Image Capturing Device Security via Feature Value Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital cameras integrated into electronic devices connected to the Internet are vulnerable to hacking, compromising user privacy and security as hackers can remotely access and steal images.

Innovation Solution

An image capturing device with an image sensing unit, a determination unit, and an output unit that captures test images at different time points, calculates image feature values, and determines whether to output images based on these values, thereby controlling access and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If images are directly output from the image capturing device, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security of image data deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity of image data

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by capturing test images and calculating image feature values before allowing actual image output. This preliminary check ensures that only authenticated users can access and output images, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security by embedding security verification in advance of the actual image output operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If image authentication is implemented by capturing test images and calculating feature values, then the security of image data is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of image dataVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing device performs multiple functions using the same hardware components: it captures both normal images and test images, calculates image feature values for authentication, and controls image output based on authentication results. This multi-functionality approach improves security without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If image authentication is implemented by capturing test images and calculating feature values, then the security of image data is improved, but the productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of image dataVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs authentication using only essential image feature values rather than complete image analysis. By selecting and calculating only the necessary feature values required for authentication, the system achieves adequate security verification while minimizing the time and computational resources consumed, thus reducing the impact on productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10306138B2Image output method and image capturing device

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 ACER INC

AI summary

An image output method for an image capturing device includes capturing a first test image at a first time point and a second test image at a second time point, calculating a first image feature value of the first test image and a second image feature value of the second test image, and determining whether to output images generated by the image capturing device according to the first image feature value of the first test image and the second image feature value of the second test image.