3D Position Estimation for Privacy Protection in Multi-Camera Surveillance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surveillance camera systems fail to accurately distinguish between individuals to be surveilled and others to protect privacy, often mistakenly recognizing normal conditions as abnormal, leading to unintended exposure of private individuals.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that estimates three-dimensional positions of specific objects using multiple cameras, extracts areas within and outside a predetermined three-dimensional space, specifies overlapping areas, and applies image processing to protect the privacy of individuals by making non-target objects transparent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image processing is applied to protect privacy of all detected persons, then privacy protection is improved, but false positives occur when normal conditions are mistakenly recognized as abnormal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional image processing to three-dimensional spatial analysis by estimating 3D positions of detected persons. This dimensional change enables accurate distinction between persons inside and outside the surveillance area, resolving the contradiction by providing spatial context that prevents false positives while maintaining privacy protection for legitimate targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different image processing treatments to different spatial regions: persons within the predetermined 3D area undergo privacy protection processing, while persons outside the area are not processed. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring privacy protection is applied only where appropriate, avoiding false positives for normal conditions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to estimate three-dimensional positions, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cameras serve dual functions: they capture images for normal surveillance purposes and simultaneously provide data for three-dimensional position estimation. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the additional hardware contribute to both primary surveillance operations and the specialized task of accurate spatial positioning for privacy protection.
3Measurement precision
If three-dimensional area extraction is performed to distinguish specific objects, then privacy protection precision is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary extraction of the predetermined three-dimensional area and classification of persons as inside or outside the surveillance zone before applying image processing. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by organizing spatial information in advance, enabling rapid determination of which persons require privacy protection processing without time-consuming analysis during the actual image processing stage.
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, based on a plurality of images respectively captured by a plurality of cameras, an image processing apparatus estimates three-dimensional positions of specific objects in the images. The image processing apparatus extracts a first area and second area in the images based on the estimated three-dimensional positions of the specific objects. The first area includes specific objects within a predetermined three-dimensional area, while the second area includes specific objects outside of the three-dimensional area. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus specifies an overlapping area of the first area and second area. Then, the image processing apparatus carries out image processing on the first area including the overlapping area.