Integrated internet camera system and method

Abstract

An Internet direct device comprises an imaging system to capture at least one of audio, still images and video images, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor transmits at least one of the captured audio, the captured still images and the captured video images to a website archive and review center and/or another Internet direct device upon image capture over a communications network. The Internet direct device excludes a personal computer and automatically connects to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection. The Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the communications network is unavailable.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An Internet direct device comprising an imaging system to capture audio, still images or video images; a processor to transmit the captured audio, still images or video images to another Internet direct device upon image capture, and receive audio, still images or video images from the other Internet direct device over a communications network; the Internet direct device excludes a personal computer; and wherein the Internet direct device automatically connects to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection, and wherein the Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable. 
     
     
         29 . The Internet direct device of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of available modes of connection is selected from a group consisting of: a land line, DSL, cable, satellite, wireless network, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Max. 
     
     
         30 . The Internet direct device of  claim 28 , further comprising a display for displaying still or video images. 
     
     
         31 . The Internet direct device of  claim 30 , wherein the display comprises a touch pad for entering texts. 
     
     
         32 . The Internet direct device of  claim 28 , further comprising a web browser. 
     
     
         33 . The Internet direct device of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is configured to download live or recorded audio, still images or video images from a website using the web browser over the communications network. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising a memory to locally store at least one the received audio, the received still images and the received video images when the connection to the communications network is unavailable, and transmitting the stored audio, the stored still images and the stored video images to the other Internet direct device by the processor when the connection to the communications network is re-established. 
     
     
         35 . A method for transmitting at least one of audio, still images and video images by an Internet direct device associated with a user over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of: automatically connecting the Internet direct device to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection; receiving at least one of audio, still images and video images by the Internet direct device; automatically switching to another available mode of connection by a processor when the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable; and wherein the Internet direct device excludes a personal computer. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of automatically switching comprises the step of switching to one of the following available modes of connection: a land line, DSL, cable, satellite, wireless network, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Max. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the steps of locally storing at least one the received audio, the received still images and the received video images in a storage device of the Internet direct device by the processor when the connection to the communications network is unavailable, and transmitting the stored audio, the stored still images and the stored video images to the website by the processor when the connection to the communications network is re-established. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of accessing the Internet using a web browser of the Internet direct device over the communications network. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of transmitting at least one of audio, still images and video images to and from other Internet direct devices by the processor of the Internet direct device associated with the user over the communications network. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of downloading live or recorded audio or video images from a website using a web browser over said communications network. 
     
     
         41 . A non-transitory storage medium comprising a program for transmitting at least one of audio, still images and video images over a communications network when executed by an Internet direct device associated with a user to cause the Internet direct device to: automatically connect to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection; receive at least one of audio, still images and video images by the Internet direct device; automatically switch to another available mode of connection by the microprocessor when the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable; and wherein the Internet direct device excludes a personal computer. 
     
     
         42 . The storage medium of  claim 41 , the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to locally store the received still or video images in a storage device when the connection to said communications network is unavailable, and transmits the stored still or video images and audio to said website when the connection to said communications network is re-established. 
     
     
         43 . The storage medium of  claim 41 , the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to automatically switch to one of the following available modes of connection: a land line, DSL, cable, satellite, wireless network, cellular, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Max. 
     
     
         44 . The storage medium of  claim 41 , the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to transmit and receive at least one of audio, still images and video images to and from other Internet direct devices over said communications network. 
     
     
         45 . The storage medium of  claim 41 , the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to access the Internet using a web browser over the communications network. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , the program when executed causes the Internet direct device to download live or recorded audio or video images from a website using a web browser over said communications network.