Automatic watching system

Abstract

There is provided a monitoring system for remotely monitoring an item, the monitoring system including a recording device for recording a visual record of the item, a communicator for communicating the visual record, and a security device for controlling access to the monitoring system. Also provided is a method of remotely monitoring an item by recording a digital image of the item, communicating the digital image of the item through a communication system, and accessing the digital image using a secured access device.

1 . A monitoring system for remotely monitoring an inanimate item, said monitoring system comprising: 
 recording means for recording at least one visual image of an inanimate item;    communicating means in communication with said recording means, said communicating means is used for communicating the visual record; and    security means operatively connected to said communicating means, wherein said security means is used for controlling access to the monitoring system.    
     
     
         2 . The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein said recording means includes recording a separate image of an identifier prior to recording the visual image of the inanimate item.  
     
     
         3 . The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein said recording means includes recording a separate image of an identifier after recording the visual image of the inanimate item.  
     
     
         4 . A monitoring system for remotely monitoring an inanimate item, said monitoring system comprising: 
 communicating means for communicating at least one visual image of an inanimate item; and    security means operatively connected to said communicating means, wherein said security means is used for controlling access to the monitoring system.    
     
     
         5 . The monitoring system according to  claim 4 , wherein said recording means includes recording a separate image of an identifier prior to recording the visual image of the inanimate item.  
     
     
         6 . The monitoring system according to  claim 4 , wherein said recording means includes recording a separate image of an identifier after recording the visual image of the inanimate item.