Video Redaction via Context-Matched Image Substitution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video redaction methods fail to effectively obscure sensitive information like faces and license plates in a manner that preserves the natural appearance and context of video footage, leading to privacy concerns during public dissemination.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that identifies disclosure-protected objects within a video interval, generates time-dependent feature data, divides it into sub-intervals, and creates unique image region replacements based on feature similarity to sequentially redact the objects, maintaining appearance consistency across the video interval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional redaction methods (blurring, blacking out) are used to obscure sensitive information, then privacy protection is achieved, but the natural appearance and context of the video footage is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates replacement video segments that copy the visual characteristics and context of the original video footage. Instead of simply obscuring sensitive information with blurs or blackouts, the system generates synthetic video segments that match the surrounding context, lighting, and motion patterns, thereby preserving the natural appearance while effectively protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of the redaction approach by transitioning from static obscuration (blurs, blackouts) to dynamic context-matched replacement. This involves adjusting parameters such as lighting conditions, motion vectors, and visual characteristics to ensure the redacted portions blend naturally with the surrounding video footage.
2Manufacturing precision
If video intervals are divided into multiple sub-intervals for redaction processing, then feature similarity and appearance consistency are improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video timeline into multiple sub-intervals based on the duration and characteristics of sensitive information appearances. Each sub-interval is processed independently to generate context-appropriate replacement segments. This segmentation approach maintains appearance consistency within each sub-interval while managing processing complexity through localized analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing strategies to different sub-intervals based on local characteristics such as motion patterns, lighting conditions, and object types. Rather than applying a uniform rediction approach throughout the entire video, the system adapts the replacement generation to match local contextual features, improving appearance consistency.
3Reliability
If random image substitution is used for redaction, then privacy protection is enhanced, but contextual coherence and visual naturalness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the fundamental parameter of redaction from random substitution to context-constrained generation. Replacement video segments are generated with parameters matched to the surrounding context, including lighting conditions, motion patterns, and visual characteristics, ensuring contextual coherence while maintaining privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary process that generates synthetic video segments acting as mediators between the original footage and the redaction requirement. These intermediary segments are carefully constructed to match the contextual characteristics of the surrounding video, providing a smooth transition that maintains visual naturalness while protecting sensitive information.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for video redaction of disclosure-protected objects is disclosed. A system for video redaction of disclosure-protected objects is also disclosed. A computer program product video redaction of disclosure-protected objects is also disclosed. A video interval may be broken into a plurality of sub-intervals, and unique random image substitution may be carried out over each of the sub-intervals in connection with the video redaction.