Electronic privacy apparatus
An electronic privacy apparatus, for selectively blocking transmission of data from a camera, includes a camera, a first processor, a switch, and a second processor. The first processor is connected to the camera and receives image data from the camera. The switch is connected to the first processor. The second processor is configured to execute an operating system. The first processor implements a transmission state where the first processor transmits the image data to the second processor. The first processor also implements a privacy state where the first processor transmits blank data to the second processor. Based on user input, the switch selects either the transmission state or the privacy state and transmits a signal to the first processor indicating the user input.
1. An electronic privacy apparatus for selectively blocking transmission of data from a camera comprising:
a camera;
a first processor that is connected to the camera and receives image data from the camera;
a switch that is connected to the first processor; and
a second processor configured to execute an operating system, wherein
the first processor implements:
a transmission state where the first processor transmits the image data to the second processor, and
a privacy state where the first processor transmits blank data to the second processor, and
based on user input, the switch selects either the transmission state or the privacy state and transmits a signal to the first processor indicating the user input.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first processor implements the transmission state by processing the image data received from the camera and transmitting a processed image data to the second processor.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first processor comprises a field programmable gate array and implements the transmission state by transmitting the image data, unprocessed, to the second processor.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second processor comprises a central processing unit disposed on a planar of a laptop computer.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the user input is based on a physical toggle.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory storing a predetermined information indicating that the first processor is in the privacy state, wherein
the second processor obtains the predetermined information from the memory and displays the predetermined information on a monitor screen when the first processor is in the privacy state.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
by processing the image data, the first processor determines a presence of a user within a field of view of the camera and generates a metadata encoding the presence of the user, and
the first processor transmits the metadata to the second processor when the first processor is in the privacy state.
8. A method for selectively blocking transmission of data from a camera, the method comprising:
receiving, by a first processor, image data from a camera;
selecting, by a switch based on a user input, either a transmission state or a privacy state of the first processor;
transmitting, by the switch, a signal to the first processor indicating the user input; and
implementing, by the first processor, the selected transmission state or the privacy state, wherein
implementing the transmission state comprises transmitting the image data to a second processor configured to execute an operating system, and
implementing the privacy state comprises transmitting a blank data to the second processor.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein implementing the transmission state further comprises:
processing the image data from the camera by the first processor and transmitting a processed image data to the second processor.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein
the first processor comprises a field programmable gate array, and implementing the transmission state further comprises:
transmitting the image data, unprocessed, to the second processor.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the second processor comprises a central processing unit disposed on a planar of a laptop computer.
12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the user input is based on a physical toggle.
13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying on a monitor screen, by the second processor, a predetermined information indicating that the first processor is in the privacy state, wherein
the predetermined information is stored in a memory.
14. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
processing the image data, by the first processor, to determine a presence of a user within a field of view of the camera,
generating a metadata encoding the presence of the user, and
transmitting the metadata from the first processor to the second processor when the first processor is in the privacy state.