Game Image Display Control for Camera Privacy Restrictions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing game processing systems using camera images often result in unintended situations due to unrestricted display of captured images, which can be undesirable, particularly for minors or private content.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where terminals within a common group can set restrictions on the display of camera images captured by other terminals, determining the manner of display based on user-defined settings and information, and generating game images that incorporate or exclude these images as needed, using flags to indicate camera usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If camera images captured by terminals are unrestrictedly displayed in game processing, then communication and engagement are promoted, but unintended situations occur such as privacy violations and inappropriate content exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidunintended display situation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining user settings before game processing occurs. The terminal acquires restriction settings that specify whether camera images from other terminals should be displayed, and this setting is stored and referenced during subsequent game processing to determine display behavior in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by determining the manner of display based on the acquired setting and information from the other terminal. The display behavior is adjusted according to the restriction setting obtained from the user, creating a closed-loop control that prevents unintended situations while maintaining communication functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If restriction settings are implemented to control camera image display, then privacy and unintended situations are suppressed, but system complexity increases due to additional setting acquisition and determination processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunintended display situationVSAvoidsetting acquisition and determination process
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The setting acquisition unit and manner of display determination unit serve multiple functions: they control not only camera image display restrictions but also determine various display manners including blurring, masking, or complete non-display based on the restriction setting. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary approach by using a setting parameter as a mediator between the user's privacy requirements and the game processing system. This setting parameter simplifies the interaction by providing a single control point that triggers appropriate display behaviors without requiring complex direct control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If camera images are used to generate game images, then communication engagement is enhanced, but control over whether images are displayed is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication engagementVSAvoiduser control over image display
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by obtaining restriction settings from the user before game processing. This advance acquisition of user preferences ensures that control over image display is established beforehand, allowing the system to automatically adjust display behavior without requiring real-time user intervention during game play

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically determining the manner of display based on the acquired restriction setting and terminal information. Once the setting is obtained, the system autonomously manages camera image display decisions without requiring continuous user input, maintaining ease of operation while preserving user control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4691584A1Information processing method, information processing system, terminal, and program
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP4691584A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4691584A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4691584A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing method includes performing data communication among a plurality of terminals belonging to a common group, the plurality of terminals including a first terminal and a second terminal, obtaining a camera image captured by a camera corresponding to at least one terminal belonging to the common group, setting at the second terminal in accordance with a user operation, restriction on display of the camera image captured by a camera corresponding to at least a terminal other than the second terminal, performing game processing in accordance with a user operation at the first terminal and outputting a first game image and first information, and determining a manner of display of the first game image at the second terminal based on the setting of restriction on display and the first information.