Image Alteration Algorithm for Online Privacy Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to effectively protect personal identities and geographic locations from automatic recognition in image data processing, especially in online sharing, as they either lack convenience or effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for graphic data alteration that uses an alteration algorithm to obscure identities and locations in images while preserving aesthetic quality, involving user input and feedback to control the alteration process, and employing a heuristic aesthetic quality measuring algorithm to ensure the image remains recognizable only below a defined confidence level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image data is processed to protect personal identities and geographic locations from automatic recognition, then online privacy is enhanced, but the image may become unrecognizable or lose aesthetic quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing techniques to different regions of the image. Facial recognition protection selectively modifies facial features while leaving other image regions unchanged. Geographic location protection applies blurring or pixelation specifically to identifiable location markers. This localized approach ensures privacy protection is applied only where necessary, preserving overall aesthetic quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts processing parameters dynamically based on the specific image content and protection requirements. For facial recognition, it modifies parameters such as feature point coordinates, landmark positions, and facial attribute values. For geographic locations, it adjusts blurring intensity and pixelation density. These parameter changes are optimized to provide adequate protection while minimizing visual degradation.
2Reliability
If strong alteration algorithms are used to obscure identities and locations, then privacy protection is improved, but the image quality and recognizability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively protecting only the elements that require privacy protection (faces, identifiable location markers) rather than applying uniform strong alteration to the entire image. The protection intensity is calibrated to be sufficient for privacy purposes without excessive modification that would degrade overall image quality. For example, facial features are modified just enough to prevent recognition while maintaining natural appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of protection algorithms and adjust processing intensity accordingly. It assesses whether identities and locations are adequately obscured while monitoring image quality metrics. This feedback loop allows optimization of protection strength to achieve the minimum necessary alteration for privacy protection while preserving image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer alters at least one recognizable metric or text in a digitally encoded photographic image by operating an alteration algorithm in response to user input data while preserving an overall aesthetic quality of the image and obscuring an identity of at least one individual or geographic location appearing in the image. An altered digitally-encoded photographic image prepared by the altering of the at least one recognizable metric or text in the image is stored in a computer memory. User feedback and/or automatic analysis may be performed to define parameter values of the alteration algorithm such that the alteration process achieves preservation of aesthetic qualities while obscuring an identity of interest.