Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network using the user account. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts. The presence of account information on the electronic device camera is then checked, and if none are found, it is determined that this is a first-time connection and information uniquely identifying the electronic device is sent to the website server so that the server can set-up the account information based on the electronic device information. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password.

Abstract: A wireless communications system for transmitting and receiving images and audio information includes a receiver including a display for displaying received images and a speaker for producing audio signals, a processing unit for storing ID code signals for decoding the received images and audio signals and receives an RF signal containing images and audio information. The receiver is responsive to the ID code signal for extracting the received image and audio signals of the images and the audio information from the RF signal. An electronic camera has an image sensor for capturing one or more images of a scene and producing image signals, and receives audio signals to produce audio information signals. A second processing unit is provided for encoding and then superimposing the image and audio signals onto an RF carrier, and transmits the RF carrier and superimposed signals.

Abstract: In observing images picked up by a plurality of cameras connected to a network in a surveillance camera system or the like, the conventional arrangement necessitates a client device to switch an image display obtained from one camera over to an image display obtained from another by a manual operation, which has been troublesome. To solve this problem, a camera control system is arranged to automatically switch an image display obtained from one camera over to an image display from another at suitable intervals. The camera control system is further arranged to automatically control the image pickup directions of each camera and, in the event of occurrence of an error in any of the cameras, to carry on its automatic control operation by skipping the camera at which the error has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an image captured by a video camera displays a window of the captured image, buttons displayed about the window for scrolling the image, and a sizing button displayed adjacent the window for enlarging/reducing the size of the window. If an operator wishes to pan, tilt or zoom the video camera, the operator manipulates the scroll buttons and sizing button for scrolling the image horizontally or vertically and sizing the window. The apparatus causes the camera to tilt or pan in accordance with the scrolling of the window by the scrolling operation and causes the camera to zoom in or out in accordance with the sizing operation. The apparatus is adapted to display an icon which is a miniature image of the image captured by the video camera. When this icon is selected, the application using the video camera is started. The icon is not displayed if the video camera is operating abnormally.