Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02346667 2001-04-05
WO 00/21269 PCT/ZA99/00106
CAMERA SYSTEM REMOTELY CONTROLLED OVER A COMMUNICATION
NETW ORK
-1-
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a communication system and more particularly, but
not
exGusively, to a visual and audio communication system.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
It is often necessary to inspect a site such as a building site, a factory, or
any
other dwelling.
Where such a site is located at a remote location, on-site inspections can be
very
time consuming and expensive.
,OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of this invention to provide a communication system which, at
least
partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned difficulties.
CA 02346667 2001-04-05
WO 00/21269 PCT/ZA99/00106
-2- -
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention there is provided a communication system
comprising a video camera connectable to a portable wireless transceiver for
transmitting a video signal from the video camera to a signal repeater from
where
the video signal is transmitted over a communication system to a second
transceiver arranged to display the video signal on a display means, and a
first
control device connectable to the second transceiver for transmitting a
control
signal over the telephony communication system to the signal repeater and from
the signal repeater to the portable wireless transceiver and to a second
control
device connected to the portable transceiver.
A further feature of the invention provides for the communication system to be
a
telephony communication system.
There is further provided for the first and second control devices to be audio
communication devices.
There is alternatively provided for the first control device to electronically
control
the video camera and to at least control the azimuth and elevation of the
video
camera.
A still further feature of the invention provides for the signal repeater to
be located
in an aeroplane for relaying video and/or control signals between a remote
site
and a base station.
A further feature of the invention provides for the first audio communication
device to be a microphone and for the second audio communication device to be
a loudspeaker or vice versa; alternatively, for both the first and second
communication devices to have a microphone and a loudspeaker each to allow
for two way audio communication.
There is provided for the telephony communication system to be land based
telephone lines; alternatively, for the telephony communications system to be
a
cellular telephony communication system; further alternatively for the
telephony
communication device to be a satellite telephony system.
There is further provided for the microphone of the second communication
device to be a microphone of the video camera.
CA 02346667 2001-04-05
WO 00/21269 PCT/ZA99100106
-3- -
This invention extends to a method of inspecting a remote site comprising the
steps of connecting a video camera and at least a loudspeaker to a portable
wireless transceiver, connecting a signal repeater at a remote site to a
telephony
communication system, connecting a second transceiver at a base station to the
telephony communication system, connecting a display means to the transceiver
and connecting a microphone to the second transceiver, displaying a video
signal from the video camera at the remote site on the display means and
transmitting a control signal from the first control device to the second
control
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention is described below by way of example
only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fgure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a
communication system; and
Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a
communication system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS
With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like features,
a
communication system is generally indicated by reference numeral (1).
The communication system consists of a video camera (2), a first and second
control devices (8) and (9), a portable wireless transceiver (3), a signal
repeater
(4), a telephony communication system (5), a second transceiver (6) and a
display means (7).
In this embodiment the display means (7) is a computer screen. The first and
second control devices (8) and (9) are audio communication devices which
consists of headsets with a microphone each and each having a loudspeaker.
The video camera (2) and second audio communication device or second
headset (9) is connected to the portable wireless transceiver (3) for use at a
remote location (10).
CA 02346667 2001-04-05
WO 00/21269 PC'T/ZA99/00106
The signal repeater (4) is connected to the telephony communication system (5)
at the remote location (10).
The second transceiver (6) is connected at a base station (11) to the
telephony
communication system (5) to allow for communication between the remote
location (10) and the base station (11 ).
The first audio communication device or first headset (8) and the display
means
(7) is connected to the second transceiver (6).
In use, the video camera (2) transmits a video signal to the portable wireless
transceiver (3) which then transmits the video signal to the signal repeater
(4).
The signal repeater (4) receives the video signal and transmits it over the
telephony communication system (5) to the second transceiver (6). The second
transceiver (6) now causes the video signal to be displayed on the computer
screen {7).
A voice signal is also transmitted from the first headset (8) to the second
transceiver (6) which then transmits the voice signal over the telephony
communication system (5) to the signal repeater (4). From the signal repeater
(4), the voice signal is transmitted to the portable wireless receiver (3) and
to the
second headset (9).
In this way a camera operator at the remote location (10) can transmit video
images of the remote location (10) to the base station (i 1). A person at the
base
station (11 ) can transmit verbal instructions to the camera operator at the
remote
location (10). Any remote location can thus be inspected by a person at a base
station. This obviates the need for such a person to be physically present at
the
remote location to conduct an inspection.
A two way voice communication link can also be established between the camera
operator and the person at the base station (11 ). In this case a voice signal
can
also be transmitted from the second headset (9) to the first headset (8)
through
the communication system (1 ). It will be appreciated that only a one way
voice
communication link as described above would be necessary to instruct the
camera operator.
CA 02346667 2001-04-05
WO 00/21269 PCT/ZA99/00106
-5- -
The camera does not have to be operated by a human operator. The camera
may be mounted on an adjustable mounting means at a s'tte to be inspected. An
electronic control signal from the ftrst control device which may be a
computer
may then control the view direction, ie panning and tilt, of the camera and
other
functions of the camera itself. The camera may also be mounted such that the
direction in which it points does not have to be changed or cannot be changed.
Camera functions only may then be controllable from a base station.
The telephony communication system used may be based on land telephone
lines, cellular telephone systems or satellite telephone systems as is known
in the
art.
While the camera (2) transmits images to the base station (11 ), the same
images
may be recorded on a video cassette inserted in the camera. A camera using a
digital video disk or the like may also be used.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a communication system. In this
embodiment, a second portable display means (12) is connected to the first
transceiver (3).
A wireless connection is established between the second transceiver (6) and a
third transceiver (13). The display means (7) and the second control device
(8}
are now connected to the third transceiver (13). In this embodiment, the
display
means (7) is a portable display means. A second video camera (14) is also
connected to the third transceiver {13). The communication system shown in
figure 2, in effect replaces the components of the base station (11 ) of
figure 1 with
the components of the remote location (10) of figure 1. The display means (7)
is
now portable and a similar portable display means is connected to the first
transceiver (3) of the remote location (10) of figure 1.
The remote location (10) and base station (11 ) are no longer clearly
distinguishable and any end of the communication system of figure 2 can act as
either a base station or a remote location. A operator at one end can view
what
the operator at the other end is filming and vice versa.
Other non-portable display means (15) can be connected as shown to show
images being shot by any one of the video cameras. Recording means (16) may
also be used to record images and/or control signals and/or voice signals on
magnetic tape or on any other convenient recording media.
CA 02346667 2001-04-05
WO 00/21269 PCT/ZA99/00106
-6- -
As shown in figure 2, a series of first (3) and third (13) transceivers each
having a
camera (2) and (14), a portable display (12) and (7) and a headset (9) and (8)
connected thereto, are employed.
Other electronic control means may replace the headsets (9) and (8) to
electronically control azimuth and elevation of a camera, zoom function of a
camera or any other controllable function of a camera.
