Commandable covert surveillance system

A general purpose surveillance system for remote surveillance applications. The system is comprised of one or more audio (e.g., microphone) or video (e.g., camera) surveillance devices that are wirelessly coupled with triggering devices. The system is capable of transmitting audio, video and still pictures via wireless transmission links. The wireless transmission links can be radio frequency (RF) links such as satellite up/down links and commercial cellular networks. Or, the wireless transmission links can be direct line of sight wireless communications such as infrared (IR). The system can be triggered to transmit audio and/or video data either remotely or internally. A variety of sensor types, including but not limited to, infrared sensors, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, magnetic sensors, or electric field sensors can act as a triggering mechanism.