Digital Image Segmentation for Privacy-Preserving Behavioral Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a risk that digital images or videos captured by cameras in public spaces may be used in ways that violate individuals' expectations of privacy, despite existing laws restricting the use and placement of cameras.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for processing digital images that involves partitioning objects in the images into segments, replacing these segments with schematic segments, and analyzing the schematic images to identify behavioral patterns without exposing the original objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cameras capture digital images in public spaces for surveillance and analysis, then behavioral patterns can be identified, but privacy violations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments objects in digital images into multiple parts (e.g., head, body, limbs for persons; wheels, cabin for vehicles) and replaces each segment with a corresponding schematic segment. This segmentation enables behavioral analysis while obscuring identifying features, thus resolving the contradiction between identifying behavior and protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates schematic copies of objects that preserve structural and behavioral information while removing identifying details. These schematic representations maintain the necessary information for behavioral pattern recognition while eliminating privacy risks associated with capturing real object appearances.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If laws restrict camera placement and use, then privacy protection is improved, but unauthorized use of captured images cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of images by replacing objects with schematic representations before storage or transmission. This preliminary action ensures that even if unauthorized access occurs, the sensitive information is already obscured, providing reliable privacy protection that laws alone cannot guarantee.
3Measurement precision
If detailed object information is captured for accurate analysis, then analysis precision is improved, but privacy risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different processing qualities to different parts of the image: schematic segments are applied to objects requiring privacy protection while preserving their structural information for analysis, allowing local optimization of both privacy protection and analysis precision depending on the specific object and context.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for processing digital images comprising: at least one remote hardware processor; and at least one device, comprising at least one processing circuitry configured for: receiving from at least one image sensor, electrically coupled to the processing circuitry, at least one digital image captured by the at least one image sensor; partitioning at least one object, identified in the at least one digital image, into a plurality of object segments; replacing in the at least one digital image each of the plurality of object segments with a schematic segment, illustrating respective object segment, to produce at least one schematic image; and sending the at least one schematic image to the remote hardware processor; wherein the remote hardware processor is adapted to: receiving the at least one schematic image from the at least one device; analyzing the at least one schematic image to identify at least one behavioral pattern.