A system for transferring real time video information from a source device to
one
of a plurality of output devices includes an image capturing device for acquiring
video information, the image capturing device comprising a processor, a graphics
module coupled to the processor, a browsing device coupled to the processor, a
packetizing portion coupled to the processor, the packetizing portion being adapted
to convert the video information into a packetized stream of information, the packetized
stream of information being in a first format, and an output device coupled to
the processor for transferring the packetized stream of information to a network,
a network gateway coupled to the image capturing device through the network, the
network gateway being coupled to a worldwide network of computers, the network
gateway comprising a gateway transcoding device for converting the packetized stream
of information from the first format to a second format, the network gateway also
comprising a packetizing portion for transferring the packetized stream of information
in the second format to the network, and a display device coupled to the network
gateway through the world wide network of computers, the display device comprising
a display device for converting the packetized stream of information into video
information for display, the display device also comprising a display for displaying
the video information on the display device.