Selective Encryption for Spherical Image Distribution Systems

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image distribution systems fail to effectively control the viewing of partial angles of wide-angle images, such as spherical images, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive content.

Innovation Solution

A distribution system that encrypts a part of the spherical image's angle of view other than the normal angle, providing a decryption key to authorized viewers to access the entire image by combining the decrypted encrypted part with the normal angle of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a part of the spherical image is encrypted to enhance security, then content security is improved, but the complexity of the distribution system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical image is divided into multiple angle of view regions, with only the normal angle of view region transmitted in plain form while other regions are encrypted. This segmentation allows selective encryption of specific portions rather than the entire image, enhancing security for sensitive content while maintaining ease of access for non-sensitive content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different encryption treatments are applied to different regions of the spherical image based on their sensitivity. The normal angle of view region remains unencrypted for easy viewing, while other angle of view regions containing sensitive content are encrypted. This local differentiation optimizes both security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the normal angle of view is kept unencrypted for easy viewing, then ease of operation is improved, but content security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing easeVSAvoidcontent security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical image is divided into multiple angle of view regions, with only the normal angle of view region transmitted in plain form while other regions are encrypted. This segmentation allows selective encryption of specific portions rather than the entire image, enhancing security for sensitive content while maintaining ease of access for non-sensitive content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different encryption treatments are applied to different regions of the spherical image based on their sensitivity. The normal angle of view region remains unencrypted for easy viewing, while other angle of view regions containing sensitive content are encrypted. This local differentiation optimizes both security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If encryption is applied to control access to specific angle of view, then content control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent controlVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical image is divided into multiple angle of view regions, with only the normal angle of view region transmitted in plain form while other regions are encrypted. This segmentation allows selective encryption of specific portions rather than the entire image, enhancing security for sensitive content while maintaining ease of access for non-sensitive content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different encryption treatments are applied to different regions of the spherical image based on their sensitivity. The normal angle of view region remains unencrypted for easy viewing, while other angle of view regions containing sensitive content are encrypted. This local differentiation optimizes both security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11057644B2Distribution system, client terminal, and method of controlling display

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A distribution system includes circuitry to: encrypt a part of each of a plurality of images constituting a video image, the part having an angle of view other than a normal angle of view; provide a decryption key to a receiving client terminal operated by an authorized viewer; decrypt the part of each of the plurality of images having the angle of view other than the normal angle of view by using the decryption key provided; and display the video image based on other part of each of the plurality of images that is not encrypted having the normal angle of view and the decrypted part of each of the plurality of images having the angle of view other than the normal angle of view.