Method for automatic recognition in confidential recordings

Abstract

A method for recording videos of events in a defined space and save them under a limited viewing possibility that includes the steps of providing a camera, a computer, saving the videos in the computer under the limited viewing possibility so that each part of the videos is viewable upon a face recognition procedure that includes the steps of entering into the computer facial images and performing a face recognition matching check of the entered facial images against face images of persons that appear in the videos, and then enabling to view parts of the videos in which the entered facial images appears, and disabling to view other parts of the videos in which appears appear other persons than the entered facial images, or blurring or erasing images of the other persons than the entered facial images that appear in that parts.

Description

[0001] Method for automatic recognition in confidential recordings

[0002] Description

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention relates to a method for automatic identification in confidential recordings.

[0005] BACKGROUND ART

[0006] In many cases disputes arise as to the nature and the content of meetings that were held, mainly when such meetings were not recorded and were between two persons in private. The present invention provides a good solution for that.

[0007] LIST OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The intention of the drawings attached to the application is not to limit the scope of the invention and its application. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the invention and they constitute only one of its many possible implementations.

[0009] FIG. 1 schematically depicts the camera (200), the processor (400) and the computer system (300).

[0010] FIG. 2 schematically depicts the camera (200), the computer system (300), the defined space (100), the smartphone (500) and the server (600). THE INVENTION

[0011] The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for recording videos of events that take place in a defined space (100) and for saving the videos under a limited viewing possibility. The method includes the followings means and steps: (a) Provide a camera (200) for recording the videos of the events that take place in the defined space. The space in front of the camera that can be video-graphed by the camera is actually the defined space.

[0012] (b) Provide a computer system (300) for saving the videos.

[0013] (c) Save the videos in the computer system under the limited viewing possibility, such that each part of the saved videos is viewable upon a face recognition procedure. The face recognition procedure may include: entering into the computer system one or more facial images, performing in the computer system a face recognition matching check of the entered one or more facial images against face images of persons that appear in the saved videos, and enabling to view parts of the videos in which the entered one or more facial images match with face image of persons that appear in that parts of the saved videos.

[0014] The method enables the videography of the events in the defined space so that the persons that take place in these events feel relaxed by knowing that no one may view the parts of the videos in which they appear without their consent and presence, or at least that their images in such parts will be blurred or erased when viewed. The persons that take part in these events know that the recorded videos are kept in confidential manner, and only if there is a complaint or interest from one of the people who took part in the filmed event, and after facial recognition as mentioned, viewing those sections of the video in which that interested person appears is made up.

[0015] The method may further include the step of providing a processor (400) that is configured to: activate the camera every period of time for capturing an image or a short video of the defined space, execute an image processing of the captured image or video for detecting a presence of persons, and upon detection of a presence of at least two persons, activate the camera for recording the videos of that event in the defined space. This processor and this step are intended to create, for example, automatic operation of the camera, for example, in the event that another person enters a vehicle in which only the driver is inside it, or another person enters a room where one person is staying (from the belief that recording such videos when there is only one person in the defined space is not necessary).

[0016] It is also possible that the processor will be also configured to execute an updated image processing of an updated captured image or the video for detecting updated presence of persons in the defined space, and upon detection of a presence of less than two persons in said defined space (possible for a predetermined period of time), deactivate the camera. This step is intended to update the system and the camera when to turn it off, for example, when only one person is present in the defined space or there are no people in it at all.

[0017] The face recognition procedure may be performed by one person or more so that the computer system will enable him to view only parts of the videos in which he appears, alone or by blurring or erasing the other people if they do not take part in the face recognition procedure. In addition to that, the face recognition procedure may be performed by an authorized person or under a commission of the authorized person only, for example when such method is implemented in a space of work or a public space. The term face recognition may be applied also to body recognition. The method can be implemented using a camera, a processor and a computer system, with wired or wireless connections. The application can be, for example, in police cars to investigate complaints about criminal acts that can and have been committed in the police car by or against a police officer or policemen who were in the car, in the cars of driving instructors, ambulances, study rooms, medical treatment rooms, and in general in any space where it is useful to document the activity on the one hand, but on the other hand to give the people peace of mind that it will not be possible to freely view those parts in which they are video- graphed, and such view will only be with their consent and participation, or in special situations in which their image in the videos will be blurred or erased in such a way that they will not be recognized.

[0018] It is possible and preferable that the entering of the one or more facial images is taken in real time during performing the face recognition procedure. For example, a couple took a video according to the method, and if they want to watch the video, then they can together insert a photo of their face that was taken in that moment (like facial recognition on a smartphone) or when several people come to the authorized person in charge due to a complaint and their face photo is taken in the moment and enters into the computer for performing the face recognition check.

[0019] The method may be performed by a smartphone (500) and a server (600), in which the camera of the smartphone serves as the camera, the processing units of the smartphone serve as the processor, and entering of the one or more facial images into the computer system can be performed by the smartphone. Alternatively, the memory of the smartphone serves as the server and in this disclosure and in the claim the term server refers also to the memory of the smartphone itself. The option to view the parts of the videos in which the entered facial images match with the face image of the persons appear in that parts of these saved videos can be done in a way that images of other persons that appear in that parts of those videos are blurred or erased in these viewable parts.

[0020] The camera or the computer system may provide an alert when a new person is detected in the defined area while recording the videos, the camera or the computer system may provide an alert when starting the recordation and when ending the recordation of the videos.

[0021] We would like to stress that it is possible that the method will able to view parts of the saved videos in which the entered one or more facial images appear and disable to view other parts of the videos in which appear other persons than the entered one or more facial images. So that in the parts in which appear three persons and entered only two facial images this part will be blocked with no option to be viewed. Alternatively, the method will be able to view parts of the saved videos in which the entered one or more facial images appear, and blurring or erasing images of other persons than the entered one or more facial images that appear in that parts. So that in the parts in which appear three persons and entered only two facial images this part will be viewed when the image of the other person will be blurred or erased.

[0022] Figure 1 schematically depicts the camera (200), the processor (400) and the computer system (300). Figure 2 schematically depicts the camera (200), the computer system (300), the defined space (100), the smartphone (500) and the server.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A method for recording videos of events that take place in a defined space and for saving the videos under a first limited viewing possibility, the method comprising:(a) providing a camera for recording the videos of the events that take place in the defined space;(b) providing a computer system for saving the videos,(c) saving the videos in the computer system under the first limited viewing possibility such that each part of the saved videos is viewable upon a face recognition procedure that comprises:(i) entering into the computer system one or more facial images,(ii) performing in the computer system a face recognition matching check of the entered one or more facial images against face images of persons that appear in the saved videos,(d) enabling to view parts of said saved videos in which the entered one or more facial images appear, and(e) disabling to view other parts of said videos in which appear other persons than said entered one or more facial images.

2. A method for recording videos of events that take place in a defined space and for saving the videos under a first limited viewing possibility, the method comprising:(a) providing a camera for recording the videos of the events that take place in the defined space;(b) providing a computer system for saving the videos,(c) saving the videos in the computer system under the first limited viewing possibility such that each part of the saved videos is viewable upon a face recognition procedure that comprises:(i) entering into the computer system one or more facial images,(ii) performing in the computer system a face recognition matching check of the entered one or more facial images against face images of persons that appear in the saved videos,(d) enabling to view parts of said saved videos in which the entered one or more facial images appear, and blurring or erasing images of other persons than the entered one or more facial images that appear in said parts.

3. The method of claims 1 or 2 that further comprises: providing a processor that is configured to:(i) activate said camera every period of time for capturing an image or a video of said defined space,(ii) execute an image processing of the captured image or video for detecting a presence of persons, and(iii) upon detection of a presence of at least two persons, activate the camera for recording said videos of said events in the defined space.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said processor is further configured to:(iv) execute an updated image processing of an updated captured image or said video every period of time for detecting an updated presence of persons in said defined space, and(v) deactivate the camera upon detection of a presence of less than two persons in said defined space.

5. The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said face recognition procedure is performed by an authorized person or under a commission of the authorized person.

6. The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said entered one or more facial images are taken in real time during performing the face recognition procedure.

7. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein:(a) a camera of a smartphone serves as said camera,(b) a processing unit of the smartphone serves as said processor, and(c) said entering of said one or more facial images into said computer system is designed to be performed by the smartphone.

8. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein said camera or said computer system provides an alert when a new person is detected in the defined area while recording the videos.

9. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein said camera or said computer system provides an alert when starting said recordation and when ending said recordation.

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