Privacy-Preserving Millimeter-Wave Imaging Subject Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging technologies face challenges in accurately and efficiently identifying features of a subject, particularly hidden objects on a person, and maintaining privacy concerns in surveillance applications, especially when using millimeter-wave imaging systems.
Innovation Solution
The method involves interrogating a subject with electromagnetic radiation, generating image data, and processing it to identify features such as body parts and objects, while also modifying images to protect privacy areas by replacing specific portions with substitute images or applying intensity and distance-based thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If millimeter-wave imaging is used to detect hidden objects on a person, then detection capability is improved, but privacy concerns are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system divides the detected image into multiple zones (e.g., upper body, lower body, head) and applies different processing or display treatments to each zone. This allows the system to maintain detection capability while controlling privacy exposure by selectively masking or blurring sensitive areas based on zone classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different image processing qualities to different regions of the detected image. Sensitive areas (such as private body parts) receive enhanced masking or blurring treatment, while non-sensitive areas maintain full detection detail. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by preserving detection accuracy where needed while protecting privacy where required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If image processing is applied to protect privacy areas, then privacy protection is improved, but image analysis accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of image regions into sensitive and non-sensitive zones before applying privacy protection measures. By pre-identifying which areas require masking based on anatomical or contextual analysis, the system applies privacy protection only where necessary, preserving analysis accuracy in non-sensitive regions while still achieving privacy protection in sensitive areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies privacy protection selectively to only the portions of the image that contain sensitive information, rather than masking the entire image. This partial application of privacy measures maintains analysis accuracy in non-sensitive regions while providing adequate privacy protection in sensitive regions, resolving the contradiction between protection and accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If feature identification algorithms are used to identify body parts and objects, then identification accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing system segments the analysis task by dividing the image into predefined zones (head, torso, limbs, etc.) and applies simplified feature detection algorithms to each zone based on expected anatomical structures. This segmentation allows the use of faster, zone-specific algorithms rather than applying complex general-purpose object recognition to the entire image, reducing processing time while maintaining identification accuracy through targeted analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy and speed of identifying hidden objects and maintains privacy by effectively processing millimeter-wave image data to distinguish subjects from backgrounds and obscure sensitive areas, improving surveillance efficiency and compliance with privacy standards.
Implementation Method 1
directing millimeter-wave signals at the subject and detecting the reflected signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method of surveilling a subject including a person's body may include or an imaging system may provide interrogating the subject with electromagnetic radiation, and generating, from the interrogating, image data representative of at least a first image of at least a portion of the person's body. In some examples, a first portion of the body may be identified, and a first feature of the image may be determined based at least partially on the identified portion of the body. In some examples, the orientation of the person's body may be determined from one or more features of one or more image portions. In some examples, a portion of the image of the person's body may be replaced with a substitute image portion that may be a modified portion of the first image.