Security monitoring system with flexible monitoring sequence

• US 8,842,151 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Original Assignee: Telebuyer LLC
• Inventors: Katz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US11/675,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,778 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348/14.05, 348/14.07, 348/14.03, 379 37- 45, 379/106.01, 379/106.02
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5125 with remote located operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/564 whereby the feature is a sub-conference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 : Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

In conjunction with the dial-up public telephone system, voice quality lines carry videophone signals for monitoring a multitude of locations from at least one central station for use in a variety of applications, such as for security, surveillance, quality control and inspection, regulation of food and/or other standards in food-related and other facilities, market research, remote monitoring of deposit and withdrawal of funds at bank vaults, grocery chains, convenience stores, and the like. At the central station, telephonic interface apparatus is actuated by a control unit to selectively accomplish a telephonic connection with a remote location. Displays include the scene at the remote location and related graphic data. During routine operation, remote locations are displayed in sequence to at least one operator. Such operation may be interrupted either from a remote location or central station in the event of an urgency. In such an event, the concerned scrutiny location is displayed for further communication involving status, camera selection, camera configuration, audio, video and so on. Incoming calls from scrutiny stations imply an urgent situation for immediate display. The called number, by dialed number identification system (DNIS) may indicate the status while the calling number identifies the location by automatic number identification (ANI) signals. Alternative signaling and code techniques afford flexible operation as with respect to various graphic and status indications available for displays.

A traffic control system selectively interfaces members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, for video communication through a dial-up telephone system, for analyzing and compiling data, scheduling appointments, implementing conferences, consummating sales and the like. The traffic-control system comprises a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of the dial-up telephone system identified with the members of plural groups, a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions, a storage memory for storing data on the members, including telephonic terminal numbers and area-of-interest codes and a control computer to selectively interconnect the video recording unit with the remote telephone terminals through the telephonic interface apparatus to record and receive video communication.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a remotely located device comprising:

receiving, from a first electronic device located at a first location and having at least video display capability and data input capability from at least a personal computer keyboard, one or more commands at a control computer, such commands directing the control computer to establish communications with a select one of a plurality of second electronic devices each located at remote locations to the first electronic device and having at least video display and data communication capability,

addressing a memory associated with the control computer to fetch identifying information for the select second electronic device,

utilizing at least certain of the identifying information to establish a communications link between a communication device associated with the control computer and the select second electronic device,

using the communications link to send one or more commands from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device at its remote location to control transmission of information from the select second electronic device at its remote location to the first electronic device,

receiving, at the communication device, information from the select second electronic device, the information including data facilitating display of one or more images to a human and representing at least certain color video information generated by the select second electronic device at the remote location,

transmitting data to facilitate display of the color video information on the first electronic device together with text data relating to the select second electronic device, and

receiving control data from the first electronic device intended for the select second electronic device, the control data responsive to a mouse in communication with the first electronic device and at least certain of the control data causing manipulation of the select second electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications device communicates via a single communication line facility for at least a portion of the communications link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device also includes audio information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising facilitating audibly playing the audio information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least certain of the information received from the select second electronic device indicates a status at the remote location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the select second electronic device identifies the remote location of the select second electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is identifying data identifying the select second electronic device that produced data facilitating display of one or more images.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing stored graphic information in accordance with the identifying data identifying the select second electronic device that provided the data facilitating display of one or more images.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying data is a number associated with the select second electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data controls at least one of pan, zoom, view, tilt, freeze frame, and field of vision change of the select second electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing stored graphic information in accordance with the select second electronic device providing the received information, generating a graphic signal corresponding to the stored graphic information, and displaying the received information and the generated graphic signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored graphic information is provided in accordance with the received information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least part of the graphic signal is a representation of the remote location of the select second electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphic signal includes text relating to the remote location of the select second electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the text represents at least one of a telephone number of the remote location of the select second electronic device, a name of the remote location of the select second electronic device, an address of the remote location of the select second electronic device, and a name of a person at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the text represents a nature of the status at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising combining the received information from the select second electronic device and the generated graphic signal to produce a composite signal for facilitating display of one or more images to a human.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a random sequence.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a demand from an operator.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the demand from the operator is in response to awareness of events at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a risk assessment at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with an operating schedule at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a monitoring command signal from the remote location of the select second electronic device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device also specifies a time interval for the information.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a comparison between images at the remote location of the select second electronic device captured at different times.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the images are digitized video.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one of the images is recorded.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein certain of the information received from the select second electronic device is responsive to a special situation identified at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the remote location of the select second electronic device includes at least one manually operated input control for indicating the special situation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the remote location of the select second electronic device includes a plurality of switches for indicating different types of special situations.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the select second electronic device senses a special situation.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the special situation is indicated by entry, via a keypad, of an identification number at the remote location.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the special situation is indicated by a change exceeding a predetermined threshold between images of a location captured at different times.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the images are digitized video.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one of the images is recorded.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device includes data facilitating display of full motion video signal generated by the video signal generator at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link uses a dial-up connection.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the select second electronic device includes a dedicated line for supporting the communications link.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the select second electronic device includes a facility for supporting the communications link.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link is provided, at least in part, via a connection.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link uses a public communications network.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the public communications network is a public switched telephone network.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the public communications network is a digital network.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the digital network is according to the ISDN standard.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received includes data facilitating display of a full motion video signal.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the data facilitating display of one or more images to a human represents television quality pictures.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating display includes providing image enhancement of the information received from the select second electronic device.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating display includes presenting the one or more images to one operator at a time at the first location.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating display includes presenting the one or more images to multiple operators at the same time at the first location.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating display includes utilizing multiple screen units.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the select second electronic device has a video display for displaying video from the first location.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the select second electronic device has a recording device for recording video.

54. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a generated signal to the select second electronic device based, at least in part, on the information received from the select second electronic device.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the generated signal is for controlling operation of one of the plurality of second electronic devices.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the generated signal controls at least one of pan, zoom, view, tilt, freeze frame, and field of vision change of the select second electronic device.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the generated signal represents instructions for personnel at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the generated signal represents a prerecorded audio message.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the generated signal represents a synthesized audio message.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the generated signal represents a spoken audio message.

61. The method of claim 54, wherein the select second electronic device has a speaker for audibly delivering the generated signal.

62. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the information received from the select second electronic device.

63. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is provided from a video recorder at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the video recorder is set to record intermittently.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the video recorder is set to record continuously.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the video recorder is set to record a selected frame of video.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein the video recorder is set to record for a specified time interval.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is also recorded at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is also printed at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is provided from a switching device at the remote location that sequences information from the plurality of second electronic devices.

71. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link uses a primary communication facility, and further comprising providing a backup communication facility when the primary communication facility is malfunctioning.

72. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing the information received from the select second electronic device to one of multiple operators.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the distributing is in accordance with availability of the multiple operators.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the distributing is in accordance with priority status of the information.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein the distributing is in accordance with a situation status of the information and abilities of the multiple operators to handle different types of situations.

76. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the remote locations is a bank, a supermarket, a parking structure and a quality control facility.

77. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a control panel including at least one of an outgoing audio control, an incoming audio control, an outgoing video control, an incoming video control, an operations control for a select one of the plurality of second electronic devices at the remote location, a display sequence control, a display resolution control, an indicator for indicating that one of the second electronic devices has become inoperative, a keypad for selecting control commands, and an activator for establishing a communications connection to a police station.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the control panel includes the personal computer keyboard.

79. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording transactions based on the information received from the select second electronic device.

80. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering an operator'"'"'s observations, and a memory for storing the entered observations.

81. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device has a battery of providing backup power.

82. The method of claim 1, wherein the select second electronic device has a battery for providing backup power.

83. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second electronic devices are associated with different business entities.

84. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the remote locations includes a plurality of second electronic devices.

85. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

facilitating interactive data sharing by concurrently sharing information between the first electronic device at the first location and the select second electronic device at the remote location.

86. The method of claim 1 wherein the color video information generated by the select second electronic device is an image associated with the remote location.

87. The method according to claim 86 further comprising:

comparing an image at the remote location at a first time with an image at the remote location at a second time and transmitting data to the first electronic device based on the difference between the images.

88. The method of claim 1 wherein the control data facilitates sharing at least certain data between the first electronic device and the select second electronic device.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein at least certain of the control data to facilitate sharing at least certain data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device is input with the mouse in communication with the first electronic device.

90. The method of claim 1 wherein at least certain of the control data is input through a control panel.

91. The method according to claim 90 wherein the control panel includes the personal computer keyboard.

92. The method of claim 1 wherein at least certain of the control data causes manipulation of the select second electronic device to zoom in on a portion of the one or more images.

93. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the electronic devices has video codec capabilities via which the data facilitating display of one or more images to a human is communicated.

94. The method of claim 1 wherein an initiation of communication from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device is facilitated by electronic mail capability.

95. The method of claim 1 wherein communication from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device is via an online service.

96. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the electronic devices has multiple video codec capabilities.

97. A method for controlling a remotely located device comprising:

facilitating transmission of one or more commands to a control computer from a first electronic device located at a first location and having at least video display capability and data input capability from at least a personal computer keyboard, such commands directing the control computer to establish communications with a select one of a plurality of second electronic devices each located at a remote location to the first electronic device and having at least video display and data communication capability, wherein establishing communications includes;

addressing a memory associated with the control computer to fetch identifying information for the select second electronic device, and

utilizing at least certain of the identifying information to establish a communications link associated with the control computer, which facilitates communications with the select second electronic device,

utilizing the communications link to facilitate sending one or more commands from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device at its remote location to control transmission of information from the select second electronic device at its remote location to the first electronic device,

facilitating transmission of information from the select second electronic device to the first electronic device, the information including data facilitating display of one or more images to a human and representing at least certain color video information generated by the select second electronic device at the remote location,

facilitating display of the color video information on the first electronic device together with text data relating to the select second electronic device, and

facilitating transmission of control data from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device, the control data responsive to a mouse in communication with the first electronic device and at least certain of the control data causing manipulation of the select second electronic device.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the communications device communicates via a single communication line facility for at least a portion of the communications link.

99. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device also includes audio information.

100. The method of claim 99, further comprising facilitating audibly playing the audio information.

101. The method of claim 97, wherein at least certain of the information received from the select second electronic device indicates a status at the remote location.

102. The method of claim 97, wherein the information from the select second electronic device identifies the remote location of the select second electronic device.

103. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is identifying data identifying the select second electronic device that produced data facilitating display of one or more images.

104. The method of claim 103, further comprising providing stored graphic information in accordance with the identifying data identifying the select second electronic device that provided the data facilitating display of one or more images.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the identifying data is a number associated with the select second electronic device.

106. The method of claim 97, wherein the control data controls at least one of pan, zoom, view, tilt, freeze frame, and field of vision change of the select second electronic device.

107. The method of claim 97, further comprising providing stored graphic information in accordance with the select second electronic device providing the received information, generating a graphic signal corresponding to the stored graphic information, and displaying the received information and the generated graphic signal.

108. The method of claim 107, wherein the stored graphic information is provided in accordance with the received information.

109. The method of claim 107, wherein at least part of the graphic signal is a representation of the remote location of the select second electronic device.

110. The method of claim 107, wherein the graphic signal includes text relating to the remote location of the select second electronic device.

111. The method of claim 110, wherein the text represents at least one of a telephone number of the remote location of the select second electronic device, a name of the remote location of the select second electronic device, an address of the remote location of the select second electronic device, and a name of a person at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

112. The method of claim 110, wherein the text represents a nature of the status at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

113. The method of claim 107, further comprising combining the received information from the select second electronic device and the generated graphic signal to produce a composite signal for facilitating display of one or more images to a human.

114. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

115. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a random sequence.

116. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a demand from an operator.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the demand from the operator is in response to awareness of events at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

118. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a risk assessment at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

119. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with an operating schedule at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

120. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a monitoring command signal from the remote location of the select second electronic device.

121. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device also specifies a time interval for the information.

122. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is in accordance with a comparison between images at the remote location of the select second electronic device captured at different times.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein the images are digitized video.

124. The method of claim 122, wherein the at least one of the images is recorded.

125. The method of claim 97, wherein certain of the information received from the select second electronic device is responsive to a special situation identified at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein the remote location of the select second electronic device includes at least one manually operated input control for indicating the special situation.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein the remote location of the select second electronic device includes a plurality of switches for indicating different types of special situations.

128. The method of claim 125, wherein the select second electronic device senses a special situation.

129. The method of claim 125, wherein the special situation is indicated by entry, via a keypad, of an identification number at the remote location.

130. The method of claim 125, wherein the special situation is indicated by a change exceeding a predetermined threshold between images of a location captured at different times.

131. The method of claim 130, wherein the images are digitized video.

132. The method of claim 130, wherein the at least one of the images is recorded.

133. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device includes data facilitating display of full motion video signal generated by the video signal generator at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

134. The method of claim 97, wherein the communications link uses a dial-up connection.

135. The method of claim 97, wherein the select second electronic device includes a dedicated line for supporting the communications link.

136. The method of claim 97, wherein the select second electronic device includes a facility for supporting the communications link.

137. The method of claim 97, wherein the communications link is provided, at least in part, via a connection.

138. The method of claim 97, wherein the communications link uses a public communications network.

139. The method of claim 138, wherein the public communications network is a public switched telephone network.

140. The method of claim 138, wherein the public communications network is a digital network.

141. The method of claim 140, wherein the digital network is according to the ISDN standard.

142. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received includes data facilitating display of a full motion video signal.

143. The method of claim 97, wherein the data facilitating display of one or more images to a human represents television quality pictures.

144. The method of claim 97, wherein facilitating display includes providing image enhancement of the information received from the select second electronic device.

145. The method of claim 97, wherein facilitating display includes presenting the one or more images to one operator at a time at the first location.

146. The method of claim 97, wherein facilitating display includes presenting the one or more images to multiple operators at the same time at the first location.

147. The method of claim 97, wherein facilitating display includes utilizing multiple screen units.

148. The method of claim 97, wherein the select second electronic device has a video display for displaying video from the first location.

149. The method of claim 97, wherein the select second electronic device has a recording device for recording video.

150. The method of claim 97, further comprising sending a generated signal to the select second electronic device based, at least in part, on the information received from the select second electronic device.

151. The method of claim 150, wherein the generated signal is for controlling operation of one of the plurality of second electronic devices.

152. The method of claim 151, wherein the generated signal controls at least one of pan, zoom, view, tilt, freeze frame, and field of vision change of the select second electronic device.

153. The method of claim 150, wherein the generated signal represents instructions for personnel at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

154. The method of claim 150, wherein the generated signal represents a prerecorded audio message.

155. The method of claim 150, wherein the generated signal represents a synthesized audio message.

156. The method of claim 150, wherein the generated signal represents a spoken audio message.

157. The method of claim 150, wherein the select second electronic device has a speaker for audibly delivering the generated signal.

158. The method of claim 97, further comprising recording the information received from the select second electronic device.

159. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is provided from a video recorder at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

160. The method of claim 159, wherein the video recorder is set to record intermittently.

161. The method of claim 159, wherein the video recorder is set to record continuously.

162. The method of claim 159, wherein the video recorder is set to record a selected frame of video.

163. The method of claim 159, wherein the video recorder is set to record for a specified time interval.

164. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is also recorded at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

165. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is also printed at the remote location of the select second electronic device.

166. The method of claim 97, wherein the information received from the select second electronic device is provided from a switching device at the remote location that sequences information from the plurality of second electronic devices.

167. The method of claim 97, wherein the communications link uses a primary communication facility, and further comprising providing a backup communication facility when the primary communication facility is malfunctioning.

168. The method of claim 97, further comprising distributing the information received from the select second electronic device to one of multiple operators.

169. The method of claim 138, wherein the distributing is in accordance with availability of the multiple operators.

170. The method of claim 138, wherein the distributing is in accordance with priority status of the information.

171. The method of claim 138, wherein the distributing is in accordance with a situation status of the information and abilities of the multiple operators to handle different types of situations.

172. The method of claim 97, wherein at least one of the remote locations is a bank, a supermarket, a parking structure and a quality control facility.

173. The method of claim 97, further comprising providing a control panel including at least one of an outgoing audio control, an incoming audio control, an outgoing video control, an incoming video control, an operations control for a select one of the plurality of second electronic devices at the remote location, a display sequence control, a display resolution control, an indicator for indicating that one of the second electronic devices has become inoperative, a keypad for selecting control commands, and an activator for establishing a communications connection to a police station.

174. The method of claim 173, wherein the control panel includes the personal computer keyboard.

175. The method of claim 97, further comprising recording transactions based on the information received from the select second electronic device.

176. The method of claim 97, further comprising entering an operator'"'"'s observations, and a memory for storing the entered observations.

177. The method of claim 97, wherein the first electronic device has a battery of providing backup power.

178. The method of claim 97, wherein the select second electronic device has a battery for providing backup power.

179. The method of claim 97, wherein the plurality of second electronic devices are associated with different business entities.

180. The method of claim 97, wherein at least one of the remote locations includes a plurality of second electronic devices.

181. The method of claim 97 further comprising:

facilitating interactive data sharing by concurrently sharing information between the first electronic device at the first location and the select second electronic device at the remote location.

182. The method of claim 97 wherein the color video information generated by the select second electronic device is an image associated with the remote location.

183. The method according to claim 182 further comprising:

comparing an image at the remote location at a first time with an image at the remote location at a second time and transmitting data to the first electronic device based on the difference between the images.

184. The method of claim 97 wherein the control data facilitates sharing at least certain data between the first electronic device and the select second electronic device.

185. The method of claim 184 wherein at least certain of the control data to facilitate sharing at least certain data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device is input with the mouse in communication with the first electronic device.

186. The method of claim 97 wherein at least certain of the control data is input through a control panel.

187. The method according to claim 186 wherein the control panel includes the personal computer keyboard.

188. The method of claim 97 wherein at least certain of the control data causes manipulation of the select second electronic device to zoom in on a portion of the one or more images.

189. The method of claim 97 wherein each of the electronic devices has video codec capabilities via which the data facilitating display of one or more images to a human is communicated.

190. The method of claim 97 wherein an initiation of communication from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device is facilitated by electronic mail capability.

191. The method of claim 97 wherein communication from the first electronic device to the select second electronic device is via an online service.

192. The method of claim 97, wherein each of the electronic devices has multiple video codec capabilities.