Patent ID: 7075567

Claim:
Control apparatus for receiving outputs from and controlling the operation of a plurality of image capture devices, at least some of said image capture devices being arranged to operate at any time in only one of at least two modes, wherein a first mode is a high resolution mode in which the image capture devices transmit high resolution images captured within their field of view and a second mode is a low resolution mode in which the image capture devices transmit low resolution images captured within their field of view the transmission bandwidth required to accommodate the outputs of image capture devices operating in the second mode being substantially less than that required to accommodate the outputs of image capture devices operating in the first mode, wherein all of the image capture devices are arranged, in use, to continuously transmit captured image data to the control apparatus, the control apparatus comprising monitoring apparatus for monitoring the outputs from one or more of said plurality of image capture devices, detection apparatus for detecting activity within the field of view of at least one of said image capture devices, and switching apparatus for switching or maintaining the operating mode of the image capture device within whose field of view activity is detected to the first operating mode, the image capture devices having fields of view within which no activity is taking place being arranged or caused to operate in said second operating mode.