Single-Camera Security and Marketing with Attribute Conversion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of separate security and marketing cameras results in high costs and space inefficiencies due to duplicative equipment and installation requirements.

Innovation Solution

A single camera system that encrypts personal information and converts it into attribute information, allowing simultaneous use for security and marketing purposes without revealing identifiable personal details.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate security cameras and marketing observation cameras are installed, then security monitoring and marketing analysis can be performed independently, but installation costs and space requirements are doubled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines security monitoring and marketing observation functions into a single camera system. The camera captures images that are simultaneously processed for both security purposes (with personal information preserved for identification) and marketing purposes (with personal information converted to attribute information), eliminating the need for separate camera installations and reducing system complexity while maintaining both functions' reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system is designed to perform multiple functions: it captures images for security monitoring while simultaneously extracting attribute information for marketing analysis. The single camera serves both security and marketing purposes, making the system universal and eliminating the need for dedicated separate systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate security cameras and marketing observation cameras are installed, then each system can be optimized for its specific purpose, but installation space and equipment costs are doubled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem adaptabilityVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges security monitoring and marketing observation into a single camera installation, reducing the physical space required while maintaining the adaptability of both functions through software-based processing that handles both security and marketing requirements from the same captured images

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If personal information is transmitted for marketing analysis, then accurate customer attributes can be obtained, but personal information leakage risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattribute information accuracyVSAvoidpersonal information leakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the use of captured image data into two distinct processing paths: one path preserves personal information for security monitoring purposes, while the other path converts personal information into anonymized attribute information for marketing analysis. This segmentation allows accurate attribute extraction for marketing while eliminating personal information leakage risks in the marketing data stream

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts attribute information (age, gender, etc.) from captured images for marketing purposes while removing personal identifiable information from the marketing data stream. This extraction process obtains the necessary marketing attributes without retaining or transmitting personal information that could lead to privacy leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If personal information is preserved in captured images, then security identification is enabled, but marketing privacy protection is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity identification capabilityVSAvoidprivacy leakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image data processing into two separate streams: one stream maintains personal information intact for security identification purposes, while the other stream converts personal information to anonymized attributes for marketing analysis, thereby protecting privacy in the marketing stream while preserving security capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12463945B2Information output device, camera, information output system, information output method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 NEC CORP

AI summary

An information output device includes: a first output unit that outputs acquired information acquired by a sensor; and a second output unit that converts personal information included in the acquired information into attribute information from which identification of an individual is impossible, and outputs the attribute information.