Patent ID: 7929710

Claim:
A communication system for monitoring sounds of a first place from a second place remote from the first place through a communication line, the communication system comprising: a first communication apparatus disposed at the first place and equipped with an input section configured to collect various sounds generated at the first place containing a first type of sound information that should be monitored and a second type of sound information, and to convert the collected sounds into a signal capable of conveying the sound information, and a transmission section configured to transmit the signal to the second place through the communication line; a second communication apparatus disposed at the second place and equipped with a reception section configured to received the signal transmitted from the first place, and an output section configured to reproduce sounds; and a signal processing section disposed at the first place or the second place, or at another location interposed in the communication line therebetween, and configured to process the signal by masking or modifying the second type of sound information to create a processed signal that obscures the second type of sound information when produced, wherein the output section of the second place produces sounds from the processed signal to reproduce the first type of sound information and to produce the obscured second type of sound information, and wherein the input section collects the various sounds including a physical noise sound associated with activity to be monitored as the first type of sound information, and a vocal sound incidentally spoken as the second type of sound information.