Abstract: Video messages are created in a manner that allows transparent delivery over any electronic mail (e-mail) system. The audio and video components of the message are recorded, encoded, and synchronously combined into a video message file. A player is selectively attached to the video message file to create an executable file which can be delivered as a standard binary file over conventional communications networks. To view the received video e-mail, the recipient executes the received file and the attached player automatically plays the video and audio message or the recipient executes the previously installed player which plays the video message.

Abstract: A computer system includes a video input device that generates video data representing a field of view in front of the video input device. The computer system further includes a buffer and a video processing module. The buffer is configured to record a video clip of the field of view in front of the video input device. The video processing module is connected to the buffer and the video input device. The video processing module includes a video capture device to encode the video data, and a signal processing module. The signal processing module processes the encoded video data in order to calculate an average value of the video data indicative of motion within the field of view in front of the video input device. The signal processing module generates an alarm if the average value is above a predetermined threshold value.