Distance-Based Image Redaction for Surveillance Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camera surveillance systems require manual selection of redaction zones, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, often inadvertently redacting areas of interest.
Innovation Solution
An electronic computing device measures the distance of camera pixels to respective regions within the field of view and automatically redacts pixels based on user-defined distance criteria, allowing for precise control over what is recorded or transmitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual redaction is used, then user control over redaction zones is maintained, but time consumption and error rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs redaction automatically based on distance criteria without requiring manual selection of redaction zones. The camera system itself identifies and redacts pixels corresponding to regions beyond the defined distance threshold, eliminating the need for operator intervention while maintaining control through configurable parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures distance criteria and redaction thresholds before operation. By establishing these parameters in advance, the system can execute redaction automatically without requiring real-time manual input, thus reducing time consumption while maintaining user control through pre-set conditions.
2Ease of operation
If manual redaction is used, then user control over redaction zones is maintained, but redaction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical selection of redaction zones with an automated computational system. The system uses distance measurement algorithms and pixel-based processing to automatically identify and redact regions, eliminating human error in zone selection while maintaining precision through mathematical criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines which pixels require redaction based on their distance from the camera, eliminating the need for manual marking. This self-service approach ensures consistent and accurate redaction boundaries defined by the distance threshold, improving precision over manual methods.
3Productivity
If automatic redaction based on distance criteria is used, then redaction efficiency and accuracy are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the image into individual pixels and processes each pixel based on its distance from the camera. By segmenting the redaction task at the pixel level and applying uniform distance-based criteria, the system achieves automated efficient redaction without requiring complex algorithms or multiple processing stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a single configurable parameter (distance threshold) to control the redaction process. By changing this parameter, users can adapt the system to different redaction needs without modifying the underlying algorithm, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving high efficiency and accuracy through parameter adjustment rather than system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A process for redacting an image. In operation, an electronic computing device receives an image captured by a camera corresponding to a field of view of the camera. The image contains a plurality of pixels and each pixel in the plurality of pixels capturing a respective region in a plurality of regions of the field of view of the camera. The electronic computing device measures a distance from the camera to each respective region in the plurality of regions of the field of view of the camera. The electronic computing device redacts at least one pixel in the plurality of pixels contained in the image as a function of the distance measured from the camera to a respective region captured in the at least one pixel.