Cameras and image processing methods for respecting recording restrictions

• US 9,083,937 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Oliphant, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Daquan
• Application Number:
  US13/815,906
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 386/257, 386/239, 386/248, 353/30, 345/629
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

Cameras and image processing methods for respecting recording restrictions are described, including a camera with at least one lens, at least one processor, and memory. The camera can detect an external signal; determine that the external signal indicates a restriction in recording; and based on the restriction, either disable recording or record an image or a video with a region of the image obfuscated.

Claims

1. A camera-implemented method for image processing, comprising:

detecting a recording restriction signal received from an external source that is positioned at an object to be recorded by a camera;

determining that the recording restriction signal is a privacy restriction that comprises an instruction for the camera to disable recording of at least some content associated with the object at the external source;

calculating a restricted region that includes spatial data of the region associated with the instruction to disable recording, based on the privacy restriction;

disabling the camera from recording the restricted region of the at least some content associated with the object at the external source;

recording one or more images, at least one of the images not including the calculated restricted region such that the at least some content of the calculated restricted region is not recorded; and

storing the at least one of the recorded images,

wherein the recording restriction signal comprises a header, and at least a bit indicative of at least one of whether the camera may record the one or more images and whether the camera may record audio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the external source is an infrared signal source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricted region is based on a location of the external source, the location corresponding to a location of the restricted region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricted region is based on a distance from a camera implementing the method to the external source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a position of the external source that is positioned at the object to be recorded; and

recalculating the restricted region based on the changed position of the external source for another one of the one or more images.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recalculating the restricted region based on a change in zooming data for another one of the one or more images.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial data is calculated trigonometrically based on a luminosity of the external source, a field of view of the camera, a width of the image, a prescribed blur radius, a perceived brightness calculated by the camera, a distance of the external source from the camera, an angle of the prescribed blur radius, and a screen space blur radius, to generate a radius of pixels to define the calculated restricted region.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording restriction signal comprises six bits, including a 2-bit number at 33.33 ms/bit followed by a 16.66 ms space internal indicative of a start of a message;

and a 4-bit number at 33.33 ms/bit indicative of a radius of the restricted region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected recording restriction signal is formatted, and the camera performs a verification of the encrypted recording restriction signal, and performs a decryption prior to the determining.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer executable instructions for:

detecting a recording restriction signal received from an external source that is positioned at an object to be recorded by a camera;

determining that the recording restriction signal is a privacy restriction that comprises an instruction for the camera to disable recording of at least some content associated with the object at the external source;

calculating a restricted region that includes spatial data of the region associated with the instruction to disable recording, based on the privacy restriction;

disabling the camera from recording the restricted region of the at least some content associated with the object at the external source;

recording one or more images, at least one of the images not including the calculated restricted region such that the at least some content of the calculated restricted region is not recorded; and

storing the at least one of the recorded images,

wherein the recording restriction signal comprises a header, and at least a bit indicative of at least one of whether the camera may record the one or more images and whether the camera may record audio.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the external source is an infrared signal source.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the restricted region is based on a location of the external source, the location corresponding to a location of the restricted region.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the restricted region Is based on a distance from a camera implementing the method to the external source.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

changing a position of the external source that is positioned at the object to be recorded; and

recalculating the restricted region based on the changed position of the external source for another one of the one or more images.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

recalculating the restricted region based on a change in zooming data for another one of the one or more images.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the spatial data is calculated trigonometrically based on a luminosity of the external source, a field of view of the camera, a width of the image, a prescribed blur radius, a perceived brightness calculated by the camera, a distance of the external source from the camera, an angle of the prescribed blur radius, and a screen space blur radius, to generate a radius of pixels to define the calculated restricted region.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the recording restriction signal comprises six bits, including a 2-bit number at 33.33 ms/bit followed by a 16.66 ms space internal indicative of a start of a message;

and a 4-bit number at 33.33 ms/bit indicative of a radius of the restricted region.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the detected recording restriction signal is formatted, and the camera performs a verification of the encrypted recording restriction signal, and performs a decryption prior to the determining.