Dynamic Re-Identification Code Transformation for Privacy-Preserving Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing re-identification systems face challenges in tracking individuals across non-overlapping camera views and maintaining privacy, as traditional methods rely on consistent re-identification codes that can lead to retroactive identification and require stringent security measures for storage and transmission.
Innovation Solution
The proposed evaluation device generates transformed re-identification codes using a similarity-preserving transformation function that changes over time and location, allowing for anonymous tracking while maintaining the ability to match codes across different times and locations, thus preventing retroactive identification and reducing security requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If consistent re-identification codes are used across time and locations, then tracking accuracy is improved, but privacy security deteriorates due to retroactive identification risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transformation function time-varying and location-varying. The transformation function changes over time and across different locations, allowing re-identification codes to be dynamically adapted while maintaining their ability to represent the same person across different contexts. This resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate tracking through consistent person representation while preventing retroactive identification through temporal and spatial variability in the transformation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the transformation function based on time and location. By modifying the transformation function's parameters dynamically according to when and where the re-identification code is generated, the system maintains tracking accuracy (same person gets similar codes) while ensuring privacy security (codes cannot be retroactively linked across different time-location contexts).
2Object-affected harmful factors
If strongly guarded and closed systems are used to store and transmit re-identification codes, then privacy security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transformation function as an intermediary between the original re-identification code and its storage/transmission form. This transformation function acts as a mediator that converts codes into a form that can be stored and transmitted in less secure environments. The transformation function itself becomes the security mechanism, eliminating the need for strongly guarded closed systems while maintaining privacy security.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If transformed re-identification codes are used with changing transformation functions, then privacy security is improved, but matching accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transformation function is designed to be dynamic (time-varying and location-varying) while preserving the similarity property. When the same person is captured at different times and locations, the transformation function applies consistent transformation rules for that person, ensuring their codes remain matchable. The dynamics occur at the system level (different functions for different time-location contexts), not at the individual matching level, thus maintaining accuracy while improving security.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples relate to an evaluation device for re-identification and to a corresponding method, system and computer program. The evaluation device comprises processing circuitry being configured to obtain a plurality of transformed re-identification codes, each transformed re-identification code being associated with a timestamp and location information. Each transformed re-identification code is based on a similarity-preserving transformation of a re-identification code that represents at least a portion of a sample of media data, the media data originating from two or more different sources located in two or more different locations. The processing circuitry is configured to match transformed re-identification codes among the plurality of transformed re-identification codes using a similarity metric to generate one or more tuples of transformed re-identification codes that are similar according to the similarity metric. The processing circuitry is configured to determine one or more sequences of locations associated with the transformed re-identification codes of the one or more tuples of transformed re-identification codes based on the timestamps and location information associated with the transformed re-identification codes of the respective tuple. The processing circuitry is configured to provide information on the one or more sequences of locations.