Live2Phone is a video streaming application developed following a client-server model. Live2Phone Server is the central component of the system. It is installed on a personal computer equipped with video capture devices. Usually the video capture devices are USB cameras, but any other Direct Show compatible device can be used, for example TV tuners.

Live2Phone version 4.1 supports several client applications on different platforms: Live2Phone for S60 running on Symbian S60 3rd Edition devices, Live2Phone for Java running on MIDP 2.0, CLDC 1.0 Java enabled phones, Live2Phone for desktop running on Windows XP, 2000, Vista. Video images are streamed live from Live2Phone Server to any of the above client applications.

The system includes advanced features such as: motion detection, full time 7/24 surveillance (on server DVR), support for multiple cameras, support for multiple surveillance sites. We have designed the streaming algorithm such to obtain good frame rates even over narrow bandwidth Internet connections. Generally on mobile phones the cost of Internet traffic is high, but the system does consumes only about 8KB/second at a frame rate of 4-6 frames/second, resulting in very low operation costs.

The system has applications in many sectors, for small business: supervising manufacturing process, monitoring commercial buildings, supervising offices. Also it can be used in home surveillance or for entertainment. If a TV tuner is used as capture device then TV channels can be watched on the phone1.

• support for multiple cameras

• support for multiple surveillance sites

• full time surveillance (7days/24 hours recording)

• alarm triggered by motion detection

• streaming relay service for dynamic IP or through-out firewall connections

• low bandwidth consumption

• full Internet connection (Internet GPRS, 3G, WiFi) available on the mobile phone

• personal computer connected to Internet running Windows XP, 2000 or Vista

• video capture device compatible with Microsoft Direct Show (USB webcam, TV tuner, digital camera)