Video arrangement with remote activation of appliances and remote playback of locally captured video data
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A facility monitoring system, comprising:
- a first communication station, including a video-signal processing arrangement and a display, configured and arranged to receive, process and display images in response to video signals sent from a remotely-located facility, the first communication station further including a user-input device adapted to generate control signals for controlling an appliance at the remotely-located facility;
a communication channel coupled to the first communication station; and
a second communication station located at the remotely-located facility and communicatively coupled to the first communication station via the communication channel, the second communication station including a stand-alone video-signal processing unit, a camera and an infra-red transmitter, the stand-alone video-signal processing unit being programmed to compress and send the video signals in response to images captured by the camera and to decode the control signals and, in response to the control signals, to activate the infra-red transmitter, wherein the stand-alone video-signal processing unit and the camera are configured to process images for confirmation that the appliance has been controlled according to the control signals generated by the user-input device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A video unit provides remote activation of appliances and is capable of recording locally captured video data. The video unit includes an infrared transmitter that generates infrared signals to activate and/or control appliances in response to control codes, e.g. received from a remote site by the video arrangement. The video unit also includes a storage element so that locally captured video data can be stored and played back from a remote location.
41 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A facility monitoring system, comprising:
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a first communication station, including a video-signal processing arrangement and a display, configured and arranged to receive, process and display images in response to video signals sent from a remotely-located facility, the first communication station further including a user-input device adapted to generate control signals for controlling an appliance at the remotely-located facility;
a communication channel coupled to the first communication station; and
a second communication station located at the remotely-located facility and communicatively coupled to the first communication station via the communication channel, the second communication station including a stand-alone video-signal processing unit, a camera and an infra-red transmitter, the stand-alone video-signal processing unit being programmed to compress and send the video signals in response to images captured by the camera and to decode the control signals and, in response to the control signals, to activate the infra-red transmitter, wherein the stand-alone video-signal processing unit and the camera are configured to process images for confirmation that the appliance has been controlled according to the control signals generated by the user-input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A facility monitoring system, comprising:
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a first communication station including a video-signal processing arrangement and a display configured and arranged to receive, process and display images in response to video signals sent from a remotely-located facility, the first communication station further including a user-input device adapted to generate control signals for controlling an appliance at the remotely-located facility;
a communication channel coupled to the first communication station; and
a second communication station located at the remotely-located facility and communicatively coupled to the first communication station via the communication channel, the second communication station including a camera, an infra-red transmitter, and stand-alone means for processing video signals and for compressing and sending the video signals in response to images captured by the camera and for decoding the control signals and, in response to the control signals, for activating the infra-red transmitter, wherein the stand-alone video-signal processing means and the camera are configured to process images for confirmation that the appliance has been controlled according to the control signals generated by the user-input device.
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11. For use as part of a facility monitoring system having a communication channel coupled to a first communication station including a video-signal processing arrangement and a display configured and arranged to receive, process and display images in response to video signals sent from a remotely-located facility, the first communication station further including a user-input device adapted to generate control signals for controlling an appliance at the remotely-located facility, a second, remotely-located communication terminal comprising:
- a camera;
an infra-red transmitter; and
a stand-alone means for processing video signals and for compressing and sending the video signals in response to images captured by the camera and for decoding the control signals and, in response to the control signals, for activating the infra-red transmitter, wherein the stand-alone video-signal processing means and the camera are configured to process images for confirmation that the appliance has been controlled according to the control signals generated by the user-input device.
- a camera;
Specification