Camera FOV Adjustment for Privacy Compliance
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera installation methods do not adequately address national privacy regulations, failing to ensure privacy protection during image capture, which can lead to non-compliance and installation restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A camera system that estimates the size of objects in the video stream and provides an edge-filtered version to secure privacy, generates alerts for re-installation when privacy is at risk, and disables the video stream transmission when privacy thresholds are exceeded, using edge filters and privacy masks to anonymize objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera captures images with high resolution to ensure clear monitoring, then the image quality is improved, but privacy of objects in the scene is at risk of being revealed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels to different regions of the image. Objects detected in the scene are subjected to privacy masking (blurring or pixelation) while other regions maintain full resolution. This allows the camera to provide clear monitoring of the environment while protecting the privacy of specific objects, resolving the contradiction between image quality and privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs object detection and privacy masking in real-time during image capture. By detecting objects and applying privacy protection measures before the image is fully processed or stored, the system prevents privacy breaches from occurring in the first place, while maintaining the ability to provide high-quality images for monitoring purposes.
2Measurement precision
If the camera is installed closer to the scene to capture more detail, then the measurement precision is improved, but the privacy of objects is compromised due to larger object size in the video stream
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains high resolution for monitoring purposes while applying localized privacy masking to regions containing detected objects. This allows the camera to be installed at optimal positions for detection accuracy without compromising privacy, as the privacy protection is applied selectively to object regions rather than requiring distance-based mitigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses real-time object detection feedback to dynamically adjust privacy masking parameters. The system continuously monitors the scene, detects objects, and adjusts the extent of privacy masking based on object size, position, and type. This feedback mechanism allows the camera to operate at optimal installation positions while adaptively protecting privacy.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If edge filtering is applied to anonymize objects, then privacy protection is improved, but the loss of information about object details increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies privacy masking (edge filtering, blurring, or pixelation) only to specific regions containing detected objects, while leaving the rest of the image in full resolution. This selective application minimizes information loss by preserving detailed information in non-sensitive regions while providing adequate privacy protection in object regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies privacy masking with varying degrees of intensity based on the specific privacy risk and object characteristics. Rather than uniformly applying strong masking to all objects, the system adjusts the masking strength to provide sufficient privacy protection while minimizing unnecessary information loss, particularly for objects where some detail may still be acceptable.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a camera (108) and a method therein for facilitating installation of the camera. The method comprises capturing a video stream of a scene (102) when the camera is installed with a first FOV, which scene comprises an object (104). A size in the video stream of at least one part of the object is estimated. As long as the estimated size is above a first threshold and below a second threshold, providing a first, edge-filtered, version of the video stream to secure privacy of the object. In response to the estimated size being above the second threshold indicating that the privacy is at risk of being revealed, entering an enhanced secure privacy mode comprising generating an alert to prompt an installer to re-install the camera with a second FOV different from the first FOV, and disabling provision of the first, edge-filtered, version of the video stream.