Abstract: A system and/or apparatus provided as a side-view or rear-view mirror for providing a plurality of independently moveable reflective surfaces to enable a driver increased visibility. To increase visibility for the driver, the system and/or apparatus includes a camera for providing images around a vehicle to the driver within a vehicle during low-light or poor lighting conditions.

Abstract: A method, video control arrangement and a computer program product are provided for determining objects present in a process control system. The video control arrangement includes an object determining unit configured to order a group of video cameras, including at least one video camera, to repeatedly scan an area in order to obtain a set of video streams, determine if there are any new objects associated with the process control system in the area through detecting object identifiers of objects in the video streams, determine if a detected new object is stationary or mobile, report the detected object to a process control server and register stationary objects as process control objects.

Abstract: A DVM system is configured to include an incident trigger, which is actuated either manually or automatically in response to an “incident. In response to the actuation of the trigger, an incident identifier is defined. During the period of actuation, a plurality of recordings is automatically made, based on an incident recording protocol. These recordings are all associated with the incident identifier. The automation allows an operator to, at the time of the incident, focus on factors other than ensuring important video evidence is being recorded (such as following a subject through a building by looking at various cameras). The association streamlines subsequent review of an incident, as recordings relevant to the incident are commonly identifiable based on the incident identifier.

Abstract: Switching device (1) for the alternating connection of at least one television camera (2) to one of at least two television camera control units (3) or for the alternating connection of at least one television camera control unit (3) to one of at least two television cameras (2); with the switching device (1) having connectors (4, 5) for the television camera(s) (2) and the television camera control unit(s) (3); and each connector (4, 5) having electrical supply contacts (6, 7) for the power and voltage supply of the television camera (2) through the television camera control unit (3); and having at least one optical contact (8, 9) for the transmission of information over fiberoptic cables between the television camera (2) and the television camera control unit (3); and with the switching device (1) having at least one power supply line switch (10) and at least one optical switch (11) and at least one switching control unit (12) to actuate the power supply line switch (10) and to actuate the optical switch (1

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present invention provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for detecting possible traffic violations of vehicles. For example, in one embodiment, this may include receiving an indication that a school bus has entered or is entering a stopped position. After receiving an indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position, an area proximate the school bus can be monitored to detect possible traffic violations.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at system which integrates many of the functions of existing security and security guard systems into a single integrated system, while adding new functions and increased functionality through the centralization of the systems. The present system uses a server based system to provide the backbone of a system which takes input and performs its functions through network connection through a web portal, to an application on mobile devices, to CCTV and/or DVR devices, and to any other network enabled device which is connected to the system. One major function of the system disclosed allows CCTV and/or DVR systems to be networked into the server system, allowing the server to store, document, and log the video and photos, along with any video and photos from any mobile devices, such as camera phones, which are networked into the system.

Abstract: Provided is a display image formation device with which it is possible to designate in an intuitive manner a location which the user wishes to see when multiple panoramic images obtained by multiple panoramic cameras exist, and with which the image for a designated site can be displayed in a suitable state. A camera selection unit (12) selects one panoramic camera (20) from multiple panoramic cameras (20) on the basis of the positional relationship between a designated position on a planar map and the multiple panoramic cameras (20). An extraction parameter determination unit (14) determines an extracted image region, which is extracted from the image photographed by the panoramic camera (20) selected by the camera selection unit (12). A drawing unit (15) forms a display image wherein the extracted image is arranged on the planar map.

Abstract: When a device management server requests obtainment of recorded video at the time of an error in an image forming apparatus, a device management client confirms that there is a request for obtainment of recorded video, and makes a request for desired recorded video to a camera management server. The device management server receives recorded video from the camera management server through the device management client.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing content and content requests are described. A data store of profiles of potential content contributors is provided. A request from a first source for content comprising content criteria is received, the content criteria comprising content contributor characteristics and content subject matter. Based on the content contributor characteristics and the profiles, at least a first potential content contributor is identified. At least a portion of the content request content criteria is transmitted to the first potential content contributor. If recorded content is received from the first content contributor, the first source is provided with access to the received recorded content. At least partly in response to acceptance by the first source of the received recorded content, the first source is enabled to publish the accepted received recorded content.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for network video management and recording of video signals and video analytics generated by a network of IP-enabled cameras. A set of IP cameras are connected in a LAN to a network video recorder further connected by LAN or WAN to a set of client stations. The client station operates a hybrid program including a web-browser and a native application operating on a computer. The network video recorder operates a media recorder to store video streams from the IP cameras into a media database and further operates a relational database for storing camera configuration data, device drivers, event information and alarms. The network video recorder includes a zero configuration networking discovery service for automatically detecting and downloading default configurations to the cameras. Client stations can stream video directly from IP cameras, receive recorded video streams and query the relational database for cameras and events.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for remotely operating a machine using a communication device. In one aspect, a method includes generating images showing at least one operating range of the machine by using at least one camera of the machine, transmitting the generated images and an image of an operating surface of the machine to the communication device via a radio network, displaying at least one of: the operating surface image and at least one of the generated images on an operating display of the communication device, accepting machine operation commands input by an operator using the operating display, and then transmitting the machine operation commands via the radio network, thereby remotely operating the machine.

Abstract: In a video surveillance system, confirming videos from plurality of cameras causes a heavy burden on surveillance officers, and it is difficult to select a suitable video for observation. A video surveillance system includes a plurality of cameras which pick up images in a surveillance area, and a recognition unit which detects an object from videos acquired by the plurality of cameras. In the case where an object is detected in a surveillance area where images are picked up duplicately by the plurality of cameras, the recognition unit acquires a recognition result that is a feature quantity of the object for each camera. A display selection unit is, provided which, on the basis of the recognition result and a degree of priority of the recognition result, prioritizes the video from each of the cameras according to the degree of priority.

Abstract: A driving assist apparatus acquires vehicle information which includes a gear state and speed of a vehicle; judges a state of preparing for movement, a state of starting movement, and a state during movement; generates a wide-angle image that is an image that can see a wide range although having distortion when the vehicle state is the state of preparing for movement or the state of starting movement; and generates a no-distortion image that is an image in which the distortion due to the lens shape and the distortion by the projection system are eliminated from the camera image when the vehicle state is the state during movement.

Abstract: A customer support technique for an electronic system includes engaging in a video chat with a remote customer support device using a first camera of a computerized apparatus while simultaneously acquiring images of the electronic system using a second camera and sending the images to the customer support device. A user of the computerized apparatus can thus engage in a face-to-face video chat with a customer support agent operating the customer support device while the customer support agent simultaneously sees both images of the user and images of the electronic system or portion thereof to which the user is pointing the second camera. The disclosed technique thus provides a near-hands-on support experience from a remote customer support agent regardless of the customer support agent's physical location.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus of the invention which is capable of photographing a desired object by making a plurality of photographing apparatuses cooperative with one another includes: an image pickup section; a detection section for acquiring photographing information related to an image acquired by the image pickup section; a transmission section for transmitting the photographing information acquired by the detection section; a reception section for receiving an image photographed and transmitted by another photographing apparatus based on the photographing information; and a memory control section for storing the image acquired by the image pickup section and the image received by the reception section in association with each other.

Abstract: A monitoring unit for security and automation in a premises are described. The monitoring unit uses remote configuration and control to enable monitoring of a premises. The monitoring unit provides multiple monitoring functions to respond to events within the space and alert a user at a remote device like a smartphone. An image sensor provides a wide field of view which can be segmented on the mobile device to enable specific areas to be viewed enabling the user to view the area and be alerted when an event occurs based upon a rules based configuration.

Abstract: A system and method to capture a plurality of images and store the captured images. The system has multiple camera systems capable of transmitting image data. At least one camera system is equipped with an apparatus for determining location coordinates such as GPS. A computer system monitors location coordinates, retrieves image data from the camera systems, and stores the image data into a file. A contiguous array of location coordinates is entered and the computer system locates camera systems within the contiguous array of location coordinates; retrieves image data from the located camera systems; and files the image data taken from each of the camera systems to obtain a file of image data. The system provides the ability to serially interleave frames or video captured from multiple sources.

Abstract: A surveillance apparatus including a platform defining a central axis; a plurality of fixed field of view cameras mounted to the platform and equiradially spaced about the central axis. Each camera has a fixed field of view over an angular range of about 90 degrees about the central axis such that the plurality of cameras define a fixed field of view of the area of 360 degrees about the central axis. At least one pivotable camera is preferably mounted to the platform and radially spaced from the central axis providing a mutable view about the central axis. A communications device is coupled to the fixed field and pivotable cameras to provide a continuous fixed field view of the area and a mutable view of the area.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system includes a first camera 5 having an angle of view ?1, a second camera 6 which is a combination of two camera modules 6a, 6b each having an angle of view ?2, a third camera 7 which is a combination of three camera modules 7a, 7b, 7c each having an angle of view ?3, and a local camera 8 having an angle of view ?s. The first to third cameras 5 to 7 act as area surveillance cameras to which the optimum shooting distance is set, respectively. The local camera 8 takes a shot of a local area, which is set in a shooting area of the third camera 7, at the narrowest angle of view ?s. The respective cameras take a shot individually under automatic exposure control.

Abstract: A collaborative object analysis capability is depicted and described herein. The collaborative object analysis capability enables a group of cameras to collaboratively analyze an object, even when the object is in motion. The analysis of an object may include one or more of identification of the object, tracking of the object while the object is in motion, analysis of one or more characteristics of the object, and the like. In general, a camera is configured to discover the camera capability information for one or more neighboring cameras, and to generate, on the basis of such camera capability information, one or more actions to be performed by one or more neighboring cameras to facilitate object analysis. The collaborative object analysis capability also enables additional functions related to object analysis, such as alerting functions, archiving functions (e.g., storing captured video, object tracking information, object recognition information, and so on), and the like.

Abstract: A camera detects devices, such as other cameras, smart devices, and access points, with which the camera may communicate. The camera may alternate between operating as a wireless station and a wireless access point. The camera may connect to and receive credentials from a device for another device to which it is not connected. In one embodiment, the camera is configured to operate as a wireless access point, and is configured to receive credentials from a smart device operating as a wireless station. The camera may then transfer the credentials to additional cameras, each configured to operate as wireless stations. The camera and additional cameras may connect to a smart device directly or indirectly (for instance, through an access point), and the smart device may change the camera mode of the cameras. The initial modes of the cameras may be preserved and restored by the smart device upon disconnection.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and tracking multiple targets in a multi-camera surveillance zone and system thereof. In each camera view of the system only a simple object detection algorithm is needed. The detection results from multiple cameras are fused into a posterior distribution, named TDP, based on the Bayesian rule. This TDP distribution represents a likelihood of presence of some moving targets on the ground plane. To properly handle the tracking of multiple moving targets with time, a sample-based framework which combines Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC), and Mean-Shift Clustering, is provided. The detection and tracking accuracy is evaluated by both synthesized videos and real videos. The experimental results show that this method and system can accurately track a varying number of targets.

Abstract: Wearable systems with thermal imaging capabilities may be provided for detecting the presence and location of persons or animals in an environment surrounding the system in accordance with an embodiment. A wearable system may include a wearable structure such as a helmet with a plurality of imaging modules mounted to the wearable structure. An imaging module may include one or more imaging components such as infrared imaging modules and visible light cameras. Thermal images captured using the infrared imaging modules may be used to detect the presence of a person in the thermal images. The wearable imaging system may include one or more alert components that alert the wearer when a person is detected in the thermal images. The alert components may be used to generate a location-specific alert that alerts the wearer to the location of the detected person. A wearable imaging system may be a multidirectional threat monitoring helmet.

Abstract: Multiple cameras are operatively connected over a shared link to a video server on a video network. The cameras are operated to capture a plurality of video streams. Each video stream has intra-frames and predictive frames that are sequentially generated timewise apart. A number of the video streams that transmit over the shared link on the network is identified. A number of intra-frames that are generated substantially simultaneously in the identified video streams is also identified. The identified intra-frames in the video streams are offset in time to minimize video artifacts from being present in the video streams being transmitted over the shared link.

Abstract: In an image capture system having a first image capture apparatus and a second image capture apparatus, in a case where an analysis result of analysis processing on a captured image captured by the first image capture apparatus does not satisfy a predetermined condition, controls an imaging range of the second image capture apparatus so that the imaging range of the second image capture apparatus becomes wider than in a case where the analysis result satisfies the predetermined condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides the multimodality filtration surveillance comprising of a plurality of filtration stages executed at the backend server to confirm nature of anomaly in an event, the filtration stages comprising: a first filter of a video anomalies detection in the event for a specified time-place value, a second filter of a city soundscape adapted to provide a localized decibel maps of a city, a third filter of a geocoded social network adapted to semantically read and analyze data from one or more social media corresponding to the specified time-place value, and a fourth filter of an event triggered or proactive local participatory surveillance adapted to provide augmented information on the detected anomalies.

Abstract: There is provided a monitoring camera device including: an image taking section that performs photoelectrical conversion on a received light and generates an image signal; a picture processing section that generates picture data created by performing compression coding on the picture signal obtained by the image taking section; a communication processing section that receives and transmits data from and to equipment connected via a network; and a control section, the control section holding camera management information including information on the operational state of a self-owned device and a recording device used as a destination of picture data to record, recording device management information including information on a recording device connected to the network, and recorded content management information on recorded contents of picture data of the self-owned device, and controlling transmission of the recording device management information and recorded content management information with a predetermine

Abstract: A network device receives, from a first video camera system, position information for a first video camera at a first site and sends, to a second video camera system, position instructions for a second video camera at a second site. The position instructions are configured to locate the second video camera within the second site to correspond to a relative position of the first camera in the first site. The network device receives, from the first video camera system, a first video feed including images of the first site and receives, from the second video camera system, a second video feed including images of a subject of the second site. The network device combines the first video feed and the second video feed to generate a synchronized combined video feed that overlays the images of the subject of the second video feed in images of the first site.

Abstract: A method is provided for supplying to an operator a video stream from at least one of a plurality of cameras that capture images. This includes connecting the cameras and a computer to a network and recording the images from each camera into a corresponding buffer accessible to the computer. Upon detecting a triggering event associated with an event-recording camera, further operations include responding to the triggering event by depositing the images from an event-recording buffer corresponding to said event-recording camera as the video stream into a reviewable memory, and retrieving the video stream from the reviewable memory for the operator. The operator is preferably one of a commander using a command workstation, a lethal response operator using a lethal workstation, and a non-lethal response operator using a non-lethal workstation. Also preferably, each workstation is assigned as one of a primary brain and failover brains.

Abstract: Motion sensor data may be used to register a sequence of standard dynamic range images for producing a high dynamic range (HDR) image, reducing use of computational resources over software visual feature mapping techniques. A rotational motion sensor may produce information about orientation changes in the imaging device between images in the sequence of images sufficient to allow registration of the images, instead of using registration based on analysis of visual features of the images. If the imaging device has been moved laterally, then the motion sensor data may not be useful and visual feature mapping techniques may be employed to produce the HDR image.

Abstract: A system and method for creating special effects comprising capturing an image of an object or objects in motion from each of a plurality of cameras aligned in an array, assembling the images from each camera into a series of images in a manner providing a simulation of motion from a perspective along the array with respect to the object or objects within the images when a series of images is displayed in sequence, wherein certain object or objects appear substantially stationary in time during the simulation of motion.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a handheld user input device configured to emit a pointing signal and a selection signal from within a physical user space and directed at a display screen. The exemplary system further includes a spatial input subsystem configured to detect the pointing signal, determine a physical position within the physical user space based on the detected pointing signal, map the determined physical position within the physical user space to a cursor position on the display screen, output data representative of the cursor position for use by a display subsystem associated with the display screen, detect the selection signal, and output, in response to the selection signal, data representative of a selection command for use by the display subsystem. Corresponding systems, methods, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A real time system to both televise and stream sporting events from sports paraphernalia that are ordinarily used by the players on soccer playing fields, ice hockey rinks, tennis courts, baseball playing fields and football playing fields are disclosed. The sports paraphernalia are instrumented with a variety of TV cameras, microphones, and bi-directional communication electronics. Instrumented sports paraphernalia such as ice hockey goals, ice hockey pucks, soccer goals, tennis nets, tennis posts, baseball bases, baseball home plates, baseball pitcher's rubbers and footballs are disclosed. Instrumentation is built into and contained internally within some of the instrumented sports paraphernalia. Instrumentation is mounted and attached onto some of the sports paraphernalia. The instrumented sports paraphernalia can both televise signals to a TV viewing audience, and simultaneously stream onto the internet.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to monitoring a blind spot of a target monitoring area using at least one moving object. At least one moving object located near to a blind spot in a target monitoring area may be detected upon generation of a predetermined initiation event. The blind spot may be monitored using a monitoring device mounted on the detected at least one moving object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include a video-based analysis system that detects, tracks and archives vehicles in video stream data at multiple resolutions. The system includes an image capturing device that captures video stream data having video at a first high resolution. A vehicle detection module detects at least one vehicle within the video. A vehicle analysis module is configured to analyze the video and to extract one or more key vehicle features from the video to enable identification of a vehicle of interest (VOI) according to a set of predetermined criteria. A subsampling module creates a reduced resolution video stream in a second subsampled resolution that is lower than the first high resolution while maintaining the one or more extracted key features within the reduced resolution video stream in the first high resolution, and archives the reduced resolution video stream into a video database.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires virtual viewpoint information of a plurality of frames contained in a virtual viewpoint video, selects a camera for shooting an image to be used in generating an image at a virtual viewpoint in a frame from a plurality of cameras with respect to each of the plurality of the frames based on a positional relationship between the virtual viewpoint information of each frame and viewpoint information of the plurality of the cameras, and reselects the camera selected for each of the plurality of the frames.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a plurality of cameras and a plurality of beamsplitters, all of which are fixedly attached to a housing. Each camera can have an optical axis that extends from the camera, transmits or reflects from at least one beamsplitter, and extends toward a scene. The optical axes from the cameras can all be angularly displaced from each other, so that the cameras can collect light from different portions of the scene. The cameras can have nodal points that are all coincident, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, when the optical paths are unfolded. The portions of the scene collected by the cameras can be directly adjacent to one another or can overlap slightly. The imaging system includes software that can stitch together the portions of the scene. The imaging system can produce video images that have higher resolutions (e.g., more pixels) than the individual cameras.

Abstract: Failover system for video surveillance. A video coverage area for each camera in the system is calculated by combining sensory information and optical specifications of each corresponding camera. The video coverage area information is embedded in a corresponding file of each camera and is used to autonomously re-orient operating cameras to cover a failed coverage area due to a non-operating camera.

Abstract: A system and method to capture a plurality of images and store the captured images. The system has multiple camera systems capable of transmitting image data. At least one camera system is equipped with an apparatus for determining location coordinates such as GPS. A computer system monitors location coordinates, retrieves image data from the camera systems, and stores the image data into a file. A contiguous array of location coordinates is entered and the computer system locates camera systems within the contiguous array of location coordinates; retrieves image data from the located camera systems; and files the image data taken from each of the camera systems to obtain a file of image data. The system provides the ability to serially interleave frames or video captured from multiple sources.

Abstract: Zoom illumination system for use with closed circuit TV cameras in applications requiring long distance illumination, such as surveillance and night vision. The system includes multiple strings of LEDs, which may have additional lenses, with each LED string capable of providing illumination for a predetermined viewing angle. The LED strings can be switched on and off to provide illumination as desired.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to perform operations for racing entertainment, including providing each of multiple racers with a device to capture images and sounds as perceived by the racer during a race, obtaining information pertaining to each of multiple users such as account information and selection of a racer whom the user wants to got connection with, managing transactions, processing the images and sounds, and transmitting the processed images and sounds from the racer to a client terminal of the user who selected the racer. The present system and method may be configured to allow users to play a racing game based on the captured images and sounds by actual racers.

Abstract: A solution for monitoring an area for the presence of a flame and/or a leak, such as from a pressurized fluid, is provided. An imaging device can be used that acquires image data based on electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths only corresponding to at least one region of the electromagnetic spectrum in which electromagnetic radiation from an ambient light source is less than the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one type of flame for which the presence within the area is being monitored. An acoustic device can be used that is configured to acquire acoustic data for the area and enhance acoustic signals in a range of frequencies corresponding to a leak of a pressurized fluid present in the area.

Abstract: A system and corresponding components for providing a virtual video patrol functionality comprised of a plurality of sensor units and a monitoring station. The sensor units are preferably deployed in a configuration such that physically adjacent sensor units have overlapping fields of view. Each sensor unit is preferably configured to generate and transmit an alert to the monitoring station upon the detection of an event. The monitoring station may request video data from a specifically addressed sensor unit as well as additional sensor units with fields of view overlapping with the specifically addressed sensor unit. Requested video data from sensor units may be processed and combined using stitching algorithms. A user input device and display in the monitoring station allows virtual panning of the combined video image. The sensor units are preferably implemented as street light sensor units combined with a street light illumination source.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring real-world environments using a plurality of processor controlled Internet video cameras, scalable cloud computing technology, and various Internet connected smartphones and tablet computers. The system is designed to use cloud computing technology, including automated service provisioning, automated virtual machine migration services, RESTful API, and various firewall traversing methods to scale to up to millions of cameras and beyond. The integrity of the system is maintained by requiring that the various video cameras continually send “heartbeat” camera status messages to the cloud servers. The video cameras can optionally also be configured to automatically detect various events occurring in their local environments, report these events to clients, and stream event video data either directly or indirectly to the clients, or alternatively save the video data in various scalable third party cloud storage systems such as the Amazon S3 service.

Abstract: A method of providing video feeds from a plurality of cameras to a plurality of screens including determining a plurality of constraints on a centralized processor processing the video feeds, determining a camera semantic classification for each of the plurality of cameras, determining historical events captured by each of the plurality of cameras, and providing at least one video feed to at least one of the screens according to the plurality of constraints on the centralized processor, the camera semantic classifications and the historical events.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interface device (3) for video surveillance stations of the type comprising a video camera (1) and a positioning unit (2) for the video camera (1). The device (3) comprises a first port (403) for the connection to a remote terminal (4), a second port (503) for the connection to a video camera (1), a third port (603) for the connection to a positioning unit (2) for the video camera (1), and a microprocessor circuit (703) operatively connected to said three ports for transferring the commands received through the first port (403) to the second port (503) and/or to the third port (603).

Abstract: A tracking assistance device for assisting a monitoring person in tracking a moving object by displaying on a display device a monitoring screen in which display views for displaying in real time captured images taken by respective cameras are arranged on a map image representing a monitored area in accordance with an actual arrangement of the cameras, includes: a target-to-be-tracked setting unit that, in response to an input operation performed by the monitoring person on one of the display views to designate a moving object to be tracked, sets the designated moving object as a target to be tracked; a prediction unit that predicts a next display view in which the moving object set as the target to be tracked will appear next based on tracing information obtained by processing the captured images; and a display view indicating unit that indicates the next display view on the monitoring screen.

Abstract: An omnidirectional camera comprises two or more camera units, a camera assembly in which the two or more camera units are mounted, a heat shield cover to accommodate the camera assembly, a heat insulating member interposed between the camera assembly and the heat shield cover, a space formed between the camera assembly and the heat shield cover, a required number of slits formed in the heat shield cover and extending in up-and-down direction, and in the omnidirectional camera, the space communicates with an outside through the slit.

Abstract: A system for automatically determining the placement of cameras receives data relating to a plurality of polygons. T polygons represent one or more of a surveillance area, a non-surveillance area, a blank area, and an obstacle. The system selects one or more initial cameras, including one or more initial camera positions, initial camera orientations, and initial camera features, wherein the initial camera positions and the initial camera orientations cause one or more fields of view of the initial cameras to cover at least a part of the surveillance area. The system alters one or more of a number of cameras, an orientation of the cameras, a location of the cameras, a type of the cameras, and a crossover of two or more cameras. The system uses a fitness function to evaluate all of the cameras and all of the camera positions, and selects one or more cameras and the locations and orientations of the one or more cameras as a function of the fitness function.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location to be monitored; enabling communication between a sensor at the remote location and the user device; and crediting value to the user in accordance with an amount of time the user device has been in communication with the remote sensor for remote monitoring purposes. An alternate exemplary method includes measuring user attentiveness while the user device is in communication with the remote sensor. Thus, the disclosed system and method provide a way for users of a data network such as the Internet to log on at any time and perform remote monitoring tasks for value. Idle time can now be turned into value using the disclosed system and method.