Wireless network camera systems

1. A wireless camera capable of generating a video signal and comprising:

a first radio configured to transmit said video signal to a base station over a wireless channel using a first modulation scheme; and

a second radio (i) configured to operate with a low bandwidth and a second modulation scheme that reduces an average energy consumption of said wireless camera, and (ii) configured to receive a request message from said base station;

wherein said base station reserves said wireless channel by transmitting on said wireless channel;

wherein said first radio transmits at least a portion of said video signal to said base station at a known time in response to receiving said request message, and remains in a power down state until said base station reserves said wireless channel; and

wherein said wireless camera is powered at least in part by an environmental energy source.

2. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said environmental energy source is a solar cell.

3. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said base station is configured to process said video signal into a processed video signal, and wherein said base station includes a web server to transmit said processed video signal to a client.

4. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said first radio transmits using a spread spectrum modulation scheme.

5. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said wireless camera includes an internal battery, said internal battery being configured to be recharged by said environmental energy source.

6. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein a network connects said base station to a client.

7. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said first radio implements the physical layer of a communication standard.

8. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said first radio transmits using orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM).

9. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said first radio has a high-bandwidth for transmitting said video signal.

10. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said wireless camera continues to function when only said second radio is operating and when said first radio fails or is disabled.

11. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said second radio is configured to consume less than 4 mW of power while in constant operation.

12. The wireless camera of claim 1 , wherein said second radio is configured to operate in a polling mode.

13. The wireless camera of claim 12 , wherein a radio section of said second radio cycles from active to standby while in said polling mode.

14. A method for providing a video signal comprising the steps of:

generating said video signal using a wireless camera, said wireless camera having a first radio with a first modulation scheme and a second radio with a second modulation scheme, and said wireless camera being powered at least in part by an environmental energy source;

polling by using said second radio in a polling mode with a low bandwidth that reduces an average energy consumption of said wireless camera;

receiving a request message from a base station with said second radio, said request message indicating said base station has reserved a wireless channel by transmitting on said wireless channel;

maintaining said first radio in a power down state until receiving said request message; and

transmitting at least a portion of said video signal to said base station on said wireless channel at a known time using said first radio in response to receiving said request message.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of:

transmitting at least a segment of said video signal to a web server from said base station;

wherein said web server provides said segment of said video signal for remote viewing.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said environmental energy source is a solar cell.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first radio transmits using a spread spectrum modulation scheme.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein said wireless camera includes an internal battery, said internal battery being configured to be recharged by said environmental energy source.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein said base station is configured to process said video signal into a processed video signal, and wherein said base station includes a web server to transmit said processed video signal to a client.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein a network connects said base station to a client.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first radio implements the physical layer of a communication standard.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein a radio section of said second radio cycles from active to standby while in said polling mode.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first radio transmits using orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM).

24. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first radio has a high-bandwidth for transmitting said video signal.

25. A system for providing a video signal for remote viewing comprising:

a wireless camera configured to (i) generate a video signal, (ii) transmit said video signal on a wireless channel using a first radio with a first modulation scheme, and (iii) operate a second radio with a low bandwidth and a second modulation scheme that reduces an average energy consumption of said wireless camera; and

a base station configured to reserve said wireless channel by transmitting on said wireless channel, said base station being configured to transmit a request message to said wireless camera when said wireless channel has been reserved;

wherein said wireless camera is powered at least in part by an environmental energy source; and

wherein said wireless camera transmits at least a portion of said video signal on said wireless channel to said base station in response to receiving said request message.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein said first radio has a high-bandwidth for transmitting said video signal.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein said second radio is configured to operate in a polling mode.