WO2001050731A2

WO2001050731A2 - A remote viewer of tv's, video cameras and monitors

Info

Publication number: WO2001050731A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/000111
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nissan Noyman; Israel Ohana; Avi Elkayam
Original assignee: Nissan Noyman; Israel Ohana; Avi Elkayam
Priority date: 2000-01-07
Filing date: 2001-01-05
Publication date: 2001-07-12
Also published as: WO2001050731A3

Abstract

A system for transmitting images uses a programmable signal source, a transmitter (200) and a portable viewer (100) remote from the transmitter. The viewer includes a screen (102) on which images derived from information at the signal source are to be displayed. The signal source is programmed to derive image data in a format suitable for display on the screen of the viewer from the information at the signal source and provides the derived image data to the transmitter. The transmitter (200) then wirelessly transmits the image data to the viewer for display upon the screen (102). The image data forms a static broadcast of the information at the signal source, which may be a computer, a television or a video camera.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION A REMOTE VIEWER OF TV'S, VIDEO CAMERAS AND MONITORS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a remote, handheld viewer of the images presented on the screens of televisions, video cameras and computer monitors and to the

corresponding transmitters that provide the images to the remote viewer by wireless

transmission.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advent of cable TV, parents have become increasingly worried that their children may be exposed to unwholesome, violent and even semi- pornographic images. If a mother sits with her child for the entire time the child is

watching TV, she can quickly intervene to prevent the child from tuning to an

inappropriate station or to turn off a station that has become inappropriate. However,

very often the child will be watching TV on his own, even in another room from his parents, who will then have no way to know what the child is watching. Any child can be transfixed by the sudden appearance of vivid images and may not turn off a station

even if he would never turn to it in the first place, wl .le some children will actively seek

those images if they think they can do so without their parents knowing. While a parent

can check up periodically by going into the room where the child is watching TV, this

puts a significant burden on the parent's time and freedom of movement and can

frequently lead to unpleasant arguments with the child. Unfortunately, while most

children want their parents to trust them, sometimes a parent must limit the child's freedom and intrude on his privacy to some extent to protect him from what he cannot fully understand is harmful. Desirably, however, such an intrusion should be designed to give as much dignity to the child as possible, so that he learns to govern himself.

The possibility of viewing unwholesome images arises also in connection

with the child's use of a computer. For example, some computer games are horribly

violent, and the child may enjoy playing such a game while the parent does not realize the extent of the violence. As another example, a child surfing the Internet may reach

some websites that are wholly inappropriate. This may happen without the child's

intent, or may be the result of a child deliberately looking for things he should not.

Indeed, it may even happen that the child himself does not realize that anything is going wrong. For example, if the child is in a chat room, a predator may be asking questions

that a child sees as harmless, but a parent will recognize as seeking information to identify the child to the predator. Here again, the responsible parent may have to

intrude on her child's privacy to protect the child.

In the context of television, it is possible to split the output of the cable box and feed one copy to the child's TV and the other copy to a TV to be watched by the

parent. This is both unduly expensive and cumbersome, since the second TV must be

physically connected at one location and can be used for no other purpose. In the

context of computers, there are known mechanisms for recording the websites visited by

the computer user, but this information is not only after the fact and costly, but also

fails to provide information of the type described just above where the website may be

acceptable but the particular content is not.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for some mechanism for a parent to supervise the child's TV and/or computer use that is both convenient for the parent and dignified for the child.

In addition to tl ese types of supervision, the parent may also wish to view the child's activities in his room or in the backyard, for example. While closed circuit television is well known in this regard, it also has required a dedicated, immovable

monitor presenting images viewable by anyone in the area of the monitor. It would be

advantageous if a parent could review the child's activities discreetly and conveniently,

with maximum privacy for the child. Such a discreet remote viewing system would also

have other applications, for example in the fields of home office use and security.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a means for a

parent to supervise the use of a television or computer that avoids the difficulties of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a remote viewer

that enables a parent to view images from a television and/or computer monitor and/or

video camera and/or other image source remote from, or in another room from, the

remote viewer.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a remote

viewer in the form of a single handheld unit that can remotely view the images of

screens of TVs, video cameras and computers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a remote

viewer in combination with a transmitter that sends the images from the TV, video camera or computer.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the remote viewer with a transmitter remotely activated by the remote viewer.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a remote viewer in combination with a transmitter that can transmit encrypted data for viewing at the remote transmitter.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a single unit

remote viewer that supports remote viewing from all of TVs, video cameras and computers.

In accordance with these and other objects of the invention, a system for

transmitting images from a signal source to a remote portable viewer includes the

viewer, wherein the viewer includes a screen; and a transmitter, remote from the

viewer, that wirelessly transmits image data to the viewer in a format suitable for

display upon the screen, the image data being derived from information at the signal

source.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, a system for transmitting images from a signal source to a remote portable viewer includes the signal source, wherein the signal source is programmable; the viewer, wherein the viewer includes a screen; and a transmitter, remote from the viewer, that wirelessly transmits

image data to the viewer in a format suitable for display upon the screen, wherein the

signal source is programmed to derive the image data from information at the signal

source and to provide the derived image data to the transmitter.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, a portable viewer for

receiving images from a remote apparatus that presents information includes a screen

and a receiver that wirelessly receives image data that was derived from the information presented at the apparatus to have a format suitable for display upon the screen. Still further, in accordance with the present invention, a method of transmitting images from a signal source to a remote portable viewer, wherein the viewer includes a screen, includes the steps of wirelessly transmitting image data from

the signal source to the remote viewer in a format suitable for display upon the screen,

the image data being derived from information at the signal source; and displaying the

image data on the screen.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention

will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments

of the present invention taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the system including the remote viewer

and transmitter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the remote viewer of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a transmitter of the embodiment of

Fig. 1 adapted for use with a computer monitor.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of a computer connected in

combination with the transmitter of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of the transmitter of Fig. 3 in

accordance with the operation illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of the remote viewer of Fig. 1 complementary to the operation illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a transmitter of the embodiment of Fig. 1 adapted for use with a television monitor.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a transmitter of the embodiment of Fig. 1 adapted for use with a video camera.

Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a remote viewer, transmitter and

signal source in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an operation of the remote viewer of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart of an operation of the transmitter of Fig. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 illustrates a system in accordance with a first preferred

embodiment of the present invention incorporating a remote viewer or ICU ("I see

you")100 and a first separate transmitter 200 connected to a computer monitor 300

having a screen 302. The ICU 100 is a portable unit which is advantageously adapted to

be hand held, so that the observer, i.e. the person using the ICU 100, can carry the ICU

100 from place to place while the ICU 100 is operating. The ICU 100 includes a screen

102 on which is displayed an image captured from the monitor 300 and transmitted from the transmitter 200, as will be described below. The screen 102 is on the front

surface 104 of the ICU 100 and is advantageously an LCD screen, which requires

relatively little power, so that the ICU 100 may be battery powered with a substantial

period between recharging, for example 5 hours of use.

To be accommodated in a handheld unit, the screen 102 may

advantageously be 4 cm by 5 cm with a resolution of 240 pixels by 300 pixels. Such a

screen size would enable the observer to sufficiently perceive the details of pictures

displayed on the screen 302 of the monitor 300. Depending on the desired amount of detail to be displayed on the screen 102, the resolution (i.e. the size of the pixels or equivalently the number of ph.els per centimeter) and/or size of the screen 102 can be increased or decreased. For example, if it is desired that all words appearing on the

screen 302 of the monitor be legible on the screen 102, the size of the pixels may be

reduced to provide sufficient detail, or the size of the screen 102 may have to be increased. In such case, the ICU 100 may grow too large to be hand held, but it should

still advantageously be designed to be portable. The screen 102 may be black and white

to conserve power, or may be a color screen.

The ICU 100 may be designed to receive images from a single transmitter 200 connected to the monitor 300, but advantageously it is designed to receive images from plural transmitters so that, for example, one ICU 100 may be used to oversee the

use of a computer, a television and a video camera. Fig. 1 illustrates a second

transmitter 240 that can also send images to an ICU, as discussed below.

Advantageously, twelve different transmitters may be associated with each ICU 100,

although the number may vary with the application. To accommodate the twelve transmitters, ICU 100 includes twelve activation buttons 106-128 on the front surface

104. In this embodiment, each button, when depressed, will enable the ICU 100 to

receive images from a respective transmitter, but in other embodiments the push of a

button will send a signal to which its respective transmitter responds by initiating the

process of transmitting images to the ICU 100, as will be described below. In the

illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that button 106 is associated with transmitter 200.

The ICU 100 also includes an on/off switch 130, which can also be on the

front face 104. As shown in Fig. 2, the ICU 100 further includes a wireless receiver 132

to receive signals from the transmitter 200 (and to receive signals from the other transmitters), a CPU 134 to control all operations, such as those in response to buttons 106-130, a first memory 136 for storing information identifying the respective

transmitters, and a video memory 138 which is shared by all of the transmitters

associated with the ICU 100 for sequentially storing the data of the images received

from the several transmitters.

In Fig. 2 and the other schematic block diagrams, some of the connections between elements for transferring information are indicated, but it will be understood

that all necessary connections are provided to enable the transfer of information as

described herein.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the transmitter 200 is connected so as to receive

and capture the images intended to be presented on the screen 302. This can be

achieved in a number of ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the monitor 300 is

integral with its host computer 306, and therefore the transmitter 200 is connected

directly to the body incorporating the host computer 306 and monitor 300 through a

cable 202. Advantageously, a software package can be installed in the host computer

306 of the monitor 300 to capture the image and send the captured image to the transmitter 200, for example through a Universal Serial Port (USB) 304 or through a

separate, possibly dedicated, port. If the monitor 300 were separate from the host

computer 306, the transmitter 200 could be connected at a USB 304 on the host

computer 306 itself. The host computer 306 includes a central processing unit (CPU)

310 for processing data and controlling all operations, a display memory 312 and a

memory 314, which may be an allocated portion of RAM, for storing data of an image to be transmitted, as will be described below.

The image may be captured from the display memory 312 that holds the display data to be presented on the screen 302 in accordance with known techniques. Alternatively, the image may be captured from any other point in the host computer or monitor 300 where data of the image is available.

As shown in Fig. 3, the transmitter 200 includes a first memory 204, a

CPU 206 for controlling all operations, a wireless transmitter 208 and a second,

nonvolatile memory 210.

The software package advantageously captures the image intended for the screen 302 at predetermined intervals, for example once per second, to provide a static

broadcast. Techniques for such static broadcasting are well known in the art. In the

present embodiment, the software must also reduce the resolution of the image on the screen 302 to match the available resolution on the screen 102, which may be done by standard techniques, which are termed minimizing techniques herein.

As an alternative to using the software package, which might be tampered

with, the host computer 306 of the monitor 300 may be designed with a hardwired feed

308 of the image signal to a port to which the transmitter 200 can be connected. In such case, or whenever so desired even if a software package is used, the transmitter 200 would perform the minimizing and binarizing functions.

In place of the binarizing function used in the illustrated embodiment,

any other method for digital formatting may of course be used.

The transmitter 200 advantageously is designed to transmit images all the

time while the host computer 306 is on. Therefore, the transmitter 200 is powered by

the host computer 306, for example by connection through a DC adapter or from the host computer 12 volt power supply. Accordingly, when the host computer 306 is

turned on, the transmitter 200 is also turned on and begins transmitting. This transmission can be, for example, by radio frequency (e.g. 900 MHz) or microwave (e.g. 2.4 GHz) transmission. Any other method of wireless transmission, electromagnetic or otherwise, may also be used as appropriate. Advantageously, the transmission is at a frequency that can travel between rooms, so that the ICU 100 need not be in the same

room as the transmitter 200 in order to observe the images on the monitor screen 302.

However, the transmission should be of such a frequency and such a low power that the

transmissions between the ICU 100 and the transmitter 200 will not interfere with other

remotely operated equipment.

When the transmitter 200 begins its static broadcast, it begins to capture

the image intended for the screen 302 at the predetermined interval. As shown in Fig. 4, the software package operating in the host computer 306 is designed to read the data in

the display memory 312 of the host computer 306, convert it to the proper size and resolution to match the size and resolution of the screen 102 on the ICU 100 and to supply the converted data as a binary, or other digitally formatted, file to the

transmitter. More specifically, in step SI, the software package runs a screen capture function at the predetermined interval, which copies the data from the display memory 312 into the allocated memory 314. In step S2, the software package runs a minimize function, which converts the data in the allocated memory to a binary file having the size and resolution suitable for the screen 102 in the ICU 100. In step S3, the software

package runs a send function to send the converted data to the port 304 and thence to

the transmitter 200 through the cable 202. The software package repeats steps S1-S3

until the host computer 306 is turned off. The operations in steps S1-S3 are all conventional and well known for use in video laboratories, except that there the data is generally recorded rather than sent to another apparatus. As shown in Fig. 5, in step S10, the data is received and, in step Sll, the converted data sent from the transmitter 200 through the cable 202 is stored in the memory 204 under the control of the CPU 206. In step S12, the CPU 206 enciphers the stored data for security to form an enciphered file, and in step S13 the enciphered file is transmitted to the ICU 100 using the wireless transmitter 208. As noted above, in this

embodiment, the data is transmitted to the ICU 100 all the time that the host computer 306 is on, regardless of whether the ICU 100 is on to receive the data.

While the transmitter 200 is transmitting, the ICU 100 may be on or off. As shown in Fig. 6, when the ICU 100 is turned on by actuation of the on/off switch 130,

it enters a standby state in step S20 in which it is enabled to respond to depression of

one of the buttons 106-128, but it still not yet accepting data from the transmitter 200.

However, if the button 106 is then depressed, the receiver 132 in the ICU 100 is enabled to receive data from the transmitter 200, but not yet from other transmitters. In accordance with an advantageous aspect of this embodiment, this is achieved by having each transmitter encipher its data with a unique code, for example a key code, that

distinguishes the data enciphered by a particular transmitter from data enciphered by any other transmitter. To this end, the memory 210 in the transmitter 200 stores

information identifying the enciphering method used by transmitter 200, e.g. the key

code. Correspondingly, information identifying the different enciphering methods for

all transmitters associated with this ICU 100, e.g. different key codes, are stored in the

memory 136 in the ICU 100 in association with the respective buttons 106-128 to be

accessed for use by the receiver 132 upon depression of the respective buttons 106-128.

Accordingly, when button 106 is depressed, in step S21 the program of

Fig. 6 reads the appropriate information from the memory 136 and sets the receiver 132 to accept data enciphered by the corresponding enciphering method, i.e. by the transmitter 200. Receiver 132 will continue to ignore any data not enciphered in this way, e.g. by another transmitter. In step S22, the receiver 132 accepts the data enciphered in the manner corresponding to transmitter 200, in step S23 the data is

deciphered by the corresponding deciphering method and in step S24 the resultant data

is stored in the video memory 138. In accordance with known techniques, the data stored in the video memory 138 is accessed and displayed on the screen 102 in step S25 for as long as the data continues to be stored in the video memory 138, i.e. until a new image is detected in step S26 while the ICU 100 remains on. As a result, as a new image

is captured and transmitted once each second from the transmitter 200, a corresponding

new image is displayed on the screen 102 each second. This static broadcast is generally

sufficient to alert a supervising parent as to the content of her child's computer use.

The static broadcast reception by the ICU 100 continues until terminated. This termination can be designed to occur either upon the elapse of a predetermined time counted on a timer in the ICU 100, or may be designed to occur only upon a second depression of button 106 or the turning off of the ICU 100. Advantageously, the ICU

100 contains means in its receiver for detecting when a new signal has not been received

from the transmitter 200 for a certain period of time, indicating for example that the

monitor 300 has been turned off or that the ICU 100 has been carried out of range for

receiving a transmission. Such a detector is well known in the art. In such case also, the

ICU 100 may be programmed to shut off.

As a result of this operation, a mother in a room separate from the room where her child is operating the computer can review what the child is actually seeing on the computer screen at the same time as the child sees it. The instant she sees an image that is not what her child should be seeing, she can intervene, and yet the child is accorded as much privacy and dignity as possible.

While the static broadcast has been described in terms of one image per second, it will be understood that any other appropriate interval may be used. The data

so broadcast may be compressed or uncompressed. Furthermore, it is possible to

present a continuous broadcast, wherein new images are presented as compressed or

uncompressed data at any chosen video rate, if so desired.

As noted above, the ICU 100 can accommodate signals from a plurality of transmitters. Assume therefore that the observer has activated the ICU 100 by depressing button 106 and the ICU 100 is receiving images from the transmitter 200.

At this time assume that the observer depresses button 108, which is associated with the

second transmitter 240 connected to a second host computer/monitor 340, as shown in

Fig. 1. The second transmitter 240 advantageously has the same construction as the first transmitter 200, except for the stored information identifying the particular

enciphering method, although it may have another construction provided the output data has the same format as the data output by the transmitter 200.

When the second transmitter 240 is turned on by turning on the second

host computer/monitor 340, it also begins a static broadcast of its own images once per

predetermined interval, which is advantageously, although not necessarily, the same

predetermined interval as for transmitter 200. When button 108 is depressed, the

receiver 132 in the ICU 100 is additionally enabled to accept data enciphered in the

manner specific to the second transmitter 240, e.g. enciphered with a second key code.

The ICU 100 keeps track of how many transmitters are currently to be accepted and cycles through the different enciphering methods for these transmitters so that an image from each is displayed in turn. For example, if transmitters 200 and 240 are the only transmitters currently activated, the receiver alternates in accepting data enciphered in the two different methods, and therefore the screen 102 alternates between displaying an image from the transmitter 200 and the transmitter 240. It will be seen that it is the interval at which the receiver accepts a new image, rather than the interval at which the transmitters send a new image, that generally controls the interval at which a new image is presented in the screen 102.

The use of the differing enciphering methods not only allows the ICU 100

to refuse to accept images from signal sources that have not been requested, but also keeps the ICU and transmitter signals from interfering with the operation of other remotely controlled equipment.

Advantageously, the ICU 100 provides a display or other indication of

the source of the image currently being displayed. This might take the form, for

example, of a transmitter number display 140 superimposed on the displayed image, or the button 106-128 associated with the source of the currently displayed image may be

backlit.

In the context of monitoring a computer screen, it is also to be noted that

the present invention can provide freedom of movement to the computer operator

himself. That is, suppose that someone is working at his own computer, either at home

or at the office, and wishes to leave his computer while still monitoring its screen to

determine the progress of tasks being performed. By tuning his ICU to his computer,

he can leave the computer and attend to other tasks in other areas while still being able

to keep track of what his computer has achieved. Similarly, a parent who is working at

home can supervise her child's activities on one channel of the ICU 100 while continuing to monitor her own vork on another channel of the ICU 100.

As noted above, t le present invention is intended to be used not only with computer monitors, but also wi:h televisions, video cameras and the like. With different sources of images, the particular transmitter may be adapted to receive, from the source, different forms of data, but the resultant enciphered output data transmitted to the ICU 100 is in the same format for all transmitters. Fig. 7 is an illustration of a transmitter 250 adapted to be used in connection with a television 400. In this

embodiment, the transmitter 250 is connected in parallel to the signal source via a cable

252 connected to the VIDEO OUT port 402. The transmitter 250, similar to transmitter 200, includes a CPU 254, a first memory 256, a wireless transmitter 258 and a

nonvolatile memory 259. The CPU 254 controls the transmitter 250 to capture the

analog signal and transform it into a digital signal matching the size and resolution of

the ICU 100 at the predetermined interval, for example, once per second, and stores the digital signal in memory 256. The transmitter 250 then forms an enciphered file having a format identical to the enciphered file transmitted from the transmitter 200 and transmits it using the wireless transmitter 258 by the same general method used by

transmitter 200. Of course, the transmitter 250 will have its own enciphering method,

e.g. key code in the memory 259, so that its signal may be recognized at the ICU 100.

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment wherein a transmitter 260 is adapted to

be used in connection with a video camera 500. This transmitter 260 is essentially

identical in structure to the transmitter 250, in that it includes a CPU 264, a first

memory 266, a wireless transmitter 268 and a nonvolatile memory 270. The CPU 264

controls the transmitter 260 to capture the analog signal from output port 502 through

cable 262 and transform it into a digital signal at the predetermined interval, for example, once per second, storing the digital signal in memory 266. The transmitter 260 then forms an enciphered file having a format identical to the enciphered file transmitted from the transmitter 200 and transmits it using the wireless transmitter 268

by the same general method used by transmitter 200. Of course, the transmitter 260 will again have its own enciphering method, e.g. key code stored in the memory 270, so that its signal may be recognized at the ICU 100. Of course, the present invention is also applicable in the case of a digital video image present at either a television or a

video camera, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand how the appropriate

modifications can be made without undue experimentation.

Thus, one ICU might receive signals from, e.g. two computers, two televisions and three cameras, providing a highly convenient monitoring system.

Although the above discussion places some of the processing functions in

the signal source, e.g. the computer, and some in the transmitter, it will be apparent to

those of ordinary skill in the art that more or all of the processing of the data captured

from the source could be performed in an appropriately constructed transmitter, either

in hardware or software.

It will be noted that when the ICU 100 is used on connection with a

transmitter 260 connected to a video camera, the field of use expands well beyond

monitoring computer or television use. Thus, the present invention can be used in

watching another room in the house, much as closed circuit TV enables parents to view

their baby's room when the baby is asleep alone. The invention can also be used to

monitor a door to the house or a nearby area such as the garden or gates. The invention

might also be used on commercial premises, to watch doors or critical areas of

manufacturing. Moreover, a single ICU in accordance with the present invention can receive signals from different types of signal sources, e.g. computers, TVs and video camera, or indeed any other source of images where the data can be ultimately converted into the format receivable by the ICU. Such sources are considered to be within the scope of the invention even if they do not themselves display their image data and even if they have no structure to display image data. For example, a transmitter in accordance with the present invention might be connected at the output of a VCR or

cable box connected to a television. Then, even if the television was off, if the VCR or cable box was on and presenting image data at its output, the transmitter could process

and send that image data to its ICU. In this way, someone who is waiting for a

particular show to begin at an undefined time can leave the room with the television and

monitor when the show actually starts on the ICU.

Therefore, the ICU can provide a highly convenient mechanism for keeping track of the images from all these sources. This combines many home and

office applications into a single wireless unit.

The present invention has been described in terms of a transmitter 200 that transmits images as long as the TV or other signal source is turned on. As a result,

the ICU 100 needs to have only a receiver and the transmitter 200 needs to have only a

transmitter. This is advantageous in reducing the size, weight and cost of the ICU 100.

However, other embodiments are possible. For example, if it desired that a transmitter

not transmit images all the time that the signal source is turned on, the ICU can be

designed to activate the transmitter when the button for that transmitter is depressed.

For example, as shown in Fig. 9, an ICU 600 has the same structure as ICU 100 except

that the wireless receiver 632 in transmitter 600 is also a transmitter, while a transmitter 700 has the same structure as one of transmitters 200, 250 and 260 depending on the nature of the signal source 800, except that the transmitter 708 is also a receiver. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, when the signal source 800 is turned on, the

transmitter 700 (Fig. 11) does not immediately begin to capture and transmit images,

but rather in step S41 enters a standby state enabled to receive an activation signal from

the ICU 600. When a button 606 on the ICU 600 (Fig. 10) is depressed in step S31, not

only is the ICU 600 enabled in step S33 to accept data from the transmitter 700, but also

the transceiver 632 in the ICU 600 emits an activation signal in step S32 to be received

by transceiver 708 in the transmitter 700. Upon receipt of this activation signal, the

transmitter 700 is activated in step S42 and begins to receive, store, encipher and

transmit data in steps S43-S46, corresponding to steps S10-13 in Fig. 5 . In this

embodiment, the transmitter 700 may stop sending its images when it receives a

deactivation signal from ICU 600 upon the second depression of button 606 or the

turning off of the ICU 600, as shown in step S47. Alternatively, the transmitter 700 may

continue to send images until its signal source is turned off. Moreover, in the event that a second button on ICU 600 is depressed, the transmitter 700 may receive the second

activation signal as an interrupt, or the program may periodically check for such a

signal. In the ICU 600, steps S33-S38 correspond to steps S21-S26 in Fig. 6. In all other

respects, the operation of the ICU 600 corresponds to the operation of the ICU 100 and

the operation of the transmitter 700 corresponds to that of the appropriate one of

transmitters 200, 240 and 260.

In addition, the above embodiments have been described as differentiating between the various signal sources by the method of enciphering at each

source, with the specific example of a key code different for each source being used. However, many other types of differences in enciphering methods may be used, or the system may use identification t odes. As a further alternative, the system may use different frequencies for the different signal sources, or different frequencies or other

characteristics of specific signals from the signal sources. It is to be understood that all such variations are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

The various components of the ICUs and transmitters described herein are themselves conventional, but their combination and use in accordance with the present invention are novel and unobvious to those or ordinary skill in the art.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been depicted and

described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made

other than those specifically mentioned above without departing from the spirit and

scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims that follow.

Claims

WE CLAIM;

1. A system for transmitting images from a signal source to a remote portable viewer, said system comprising:

said viewer, wherein said viewer includes a screen; and

a transmitter, remote from said viewer, that wirelessly transmits image data to said viewer in a format suitable for display upon said screen, the image data

being derived from information at the signal source.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the information at the

signal source represents a plurality of successive first images, and wherein the image

data is transmitted in a plurality of successive portions, each portion corresponding to a

respective one of the first images.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein each of the first images is

in a first format suitable for the signal source, and wherein each said portion represents a second image generated from the corresponding first image to have the format

suitable for display on said screen.

4. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the plurality of image

portions forms a static broadcast of the information.

5. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the signal source is one of

a computer, a television and a video camera.

6. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said viewer has a size enabling said viewer to be hand held.

7. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said transmitter begins to wireless transmit the image data in response to power on of the signal source.

8. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said viewer includes a

transmission element that is actuable to transmit an actuation signal to said transmitter,

and wherein said transmitter begins to transmit the image data in response to receipt of the actuation signal.

9. A system according to Claim 1, further including at least one more

transmitter that wirelessly transmits image data to said viewer from another respective

signal source, and wherein said viewer is controllable to receive image data from each

of the first-mentioned transmitter and the at least one more transmitter.

10. A system for transmitting images from a signal source to a remote

portable viewer, said system comprising:

said signal source, wherein said signal source is programmable;

said viewer, wherein said viewer includes a screen; and

a transmitter, remote from said viewer, that wirelessly transmits image

data to said viewer in a format suitable for display upon said screen, wherein said signal

source is programmed to derive the image data from information at said signal source

and to provide the derived image data to said transmitter.

11. A system according to Claim 10, wherein the information at said

signal source represents a plurality of successive first images, and wherein the image data is transmitted in a plurality of successive portions, each portion corresponding to a respective one of the first images.

12. A system according to Claim 11, wherein each of the first images is

in a first format suitable for said signal source, and wherein each said portion

represents a second image generated by said signal source from the corresponding first

image to have the format suitable for display on said screen.

13. A system according to Claim 12, wherein the plurality of image

portions forms a static broadcast of the information.

14. A system according to Claim 10, wherein said signal source

includes a computer.

15. A system according to Claim 10, wherein said viewer has a size

enabling said viewer to be hand held.

16. A system according to Claim 10, wherein said transmitter begins to

wireless transmit the image data in response to power on of the signal source.

17. A system according to Claim 10, wherein said viewer includes a

transmission element that is actuable to transmit an actuation signal to said transmitter, and wherein said transmitter begins to transmit the image data in response to receipt of the actuation signal.

18. A system according to Claim 10, further including at least one more transmitter that wirelessly transmits image data to said viewer from another

respective signal source, and wherein said viewer is controllable to receive image data

from each of the first-mentioned transmitter and the at least one more transmitter.

19. A portable viewer for receiving images from a remote apparatus

that presents information, said viewer comprising:

a screen; and

a receiver that wirelessly receives image data that was derived from the

information presented at the apparatus to have a format suitable for display upon said screen.

20. A viewer according to Claim 19, wherein the information

presentedat the apparatus represents a plurality of successive first images, and wherein

the image data is received in a plurality of successive portions, each portion

corresponding to a respective one of the first images.

21. A viewer according to Claim 20, wherein each of the first images is

in a first format suitable for the apparatus, and wherein each said portion represents a

second image generated from the corresponding first image to have the format suitable

for display on said screen.

22. A viewer according to Claim 21, wherein the plurality of image portions forms a static broadcast of the information.

23. A viewer according to Claim 19, wherein the apparatus includes

one of a computer, a television and a video camera and further includes a transmitter

that wirelessly transmits the image data to said viewer.

24. A viewer according to Claim 19, wherein said viewer has a size

enabling said viewer to be hand held.

25. A viewer according to Claim 19, wherein said viewer includes a

transmission element that is actuable to transmit an actuation signal to the apparatus,

and wherein the apparatus begins to transmit the image data in response to receipt of

the actuation signal.

26. A viewer according to Claim 19, further including at least one

more apparatus that wirelessly transmits image data to said viewer, and wherein said

viewer is controllable to receive image data from each of the first-mentioned apparatus

and the at least one more apparatus.

27. A method of transmitting images from a signal source to a remote

portable viewer, wherein the viewer includes a screen, said method comprising the steps

of:

wirelessly transmitting image data from the signal source to the remote viewer in a format suitable for display upon the screen, the image data being derived from information at the signal source; and displaying the image data on the screen.

28. A method according to Claim 27, wherein the information at the signal source represents a plurality of successive first images, and wherein said

transmitting step transmits the image data in a plurality of successive portions, each

portion corresponding to a respective one of the first images.

29. A method according to Claim 28, wherein each of the first images is in a first format suitable for the signal source, and wherein each said portion

represents a second image generated from the corresponding first image to have the

format suitable for display on the screen.

30. A method according to Claim 29, wherein the plurality of image portions forms a static broadcast of the information.

31. A method according to Claim 27, wherein the signal source is one

of a computer, a television and a video camera.

32. A method according to Claim 27, wherein the viewer has a size

enabling the viewer to be hand held.

33. A method according to Claim 27, wherein said transmitting step begins to wireless transmit the image data in response to power on of the signal source.

34. A method according to Claim 27, wherein the viewer includes a transmission element that is actuable to transmit an actuation signal to the signal source, and wherein said transmitting step begins to transmit the image data in

response to receipt of the actuation signal.