Remote image monitoring method and system, and recording medium used for executing image monitoring

Claim 1

A remote image monitoring system for monitoring an object with use of a plurality of TV cameras, comprising: a camera control unit for selectively receiving an image signal of at least one of the TV cameras, compressing the image signal to a digital image, and transmitting the compressed digital image over the Internet; a monitoring computer for decoding the digital image sent over the Internet, displaying the decoded image on a display, and monitoring the object; and a monitor support apparatus for successively saving the digital images sent over the Internet and detecting a condition variation of a specific region from the saved digital images, wherein the monitor support apparatus includes a database apparatus for successively saving the digital images transmitted over the Internet; and an intelligent function apparatus for detecting the condition variation from a current latest image saved in the database apparatus and an immediately previous image, wherein the intelligent function apparatus includes movement vector calculation means for calculating movement vectors of the current latest image and the immediately previous image; suppress function means for determining whether the movement vectors vary due to an operation of the TV camera, and if not, outputting a detection instruction; virtual master image storage means for storing in advance a normal-state image of a region of the object; and condition variation detection means for detecting the condition variation of the specific region from the normal-state image stored in the storage means and one of the current latest image and the immediately previous image, when the detection instruction has been received.