Patent Publication Number: US-2012044354-A1

Title: Versatile dual mode wireless camera hotspot device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to a camera for the capture of surveillance video data. The camera operates in at least two modes, or a first mode that interrogates to available devices to link to those devices, and a second mode for the delivery of the surveillance data to a second device for display on the second device. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a surveillance camera that forms a wireless access point. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART 
     Prior art surveillance applications are known in the art. The surveillance applications include a digital video camera connected to a digital video recorder. Generally, the digital video recorder has a memory and is operatively connected to the digital video camera close by. When motion is detected inside the predetermined area, video capture can be activated. Digital or analog video data can then be recorded on to the local recorder. Generally, a user must configure the video camera to a wireless network, which may be time consuming and may require the user to purchase additional computing devices to route and record the data. 
     A configuration of the instant applicant is shown in  FIG. 1 . The applicant&#39;s prior art configuration has a wireless camera A, and a wireless camera B. The cameras A and B communicate to a wireless router C, which is connected to the internet D. A number of computing devices E, F, G, and H are also provided. 
     The prior art does not allow a user to capture video and audio with a video camera and have the video camera itself continuously interrogate other devices to link to other devices. The prior art also does not allow a user to provide a convenient wireless access point to allow access to a network. Generally, a user must link and configure each camera to a network one at a time, which can be time consuming. Further, if there is not a wireless access point, time and expenses must be made to furnish a wireless access point in order to link one or more cameras to a network, which can be costly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises capturing data comprising at least one of video and audio from a camera. The camera has a transmitter and receiver integrated with the camera. The camera further provides a wireless access point to allow access to a network. 
     In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a wireless camera comprising an image capture device for capturing video images. The wireless camera also has a transmitter, a receiver and a circuit that provides a wireless access point to allow access to a wireless network by at least a second device. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a surveillance camera. The camera has an image capture device for capturing digital video images, and a microphone for capturing audio data. The camera also has an RF unit comprising a transmitter and a receiver that is connected to the image capture device and microphone. The RF unit communicates with a router for directing the captured video images and audio data to (i) a portable device and to (ii) a computing device associated with a remote destination via at least one communication path of a plurality of communication paths. The surveillance camera further provides a wireless access point to allow access to a network by at least one of (i) a second camera, (ii) a computing device, and (iii) a mobile communication device. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a method. The method includes capturing data comprising digital video images and audio data and routing the captured video images and audio data to (i) a router at a first mobile location and (ii) a second computing device at a second remote destination. The data is captured by a device that further provides a wireless access point to allow access to a network. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a device comprising a receiver for receiving data associated with captured video images and audio data. The device also has a transmitter to transmit data to a computing device associated with a remote destination via at least one communication path of a plurality of communication paths. The transmitter and the receiver are integrated into a surveillance camera. The surveillance camera further provides a wireless access point to allow a second device access to a wireless network. 
     According to yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a camera that captures images and that also serves as a wireless access point to connect at least a second device to the internet to reduce costs. 
     According to yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a camera that can be switched between at least two modes. 
     According to yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided at least two cameras where at least two cameras captures images and audio and at least one serves as a wireless access point. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout different views. The drawings are not meant to limit the invention to particular mechanisms for carrying out the invention in practice, but rather, the drawings are illustrative of certain ways of performing the invention. Others will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         FIG. 1  shows a system diagram of applicant&#39;s prior system with a number of wireless cameras being connected to a Wi-Fi router for access to the internet; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic of the present dual mode wireless digital camera operating in a network mode; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic of the present dual mode wireless digital camera operating in a direct mode; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic of the present dual mode wireless digital camera operating in a direct mode and network mode; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic of the present wireless digital camera operating as a wireless access point and functioning as a mobile hotspot; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a number of method steps for configuring the digital camera as a mobile hotspot and also for configuring the camera with a computing device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure preferably is directed to a surveillance video camera  10 . The camera  10  is for capturing of surveillance data (video and audio) in a remote and continuous manner. Preferably, the camera  10  operates in two modes or a first network mode and a second direct mode as will be discussed herein. The camera  10  includes a wireless access point integrated within and formed by the camera  10 . In the modes shown in  FIG. 2-6 , the camera  10  can transmit data to a mobile device and be configured by the mobile device. Alternatively, the camera  10  may form a mobile hotspot whereas other second devices may connect to the internet  22  via the camera  10 . This provides with a very advantageous configuration whereby a mobile communication device located close by can receive a feed of the camera  10  and also the camera  10  together with other surveillance cameras can be much more easier to install and can be installed cheaper than the prior art. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a system  12  wherein the camera  10  of the present disclosure is illustrated. The camera  10  preferably includes an RF module  13  with an interface  14 . Preferably, the RF module  13  includes a transmitter/receiver or transceiver to send and receive control signals  16 . Preferably, the control signals  16  are digital control signals  16 ; however alternatively, the control signals  16  may also be analog signals. 
     The interface  14  preferably may include a controller (not shown), a memory (not shown) and a bus (not shown) that preferably couples an image sensor  15  from the camera  10  to the controller, and memory. The controller preferably includes a digital signal processor that preferably outputs control signals to one or more components of the camera  10 . The memory may be sufficient to record video and audio data for a predetermined period of time. 
     Camera  10  may have a video resolution of about 640×480, 320×240, and 160×120, the frame rate can be up to 30 fps with the video encoding being a MPEG4 simple profile. The camera  10  may also has image settings that include brightness, sharpness, contrast, white balance and a built-in microphone. Cameral  10  may also have a 5V DC external power adapter with an operating temperature of preferably 0° C.˜40° C. (32° F.˜104° F.) and an operating humidity of 20%˜80% (non-condensing of the lens). 
     The system  12  preferably includes a Wi-Fi router  18  that wirelessly receives signals from the camera  10  and RF module  13 . The Wi-Fi router  18  preferably then transfers the data received by the RF module  13  corresponding to the video and audio data to one or more destinations. In one aspect, the first destination  24  may be a computer  20   a ,  20   b  or  20   c  that is located closely adjacent to the camera  10 . The computer  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c  may be a laptop computer  20   a  and  20   b , a desktop computer (not shown), a net book computer or a tablet computer  20   c  as shown. At least one computer  20   a  preferably has requirements of a processor (not shown) of 1.4 GHz or above that can be operable with an operating system of MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® 7, MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® VISTA®, and MICROSOFT®WINDOWS® XP® operable with a USB 1.1/2.0 port and having about 256 MB RAM and 100 MB hard disk space. Various computer configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In another aspect, the second destination  26  comprises a base station  28  that may wirelessly transmit data to a remote user  36   a  or second user  36   b . The second destination  26  may further comprise a router  32  that is connected to a computer  34 . In this aspect, a user  36   a  may view video and listen to audio data at the second destination  26  from the wireless camera  10  at the first destination  24 . Also a user  36   b  may have a mobile communication device  38  that receives wireless signals  30  from a base station  28  that is connected to the internet  22  to view video and listen to audio data at the second destination  26 . 
     The wireless digital surveillance camera  10  may be operable with multiple other wireless digital surveillance cameras  10   a  also having an RF module  13   a , image capture unit  15   a , and an interface  14   a  disposed in a housing  11 . The wireless digital surveillance camera  10  and camera  10   a  preferably combines the access point and camera into one integral unit whereas the camera  10  and  10   a  may capture video images and optionally audio images and also transmit the video and audio data in a specific protocol to at least two or more destinations  24  and  26 . Therefore a third user  36   c  operating the mobile device  20   c  or a first user  36   a  operating a computer device  34 , or a second user  36   b  operating a mobile device  38  at the second destination  26  has the option to connect directly to the desired camera  10  and  10   a.    
     Preferably, each of the cameras  10  and  10   a  are operable in either of two modes or in a first direct mode and a second or network node. The second network mode is shown in  FIG. 2  while the first or direct mode is shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . Preferably, a communication protocol is programmed and is embed in the RF module  13  of the wireless surveillance camera  10 . The protocol enables the camera  10  equipped with the RF module  13  to interrogate an area. The RF module  13  preferably interrogates to find and identify a neighboring wireless device, for example, a laptop computer  20   a , a laptop computer  20   b  or a mobile tablet device  20   c  or a mobile communication device (not shown) with similar RF module. Once found, the camera  10  or  10   a  and the second computing device  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  negotiate the procedures to establish a mutual connection. 
     In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the camera  10  and  10   a  having the RF module  13  and controller (not shown) located in the interface  14  may modify a protocol stack in an existing RF module  13 ,  13   a . In an alternative embodiment, the RF module  13  may comprise a RF chip that includes a Wi-Fi Direct® feature. Wi-Fi Direct® is incorporated by reference in its entirety, formerly known as Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer®, is a set of software protocols that allow Wi-Fi devices to talk to each other without prior setup or the need for wireless access points (hot spots). Wi-Fi®Direct® allows the construction of ad-hoc networks between computers, or more commonly, computers and peripherals like printers. Wi-Fi®Direct® is developed and supported by the Wi-Fi®Alliance, the industry group that develops the Wi-Fi® CERTIFIED® standards suite. 
     Preferably, the camera  10  and  10   a  includes a software access point, or “soft AP”, into the camera  10  and  10   a . When a device enters the range of the Wi-Fi Direct camera  10  and  10   a , the processor located in the interface  14  preferably controls the RF module  13  to send a control signal to connect to the device by a predetermined protocol that is known to the at least two devices, for example, the camera  10  and the tablet device  20   c . Thereafter, one of or both of the camera  10  and the tablet device  20   c  may exchange setup information using a Protected Setup-style transfer. Soft AP software is preferably stored on a memory on the interface  14  and may be sufficient to exchange video and audio digital data with optionally security settings to ensure that the data cannot be intercepted and inspected. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the camera  10  and  10   a  may interrogate and link to the tablet  20   c  and the  20   a  and  20   b  via a access point that is not a Wi-Fi Direct® access point and various configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Advantageously, the present system  12  includes a simplified configuration for the user as the users operating the various computing devices  20   a - 20   c  and  34  and  38  can simply connect directly to the camera  10  and  10   a  to configure the camera&#39;s settings via a drop down menu that is readily available with any mobile device that is connected to the internet  22  or connected to the camera  10  and  10   a . Preferably, the user is spared from connecting the wireless camera  10  and  10   a  via a router/access point. This procedure involves two connections and a discovery step between the camera  10  and  10   a  and the mobile device. Since this wireless connection  16 ,  16   a , and  16   b  can be made wirelessly to the camera  10  and  10   a  without having to physically move the camera  10  and  10   a  or run cables the present system  12  is advantageous over the prior art configuration. 
     Preferably, once the RF module  13  and the computing device  20   a - 20   c  are linked then an RF channel connection is established from the RF module to the specific computing device  20   a - 20   c . After the RF channel connection is established, the application software on the camera  10  and  10   a  stored on the memory and the application software stored on the memory (not shown) associated with the computing device  20   a - 20   c  preferably initiate an account authentication procedure automatically whereby the username and password of each of the devices  10 - 10   a  and computing devices  20   a - 20   c  is verified to ensure that only authorized access is permitted between each of the cameras  10 - 10   a  and the computing devices  20   a - 20   c . In one non-limiting embodiment, preferably each wireless camera  10 - 10   a  has a credential information that is specific to the wireless camera  10 - 10   a . The credential information may be set by an owner or an administrator that includes rights. The automatic authentication process blocks any unauthorized connection to the wireless camera  10 - 10   a  for video viewing to ensure that a secure connection and that only authorized personnel have access to the data. 
     Advantageously, the present system  12  does not require any existing network and the user may use the cameras  10  and  10   a  with any existing network and any existing computing devices  20   a - 20   c . Additionally, the present cameras  10  and  10   a  also preferably serve as a wireless hotspot for the computing devices  20   a - 20   c . In this regard, the computing devices  20   a - 20   c  preferably may receiving the digital data from the camera  10 - 10   a  to view the video and listen to the audio, but may also use the software access point located on the cameras  10  and  10   a  to access the internet  22  and transmit and receive data that is independent of the surveillance data. For example, at least one of the cameras  10 , and  10   a  can support a 3G modem and provide internet connectivity over Wi-Fi to connected mobile devices  20   a - 20   c  whereas the computer  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c  may transmit data to the camera  10 , which communicates the data to the router  18  and to the internet  22 . In this manner, the user may access an Internet browser on the computing device  20   a - 20   c  and view pages using the camera  10 - 10   a  as a mobile hotspot. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a dual mode operation of the camera  10  and the camera  10   a  operatively connected to a tablet computer or internet mobile device  20   c  and a laptop computer  20   a . In the direct mode of the camera  10 , the camera  10  is directly connected to an Internet Mobile Device  20   c , such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, iPod® device, iPhone® or iPad® tablet device manufactured by Apple® Corporation, a net book computer, a BLACKBERRY® communication device manufactured by Research in Motion Corporation®, a MOTOROLA® DROID® communication device or a communication device operable with the HTC® GOOGLE® ANDRIOD® configuration, or another mobile communication device. Once connected, the user operating with the mobile device  20   c  may receive digital data from a video stream directly from the wireless camera device  10  via signal  16   d.    
     Preferably using the tablet or internet mobile device  20  or the laptop computer  20   a  that camera  10  or  10   a  may be configured and settings adjusted. In this manner, the internet mobile device  20  or computer  20   a  acts as an input device for the camera  10  and  10   a  to configure one or more camera settings to perform certain desired functions. Settings may include instructing the camera  10  or  10   a  which wireless access point (AP) to connect with and the desired connection settings, or setting the network, setting one or more image parameters and setting one or more system  12  settings via connections  16   b - 16   d  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The system  12  shown in  FIG. 3 , also provides that the internet mobile device  20   c  or the computer  20   a  may receive a signal from a camera  10  and  10   a  indicating a confirmation of access point network connection. In this manner, the user will also be able to use this direct connection to verify whether or not the camera connected properly to the access point (otherwise known as network mode) and whether the camera  10  and  10   a  or the device  20   c  or computer  20   a  have a proper connection to the Internet. In the event that there is no proper connection to the internet  22 , then an appropriate signal will be output indicating that there is not a proper connection. 
     Preferably, the cameras  10  and  10   a  ease the set up of wireless digital camera in a network environment as shown as reference numeral  12 . The user advantageously does not have to find and connect indirectly to the camera  10  and  10   a  through a traditional access point. System  12  also reduces the possible data transfer bottleneck due to the congestion from the traditional access point. Furthermore, unlike traditional network cameras, the system  12  can operate without having an available router or access point, which is advantageous and reduces costs. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the dual mode wireless digital cameras  10   a  and  10  operating in a direct mode and a simultaneous network mode. As shown, the internet mobile device  20   c  may link to the camera&#39;s  10  and  10   a  access point generally shown as reference numeral  17 . It should be appreciated that the access point  17  uses the RF module  14  and  14   a  to provide a connection to the internet mobile device  20   c , computer  20   a  and computer  20   b . The present disclosure preferably provides that at least one camera captures video and audio and also provides a wireless access point (WAP) to allow at least one wireless communication device or more to connect to a wireless network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards. The WAP  17  formed by the at least one camera may connect to a router  18 , dongle, 3G modem ( 28   a  in  FIG. 5 ), or any other suitable device and to the internet  22  and can relay data between the wireless devices and wired devices on the network. 
     In this manner, the internet mobile device  20   c  may control one or more cameras  10  and  10   a , view the video and audio output of the cameras  10  and  10   a  and also be connected to the internet  22  via the cameras  10  and  10   a . Likewise, the mobile communication device  38  and computer  24  at the second location  26  may also view the output of the cameras  10  and  10   a , control the video cameras  10  and  10   a  and access the data via a software platform at the second location  26 . 
     The internet mobile device  20   c  can output a control signal wirelessly to control the surveillance camera  10  or  10   a  to pan, tilt, or zoom to the monitor the target from a remote location. Additionally, the internet mobile device  20   c  can output data to a software platform along a first path (from the access point  17  to the Wi-Fi router  18  and to the internet  22 ), a second path (from the access point  17  to the Wi-Fi router  18  and to the internet  22  and to the base station  28  to a mobile device  38 ) or a third path (from the access point  17  to the Wi-Fi router  18  and to the internet  22  to router  32  and to computer  34 ) to a remote destination  26 . 
     In this manner, a remote user  36   a  and  26   b  can monitor the target and the data output from the cameras  10  and  10   a  from a remote location  26  in real time. Turning now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a system  12  for capturing surveillance information of a target while also operating in a dual mode operating as a mobile hotspot for a computer device  20   a.    
     The wireless camera  10   b  is shown as connecting to a computing device  20   a , which can be a laptop as shown or an internet mobile device such as an iPad® tablet computer. Alternatively, the camera  10   b  can comprise a Wi-Fi dongle, 3G Modem or be connected to a 3G cellular phone. The wireless camera  10   b  can become an access point to allow other Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect to Internet and send/receive the data through the access point. In this manner, the wireless camera  10   b  becomes a mobile hotspot, which can set up and reconfigure the connected other wireless cameras shown as  10  and  10   a . Preferably, the surveillance cameras  10 - 10   b  are connected to one another and linked via the access point and the connected wireless cameras  10 - 10   b  form an ad hoc group. In this manner, each of the wireless surveillance cameras  10 - 10   b  transmit the video data to a remote monitoring site such as SEEDONK® VIDEO MANAGEMENT sharing software platform for other desirable applications via the internet  22 . 
     The paring of the access point formed by the camera  10   b  to remaining wireless cameras  10  and  10   a  may be accomplished via a set up initial procedure. In this manner, the desired camera  10 ,  10   a  can find the correct access point generated by the camera  10   b  and then connect to a 3G cellular dongle or modem  40  or other broadband service for Internet connection. This feature enables quick setup and installation of a remote video monitoring system without any prior cable wiring and broadband service set up to each and every camera  10 , and  10   b . Many applications can be easily implemented with minimum equipment costs and can be set up by an individual with minimal training. 
     In this embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a third camera  10   b  is provided that includes an RF module  13   b , an image capture element  15   b  and an interface  14   b . Interface  14   b  preferably is connected to a modem  40 . In one embodiment, the modem  40  is a 3G modem that is operable with a wireless communication network, such as GSM, CDMA, WCDMA or the like (for example, modem  40  can be a Sprint® 3G/4G USB Modem U300). In another embodiment, the modem  40  may be a 4G modem. In a further embodiment, the modem  40  can be operable with Wi-Max or the like. 
     Various modem  40  configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure and modem  40  is intended to be any modem  40  that connects to a wireless network and that attaches directly to a wireless ISP (Internet Service Provider) via base station  28   a , which is connected to the internet  22 . 3G refers to the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) or the 3rd Generation standards for mobile telecommunications defined by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G preferably includes at least one of GSM, EDGE, UMTS, CDMA 2000 and WCDMA as well as Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (“TD-SCDMA”), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (“DECT”) and Wi-MAX®. 3G may further include a wide-area wireless voice telephone, video calls, and wireless data, all in a mobile environment that allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and higher data rates of up to about 14.0 Mbit/s on the downlink and about 5.8 Mbit/s on the uplink. 
     In this manner, the computer  20   a  may link via signal  16   c  with the camera  10   b  via an RF channel and RF module  15   b  and communicate with the modem  40  via the interface  40 . In this manner, the computer  20   a  may be linked to the internet  22 . Simultaneously, the system  12  may display the video and output audio data on the computer  20   a  or mobile communication device  38  and computer  34  at a remote location  14  along a number of communication paths. 
     In this embodiment, the system  12  is shown as having a first digital video camera  10 , a second digital video camera  10   a , a third digital video camera  10   b  and can have multiple other a digital video cameras. Each of the cameras  10 - 10   b  preferably includes a RF module  13 ,  13   a , and  13   b  for transmitting signals and for receiving signals generally shown as reference numeral  16   a - 16   c . The first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  are connected to the computer  20   a  in a wireless manner via a Wi-Fi network created by the wireless access point formed by interface  14   b , RF module  15   b , and modem  40 . 
     The first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  are preferably cameras that take video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor  15 ,  15   a , and  15   b . The first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  may also include a night vision feature to record data and may include infrared light emitting diodes with auto activation and with a video resolution of about 640×480. The first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  can be closed-circuit television cameras, generally used for security, surveillance, and/or monitoring purposes. The first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  can be small, easily hidden, and able to operate unattended for monitoring a predetermined area for long periods of time. For example, the first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  can be webcams operable for use as a closed circuit television camera and each may convert a signal from the electronic image sensor  15 - 15   b  directly to a digital output and can incorporate a circuit to directly interface with a specific protocol. 
     Alternatively, instead of the laptop computer  20   a  shown in  FIG. 5 , the first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  can interface and output a digital signal to a different device. For example, the computer  20   a  may be Smart Phone, such as a BLACKBERRY® communication device or mobile phone, an APPLE® I-PHONE®, APPLE® I-POD® or IPAD®, a mobile phone, an e-Book Reader, or other device such as a computer or communications hardware, a net-book, a desktop, or a predetermined models of laptop computers. The first through third digital video cameras  10 - 10   b  may further communicate an output through an analog-to-digital converter in order to store the output or send the output to a wider network. The digital video may be H.261, H.263, H.264, JPEG, MJPEG, MPEG or any other digital video formats known in the art. 
     To output the video data from the camera  10  to the remote destination  26  and the computing devices  34  and  38 , the data may take a first path from at least one of a number of digital video camera  10  to the camera  10   b  and then to the 3G modem  40 , which communicates the data to a format suitable to the ISP shown as reference numeral  39  and to a 3G base station  28   a , which is connected to the internet  22  via line  42 . The personal computer  34  is operatively connected to a network router  32 , which is connected to the Internet  22 . 
     Another path continues from the Internet  22  to a wireless base station  28   b , where the data is transmitted in a wireless manner along wireless signal  44  to a remote destination  26  and to a remote computing device or communication device  38 . In this manner, the remote user  36   b  and remote user  36   a  may both view the output of the surveillance camera  10 . In one aspect, the remote users  36   a  and  36   b  may access the data via a software program or platform that is installed at the computer  34  or the computer  38  or installed and run on the internet  22  in a cloud computing configuration. 
     The software platform preferably can be a SEEDONK® Video Management platform. The software platform can be a video monitoring and a video sharing application and is a consumer platform for viewing, managing and sharing cameras over the Internet  22 . The computer  34  running the first software platform may be a cloud computing configuration or may include a memory, a processor, a bus, a display, a user interface, and network router  32  as shown in  FIG. 5  generally as reference numeral  34 . The computing devices  34  and  38  are merely illustrative. Devices  34  and  38  form no limitations to the present disclosure and are merely illustrative of one non-limiting embodiment. For example, using the software platform, the user  36   a  or  36   b  can be authenticated for access. Thereafter, the user  36   a  and  36   b  may then view the output of the digital video camera  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b  and video and audio data. The user  36   a  and  36   b  may then also use the prompts associated with the software platform to control the digital video camera  10 - 10   b  to pan, tilt, zoom or perform any other control functions associated with the digital cameras  10 - 10   b  and also send messages to other users. 
     Moreover simultaneously with the above transfer of data, computing device  20   a , wireless camera  10  and  10   a  are not connected to the internet via a wired connection and instead are connected wirelessly via camera  10   b . In this manner, camera  10  via the RF module  13  is transferring data to the internet  22  via the RF module  13   b  and modem  40 . Further, the camera  10   a  via RF module  13   a  is transferring data to the internet  22  via the RF module  13   b  and modem  40 . Further, computer  20   a  includes a transmitter and receiver and is communicating data via the RF module  13   b  and modem  40  to the internet  22 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the modem  40  may be a 3G dongle  40 . Dongle  40  is a broadband wireless adaptor or a connector that translates one type of port to another. 3G dongle  40  facilitates the transfer of digital data from one component of the system  12  to the base station  28   a  over a wireless telecommunication network. It should be appreciated that the transfer of digital data is achieved in packets over a specific predetermined frequency. Wireless telecommunications network is generally implemented with some type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier. The implementation usually takes place at the physical level or layer of the network. 
     Alternatively, in a further embodiment, the modem  40  may communicate with the remote destination  26  and the associated remote computing device  34  and  38  with a different standard, such as, for example, the IEEE 802.16 standard. Various configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. Thereafter, the data can be communicated to the remote destination  26  from the Internet  22  as previously discussed above or via a different manner such as for example, with a Network router, a Wi-Fi dongle, a Wi-Fi Router  34 , Wi-Max, Cellular Phone Network via a base station  28   b  or a wireless protocol. 
     Preferably, the computer  20   a , device  38 , or computer  34  may control the specific digital camera  10 - 10   b  to initiate the display of the video data of the target, to magnify an image of the target, or to record the data or adjust any and all settings of one or more cameras  10 - 10   b . Moreover, the computer  20   a , device  38 , or computer  34  may also send a control signal to specific digital camera  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b  to pan, tilt, and zoom. 
     A video processing operation may be performed on the data prior to sending the data from the first destination  24  to the second destination  26  or prior to sending the data from camera  10 ,  10   a , and  10   b  to computer  20   a . For example, data may be compressed prior to sending the data from the first destination  24  to the second destination  26 . Frames may be removed from the images that are redundant prior to transmitting the data from the first destination  24  to the second destination  26 . Various data rate configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the video compression may even permit the transfer of video over a relatively small bandwidth. For example, each camera  10 ,  10   a , and  10   b  may embed or incorporate data into the captured video image. The embed data can be text such as the day, hour, minute, second, camera identification information (Camera  1 , Camera  2 , etc.), alarm, object presence, event data, or any other identification data known in the art. Metadata may also be incorporated into the captured video image. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a method according to the present disclosure generally represented as reference numeral  46 . The method  46  preferably is operable for configuring the camera network operation or viewing video using the direct connection mode. It should be also appreciated that the method steps are not limited to the hierarchal order shown and some steps can be performed before others and some steps can be performed simultaneously. Various configurations of the present method are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The method  46  commences at step  48  whereby the direct mode switch, or direct mode input is selected on the dual mode wireless camera  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b . The method then passes to step  50  where the internet mobile device computer  20   a  is activated and the direct mode operation input is selected thereafter control of the method  46  passes to step  52 . 
     At step  52 , a suitable software application is executed on the computing device  20   a , which interrogates and determines which wireless cameras are in the interrogation zone and prompts the user with the available wireless cameras in the neighboring wireless networks. It should be appreciated that this can be one camera, two cameras, or any number of cameras depending on the size of the target area and availability. At step  54 , a desired wireless digital camera is selected via an input on the internet mobile device computer  20   a . Thereafter, control passes to step  56 . 
     At step  56 , a decision is reached as to whether the user is authenticated by the digital camera. If not authenticated, then control passes from step  56  along line  58  to step  62  where the method  46  ends as an unauthorized individual is seeking access. 
     If authenticated at step  56 , then control of the method  46  passes from step  56  along line  60  to step  64  where the internet mobile device computer  20   a  is connected to the dual mode wireless digital camera  10  and at step  72 , the user may view video output from the desired camera  10  on the mobile internet device screen. Additionally, if authenticated at step  56  and if the mobile device  20   a  connects to the desired digital camera at step  64 , then the camera can be configured via the mobile computing device  20   a  at step  70 . 
     Thereafter, control of the method  46  passes from step  70  along line  71  to line  74  to step  78  where a network configuration is performed. Also control of the method  46  passes from step  70  along line  71  to line  76  to step  80  where a camera configuration step occurs. For example, the desired camera can be configured from the mobile device  20   a  by entering the wireless access point connection information. Thereafter, control passes from step  78  to step  82  where a decision is reached as to whether the network configuration process is complete. If complete then the method  46  ends at step  90 . If not complete, then the method  46  continues along line  86  to step  78 . 
     Thereafter, control of the method  46  passes from step  80  to step  84  where a decision is reached as to whether the camera configuration process is complete. If complete then the method  46  ends at step  92 . If not complete then the method  46  continues along line  88  to step  80  to continue the camera configuration process. 
     Generally, in operation, the computer system operable with that method shown in  FIGS. 1-6  is controlled by an operating system. Typical examples of operating systems are MS-DOS, Windows95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 from Microsoft Corporation, or Solaris and SunOS from Sun Microsystems, Inc., UNIX based operating systems, LINUX based operating systems, or the Apple OSX from Apple Corporation. As the computer system operates, input such as input search data, database record data, programs and commands, received from users or other processing systems, are stored on storage device. Certain commands cause the processor to retrieve and execute the stored programs. The programs executing on the processor may obtain more data from the same or a different input device, such as a network connection. The programs may also access data in a database for example, and commands and other input data may cause the processor to index, search and perform other operations on the database in relation to other input data. Data may be generated which is sent to the output device for display to the user or for transmission to another computer system or device. Typical examples of the computer system are personal computers and workstations, hand-held computers, dedicated computers designed for a specific purpose, and large main frame computers suited for use many users. The present invention is not limited to being implemented on any specific type of computer system or data processing device. 
     It is noted that the present invention may also be implemented in hardware or circuitry which embodies the logic and processing disclosed herein, or alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in software in the form of a computer program stored on a computer readable medium such as a storage device. In the later case, the present invention in the form of computer program logic and executable instructions is read and executed by the processor and instructs the computer system to perform the functionality disclosed as the invention herein. If the present invention is embodied as a computer program, the computer program logic is not limited to being implemented in any specific programming language. For example, commonly used programming languages such as C, C++, JAVA as well as others may be used to implement the logic and functionality of the present invention. Furthermore, the subject matter of the present invention is not limited to currently existing computer processing devices or programming languages, but rather, is meant to be able to be implemented in many different types of environments in both hardware and software. 
     Furthermore, combinations of embodiments of the invention may be divided into specific functions and implemented on different individual computer processing devices and systems which may be interconnected to communicate and interact with each other. Dividing up the functionality of the invention between several different computers is meant to be covered within the scope of the invention. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that is made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.