Remote monitoring apparatus using a mobile videophone

• US 6,956,599 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lim, Chae-Whan, Kim, Soon-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US10/023,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1405, 348/14.07, 348/14.12, 348/143, 348/153, 348/158, 348/159, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.8, 348/211.99, 709/204, 340/539.1, 34053915-53917, 340/539.25, 340540-541, 715/753, 455/403, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/556.1, 455/420, 455/411.2, 455/557, 379/38, 379/44, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.06, 345659-660
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Disclosed is a remote monitoring apparatus comprising a control/monitoring unit located in a user'"'"'s place for remote monitoring; a mobile communication terminal with a camera for photographing a subject, for performing a call service and an image processing/transmission service including an operation of photographing a subject with the camera; and a dynamic support located in a remote place to be monitored and having the mobile communication terminal mounted on the dynamic support itself, for controlling a posture of the mounted mobile communication terminal and positional movement of the dynamic support itself upon receiving a posture/position control command on the mounted mobile communication terminal from the control/monitoring unit via the wireless Internet and the mounted mobile communication terminal.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring apparatus comprising:

a control/monitoring unit for remote monitoring;

a mobile communication terminal for performing a call service, for performing an image processing/transmission service, and for receiving a posture and position control command over a wireless network;

an independent camera for photographing a subject;

a first dynamic support for mounting the mobile communication terminal and for receiving the posture and position control command from the mounted mobile communication terminal, and for performing local wireless communication of retransmitting the posture and position control command; and

a second dynamic support located in a remote place to be monitored and having the independent camera detachably mounted on the second dynamic support, for controlling a posture of the mounted camera and positional movement of the second dynamic support upon receiving the retransmitted posture and position control command via the first dynamic support for the mounted mobile communication terminal.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a USB connector for performing transmission of moving picture data from the independent camera to the dynamic support.

3. A remote monitoring apparatus comprising:

a control/monitoring unit for remote monitoring;

a mobile communication terminal including a camera unit for photographing a first subject, for performing a call service and an image processing/transmission service including an operation of photographing the first subject with the camera unit;

an independent camera for photographing a second subject;

a first dynamic support located in a remote place to be monitored and having the mobile communication terminal mounted on the first dynamic support, for controlling a posture of the mounted mobile communication terminal and positional movement of the first dynamic support upon receiving a first posture and position control command on the mounted mobile communication terminal from the control/monitoring unit via a wireless Internet and the mounted mobile communication terminal and, upon receiving a second posture and position control command from the control/monitoring unit via the wireless Internet and the mounted mobile communication terminal, wirelessly transmitting the second posture and position control command to the independent camera; and

a second dynamic support on which the independent camera is mounted, for wirelessly receiving the second posture and position control command from the first dynamic support and controlling a posture of the mounted independent camera and positional movement of the second dynamic support,

wherein the first and second dynamic supports wirelessly communicate via respective Bluetooth™

modules.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a connector for performing communication between the mounted independent camera and the second dynamic support.