Video and still image data alteration to enhance privacy

Abstract

A computer alters at least one recognizable metric or text in a digitally encoded photographic image by operating an alteration algorithm in response to user input data while preserving an overall aesthetic quality of the image and obscuring an identity of at least one individual or geographic location appearing in the image. An altered digitally-encoded photographic image prepared by the altering of the at least one recognizable metric or text in the image is stored in a computer memory. User feedback and/or automatic analysis may be performed to define parameter values of the alteration algorithm such that the alteration process achieves preservation of aesthetic qualities while obscuring an identity of interest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 altering, by a computer, at least one portion of metadata associated with a digitally-encoded photographic image in conjunction with altering the digitally-encoded photographic image to preserve an overall aesthetic quality of the digitally-encoded photographic image while decreasing an accuracy of automated recognition of an identity of at least one individual appearing in the digitally-encoded photographic image, wherein the altering comprises altering selected facial recognition metrics; and   storing, in a computer memory, the altered digitally-encoded photographic image combined with the altered at least one portion of metadata.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decreasing the chance of automatic image recognition by an image recognition algorithm to below a defined minimum confidence level using an alteration algorithm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising modifying the altered selected facial recognition metrics to match, at least in part, at least one user-set parameter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising identifying a recognition parameter set based on the image recognition algorithm, wherein the recognition parameter set is defined by a set of parameter range values outside of which the image recognition algorithm cannot recognize the identity above the defined minimum confidence level. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising modifying the alteration in response to user input specifying a desired confidence level. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising defining parameter values for the alteration algorithm within a recognition parameter set. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising controlling at least one parameter of the alteration algorithm to preserve the overall aesthetic quality of the image as determined by an aesthetic quality measuring algorithm to above a defined minimum preservation level. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 altering, by a computer, at least one portion of metadata associated with a digitally-encoded photographic image in conjunction with altering the digitally-encoded photographic image to preserve an overall aesthetic quality of the digitally-encoded photographic image while decreasing an accuracy of automated recognition of an identity of at least one individual appearing in the digitally-encoded photographic image, wherein the altering comprises altering selected object recognition metrics; and   storing, in a computer memory, the altered digitally-encoded photographic image combined with the altered at least one portion of metadata.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising decreasing the chance of automatic image recognition by an image recognition algorithm to below a defined minimum confidence level using an alteration algorithm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising modifying the altered selected object recognition metrics to match, at least in part, at least one user-set parameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising identifying a recognition parameter set based on the image recognition algorithm, wherein the recognition parameter set is defined by a set of parameter range values outside of which the image recognition algorithm cannot recognize the identity above the defined minimum confidence level. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising modifying the alteration in response to user input specifying a desired confidence level. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising defining parameter values for the alteration algorithm within the recognition parameter set. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising controlling at least one parameter of the alteration algorithm to preserve the overall aesthetic quality of the image as determined by an aesthetic quality measuring algorithm to above a defined minimum preservation level. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 training a model heuristically to recognize overall aesthetic quality of an image to above a minimum aesthetic quality level, where the model is trained at least in part by user feedback over a sample set of images.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , where the model adopts parameter values to achieve a designated amount of the overall aesthetic quality of the image. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where the designated amount of the overall aesthetic quality of the image is achieved by limiting an amount of image modification. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , where the image modification is achieved in a manner that reduces an accuracy of at least one image recognition system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , where an aesthetic preservation parameter set is based on the designated amount of the overall aesthetic quality of the image, and a third set of parameters is defined as parameter values that are members of the aesthetic preservation parameter set and are not members of a recognition parameter set.