetized data over the cellular communication channel and reconstructing the digital image from pluralities of the packetized data received in substantially real time; and

a digital image server device, connected to the digital image receiving device;

wherein the digital image is transmitted according to an OSI network-based protocol.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of digital image acquisition devices respectively located at a plurality of remote locations; and

a plurality of digital image transmission devices, each communicatively coupled to respective ones of the plurality of digital image acquisition devices the plurality of digital image transmission devices configured to transmit over a cellular communication channel, the plurality of digital image transmission devices converting an acquired digital image to packetized data prior to transmission;

wherein the digital image receiving device coordinates communications among the plurality of digital image transmission devices and the digital image receiving device and the digital image server device make available for download select ones of the digital images acquired by select ones of the plurality of digital image acquisition devices.

3. A system for viewing an image of a remote location, comprising:

a digital camera for acquiring the image as a real-time, live digital image;

a switch;

means for communicating the image to the switch over a wireless cellular communication channel via use of a packet-based transmission protocol; and

a computer network including at least one customer computer, the network being communicatively connected to the switch;

wherein the switch receives the image in substantially real time and transmits the image to selective ones of the at least one customer computer;

wherein the digital image is transmitted according to an OSI network-based protocol.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one signal from one or more of the at least one customer computer communicated to the switch over the computer network;

wherein the at least one signal directs the switch to deliver the image to the one or more of the at least one customer computer and the switch so delivers the image.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the image is communicated according to an OSI network-based protocol.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the switch acquires and delivers pluralities of images according to a FIFO protocol.

7. A method for remotely viewing a digital image of a location, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a digital image of the location;

wirelessly transmitting the digital image over a cellular communication channel via the use of a packet-based transmission protocol;

receiving the digital image in substantially real time; and

serving the digital image to a select computer connected to a network served;

wherein the digital image is transmitted according to an OSI network-based protocol.

8. A method of viewing an image of a remote location, comprising the steps of:

acquiring an image as a real-time, live digital image;

wirelessly communicating the digital image to the remote location over a cellular communication channel via use of a packet-based transmission protocol;

receiving the digital image in substantially real time;

processing the digital image;

signaling by at least one select network-enabled computer; and

serving the digital image to a select one of the least one select network-enabled computer in response to the step of signaling;

wherein the digital image is transmitted according to an OSI network-based protocol.