Remote imaging system

Abstract

A remote imaging system for the unattended acquisition of image data at a first site and wireless transmission of the image data to a remote Internet server via a cellular modem. The system includes at least one analog video camera and a first frame grabber to receive image data in analog format from the video camera and convert the image data to digital format for transmission over the Internet. The invention also includes a method of automatically selecting images for storage. The method includes steps of acquiring a plurality of images of an area, comparing each image against first predetermined criteria, and separating each image that meets said first predetermined criteria from images that do not.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of the system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the unattended acquisition of image data at a first site and wireless transmission of the image data to a remote Internet server via a cellular modem comprising: a) at least one analog video camera;b) a first frame grabber to receive image data in analog format from the video camera and convert the image data to digital format; andc) a cellular modem to transmit the image data from the frame grabber to an Internet server.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus include a programmable microcontroller to control said modem.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including memory for storing said image data prior to transmission of said data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is battery powered.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, including a first analog camera for color image acquisition and a second analog camera for black and white image acquisition.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said analog camera is an interlaced camera that conducts an odd line scan and an even line scan for each image, and said first frame grabber captures the image data from only one of said scans.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a second frame grabber, wherein said analog camera is an interlaced camera that conducts an odd line scan and an even line scan for each image, said first frame grabber capturing the image data from the odd line scan and said second frame grabber capturing the image data from the even line scan.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a motion sensor and trigger circuit, said camera being activated responsive to said trigger circuit.

8. A method of automatically selecting images for storage, comprising steps of: a) acquiring a plurality of images of an area;b) comparing each image against a first predetermined criteria; andc) separating each image that meets said first predetermined criteria from images that do not.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each image is compared to said first predetermined criteria before the next image is acquired.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said first predetermined criteria is a first predetermined image file size threshold.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said separated images meeting said first predetermined image file size threshold are stored.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said images are acquired at a higher resolution after a first image meeting said first predetermined criteria is acquired.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said images are acquired at a lower resolution after a first image meeting a second predetermined criteria is acquired.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said second predetermined criteria is a second predetermined image file size threshold.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of images comprises images of a substantially dark scene and a substantially illuminated scene.

16. A method for the unattended acquisition of image data at a remote site and display of an image based on said data over the Internet comprising: a) acquiring image data in analog format at the remote site;b) converting the image data into digital format at the remote site;c) transmitting the image data from the remote site to a server via the cellular network and the Internet;d) processing the image data on the server into an image suitable for display; ande) displaying the image on a website in response to a viewer request.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said image data is stored prior to being transmitted.

18. The method of claim 16, including providing a first analog camera for color image data acquisition and a second analog camera for black and white image data acquisition, and selectively acquiring image data with one of said cameras.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said image data is converted to digital data with a frame grabber.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said data is acquired with an interlaced camera that conducts an odd line scan and an even line scan for each image, and only one of said scans is converted into digital format.