Camera Privacy Protection with ROM-Stored Hardware Algorithms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image privacy protection methods are vulnerable to data leaks and manipulation by malicious third parties due to reliance on software-based desensitization, which can be easily bypassed, necessitating a more robust hardware-level solution.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with integrated modules for image acquisition, parameter storage, access control, and post-processing, utilizing hardware-level privacy protection algorithms and parameters stored in a non-modifiable ROM, ensuring secure image generation and transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software-based desensitization processing is used to protect image privacy, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because malicious third parties can bypass the protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing system into distinct functional modules: an image acquisition module that captures raw images, a privacy protection module that applies desensitization processing, and an output module that displays processed images. This segmentation isolates the privacy protection function within a dedicated hardware module, preventing external manipulation while maintaining ease of operation through automated processing pipelines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated privacy protection module as an intermediary between the image acquisition module and the output module. This intermediary hardware module receives raw images, applies desensitization processing using protected algorithms, and outputs processed images. The intermediary structure prevents direct access to raw images and processing algorithms by external systems, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated workflows.
2Reliability
If hardware-level privacy protection is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the privacy protection functionality into the camera module itself, combining image acquisition, privacy protection processing, and output capabilities into an integrated hardware system. This merging eliminates the need for separate software layers and external processing systems, improving reliability through hardware-level protection while managing device complexity through unified modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The privacy protection module is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing various desensitization processing operations (such as blurring, pixelation, or masking) on different types of sensitive content. This universal design allows a single hardware module to handle diverse privacy protection requirements, improving reliability across multiple applications while avoiding the complexity of multiple specialized modules.
3Reliability
If data transmission links are reduced, then reliability is improved by preventing leaks, but loss of information increases due to earlier processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies privacy protection processing as a preliminary action within the hardware module, before images are transmitted to external systems. The desensitization processing is performed on sensitive content during the image capture phase, ensuring that only processed images are transmitted. This preliminary action reduces the need for subsequent data transmission and processing steps, improving reliability by minimizing exposure points while managing information loss through controlled processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera with a privacy protection function and a camera privacy protection method therefor are provided, which relates to the field of image privacy protection. The camera includes an image acquisition module, a parameter storage module, an access control module, and an image post-processing module. An objective of the privacy protection method of the camera is to enable an image shot by the camera to naturally have a privacy protection capability to resist sniffing of a malicious third party to personal privacy, which includes, but is not limited to, face recognition. A system deeply participates in a generation process of an image from a plurality of levels, which can affect various procedures including image signal processing, image color adjustment, and an image encoding process, and provide a platform for the development and application of underlying privacy protection algorithms.