Secret Image Dispersion via Shutter Control and Grayscale Allocation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing methods fail to effectively prevent a secret image from being perceived by non-users, especially when intentional blinking or camera photography is used, and struggle to protect the image from reproduction even with continuous shooting, due to limitations in dispersion techniques and image correlation.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that disperses a secret image by altering its luminance values and allocating different grayscale values to pixels, combined with a shutter control system to manage light transmission, making it difficult to reproduce the secret image from dispersed images, even with short shutter times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a simple image display is used, then the display is easy to understand and operate, but the secret image can be easily perceived by non-users and reproduced by camera

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of display operationVSAvoidsecurity of secret image

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the secret image into multiple dispersed images that are displayed alternately. Each dispersed image contains only partial information, making it impossible for non-users to perceive the complete secret image. The image is divided into multiple time slots and spatial positions, with only authorized users receiving the complete image data through coordinated display and reception devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action by alternately displaying different dispersed images at different time periods. The display system switches between multiple image signals in a sequential manner, ensuring that non-users cannot capture or perceive the complete secret image at any single moment. This temporal multiplexing creates security while maintaining display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the image is dispersed into multiple images, then the security of the secret image is improved, but the complexity of the image processing system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of secret imageVSAvoidcomplexity of image processing system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the secret image into multiple dispersed images that are displayed alternately. Each dispersed image contains only partial information, making it impossible for non-users to perceive the complete secret image. The image is divided into multiple time slots and spatial positions, with only authorized users receiving the complete image data through coordinated display and reception devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action by alternately displaying different dispersed images at different time periods. The display system switches between multiple image signals in a sequential manner, ensuring that non-users cannot capture or perceive the complete secret image at any single moment. This temporal multiplexing creates security while maintaining display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If conventional dispersion techniques are used, then the image can be displayed, but the secret image can still be estimated from dispersed images with intentional blinking or camera photography

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay efficiencyVSAvoidprotection against image estimation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the secret image into multiple dispersed images that are displayed alternately. Each dispersed image contains only partial information, making it impossible for non-users to perceive the complete secret image. The image is divided into multiple time slots and spatial positions, with only authorized users receiving the complete image data through coordinated display and reception devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action by alternately displaying different dispersed images at different time periods. The display system switches between multiple image signals in a sequential manner, ensuring that non-users cannot capture or perceive the complete secret image at any single moment. This temporal multiplexing creates security while maintaining display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8223162B2Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program thereof, display device, and image display system

Publication Date: 2012.07.17 NEC CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program thereof, and a display device are provided, in which reproduction of a secret image from one dispersed image is difficult. A secret image and a reverse image included in at least two types of images are in a relationship of forming image data of an image not correlated with the secret image when luminance values of image data respectively are added pixel by pixel. Included are: a memory 101 that stores the inputted image data; a dispersed image creating/data allocating circuit 102 that creates image data of a plurality of dispersed images in which the secret image is formed when luminance values are added pixel by pixel based on the image data of the secret image and grayscales different from grayscale values of the secret image are allocated to the pixels respectively; and a shutter spectacle control signal creating circuit 103 that outputs a shutter control signal for setting a light shutter to a light transmission state only in a time for outputting image signals in accordance with the image data of the dispersed images.