Picture-transmitting remote object inspection system

An image transmitting remote object examination device comprising:

• (a) an image recording system disposed at a location of an object to be examined;
• (b) an observation station located at a distance from the image recording system, the observation station capable of evaluating the image and remotely controlling the image recording system, the observation station comprising a mechanism for generating and displaying intermediate images between successively transmitted, partially overlapping individual images;
• (c) a narrow-band telecommunications link interposed between the image recording system and the observation station, whereby images recorded at the image recording system are transmitted to the observation station by the narrow band telecommunications link using at least one of image data compression and image data reduction, the narrow band telecommunications link also transmitting remote control signals to the image recording system;
• and
• (d) an automated system status determining unit for continuously supervising the automated management of image transmission, and as a function of determined system status, including availability of system resources, variably and automatically controlling at least one of the image data compression, the image data reduction and the number of individual telecommunication channels employed in the transmission of the image data.

An image transmitting remote object examination device comprising:

• (a) an image recording system disposed at a location of an object to be examined;
• (b) an observation station located at a distance from the image recording system, the observation station capable of evaluating the image and remotely controlling the image recording system;
• (c) a narrow-band telecommunications link interposed between the image recording system and the observation station, whereby images recorded at the image recording system are transmitted to the observation station by the narrow band telecommunications link using at least one of image data compression and image data reduction, the narrow band telecommunications link also transmitting remote control signals to the image recording system;
• (d) an automated system status determining unit for continuously supervising the automated management of image transmission, and as a function of determined system status, including availability of system resources, variably and automatically controlling at least one of the image data compression, the image data reduction and the number of individual telecommunication channels employed in the transmission of the image data;
• and
• (e) a display capable of representing an overall image of an object in which the current viewing field and optionally the areas of the object already examined are represented as respective marker areas.

An image transmitting remote object examination device comprising;

• (a) an image recording system disposed at a location of an object to be examined;
• (b) an observation station located at a distance from the image recording system, the observation station capable of evaluating the image and remotely controlling the image recording system, the observation station having a storage mechanism for archiving data for transmitted images;
• (c) a narrow-band telecommunications link interposed between the image recording system and the observation station, whereby images recorded at the image recording system are transmitted to the observation station by the narrow band telecommunications link using at least one of image data compression and image data reduction, the narrow band telecommunications link also transmitting remote control signals to the image recording system;
• (d) an automated system status determining unit for continuously supervising the automated management of image transmission, and as a function of determined system status, including availability of system resources, variably and automatically controlling at least one of the image data compression, the image data reduction and the number of individual telecommunication channels employed in the transmission of the image data;
• wherein the system is capable of automatically adjusting current images on the basis of archived data.