A system and method for remotely controlling one or more monitoring
devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more
productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The
monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as
a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital
camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated
digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate
the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency
help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the
monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate
response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better
monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the
need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the
emergency situation. Further, the emergency service provider may obtain a
better picture of the emergency and its impact by controlling appropriate
monitoring devices available in the user's vicinity. The remote
activation and control of a monitoring device may be accomplished via the
Internet.