Video Communication Privacy via Context-Aware Image Blurring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video communication technologies do not adequately address user concerns about privacy during video interactions, leading to reduced usage and interactivity, as users may hesitate to expose their true images, especially when communicating with strangers or acquaintances.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a user's video image can be blurred during video communication, allowing for privacy protection by determining criteria such as contact list status or first-time interactions to decide on blurring, and providing options for users to initiate blurred or traditional video communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If video communication is implemented to improve interactivity, then communication interactivity is improved, but user privacy exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality treatments to different parts of the video image based on user identity and context. Specifically, it blurs the video images of strangers while keeping friend video images clear, creating local quality differentiation that protects privacy for unknown users while maintaining normal communication for known users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the visual parameter of video images by applying blur effects dynamically. The blur degree and application are adjusted based on user relationships (stranger vs. friend), transforming the video image quality parameter to achieve privacy protection without completely eliminating video communication functionality.
2Productivity
If video communication is used to enhance communication effectiveness, then communication effectiveness is improved, but user concern about appearance exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system differentiates video image quality based on the relationship between users. Strangers see blurred video images that protect appearance privacy, while friends see clear video images that enable effective communication. This local quality approach resolves the contradiction by making appearance exposure selective rather than universal.
Solution Approach 2:
The blur effect acts as an intermediary between complete privacy protection and full visibility. It provides a middle ground that allows communication to occur while mitigating the harmful effect of appearance exposure, particularly for users communicating with strangers or acquaintances.
3Ease of operation
If traditional video communication is provided, then communication convenience is improved, but privacy protection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances traditional video communication by introducing local quality differentiation based on user relationships. The system automatically identifies whether a user is a friend or stranger and applies appropriate blur levels, providing both communication convenience and contextual privacy protection without requiring manual user configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages privacy protection by self-determining user relationships and applying appropriate blur effects without requiring users to manually configure privacy settings for each communication session. The system serves itself by automatically identifying friends versus strangers and adjusting video image quality accordingly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A video communication method and system implementing video communication between a first user and a second user in instant communication are disclosed. The method includes: receiving a request for video communication; determining whether to perform a blurred processing on a video image of the first user; and if affirmative, performing the blurred processing on the video image of the first user such that a blurred video image of the first user is displayed on a video dialog window of the second user. Using the present disclosure, convenient online interactions via video communication may be achieved while ensuring that respective privacies of users are not overly exposed.