IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,619,780
Granted Patent B2
US 12,619,780 · App. 18/577,722 · Granted May 5, 2026

Information processing system and information processing method

Inventors: Takeshi Maeda (Tokyo, JP); Kana Matsuura (Tokyo, JP); Takuya Nakamura (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G06F21/6254G06V20/52G06V40/161G16H30/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,619,780
App. No.
18/577,722
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an information processing system and an information processing method capable of easily setting or changing an anonymization target to be anonymized according to use of an image captured in a medical facility. Anonymization candidates that can be an anonymization target included in a target image captured in a medical facility are detected, an anonymization target in the target image is determined on the basis of an operation of a user, and an anonymized image obtained by anonymizing an image region of the anonymization target determined by the anonymization target determination unit among the anonymization candidates detected by the image recognition unit is generated for the target image.

Claims (66)

1 . An information processing system, comprising:

an image recognition unit configured to detect a plurality of anonymization candidates included in a target image captured in a medical facility;

an anonymization target determination unit configured to determine, based on an operation of a user, an anonymization target of the plurality of anonymization candidates in the target image;

an image processing unit configured to generate, for the target image, an anonymized image obtained by an anonymizing operation on an image region of the determined anonymization target; and

a face recognition unit configured to detect a face image from the generated anonymized image, wherein

the face image comprises an image of a face of the determined anonymization target,

the image processing unit is further configured to perform an additional anonymization operation on the image region of the determined anonymization target based on the detected face image, and

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to:

generate an input image;

present the detected face image in the input image; and

present a face detection unit that allows the user to select whether to perform the additional anonymization operation on the image region.

2 . The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the image recognition unit is further configured to detect a person, a display, or an object on which identification information is written as the plurality of anonymization candidates.

3 . The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the image recognition unit is further configured to:

detect a person as an anonymization candidate of the plurality of anonymization candidates; and

determine a role of the detected person as identification information of the person.

4 . The information processing system according to claim 3 , wherein

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to determine the person as the anonymization target based on the identification information of the person.

5 . The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to generate the input image to present to the user for selection of the anonymization target.

6 . The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to:

present, in the input image, the detected plurality of anonymization candidates; and

present a selection unit that allows the user to select whether to determine an anonymization candidate of the presented plurality of anonymization candidates as the anonymization target.

7 . The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein

the image recognition unit is further configured to:

detect a plurality of persons as the plurality of anonymization candidates; and

determine a role of each person of the detected plurality of persons as identification information,

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to present the selection unit that allows the user to select whether or not to determine at least one anonymization candidate, of the plurality of anonymization candidates, for each piece of the identification information as at least one anonymization target, and

the at least one anonymization target comprises the anonymization target.

8 . The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein

the image recognition unit is further configured to:

detect a person as the anonymization candidate of the plurality of anonymization candidates; and

determine a role of the person as individual identification information, and

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to present the selection unit that allows the user to select whether to determine, based on the individual identification information, the person as the anonymization target.

9 . The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to present, in the input image, the generated anonymized image.

10 . The information processing system according to claim 6 , wherein

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to present an entire anonymization selection unit that allows the user to select whether to anonymize an entirety of the target image in the input image.

11 . The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the anonymization target determination unit is further configured to determine the anonymization target for each output destination of a plurality of output destinations of the anonymized image.

12 . The information processing system according to claim 5 , wherein the image recognition unit is configured to:

detect an instrument in which at least one of a company name or an instrument name is written as an anonymization candidate of the plurality of anonymization candidates, and

set the at least one of the company name or the instrument name as identification information of the instrument.

13 . The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the image processing unit is further configured to generate, for the target image, the anonymized image by one of a mosaic processing operation or a blurring processing operation of the image region of the anonymization target.

14 . An information processing method, comprising:

in an information processing system:

detecting, by an image recognition unit, a plurality of anonymization candidates included in a target image captured in a medical facility;

determining, by an anonymization target determination unit, an anonymization target of the plurality of anonymization candidates in the target image based on an operation of a user;

generating, by an image processing unit, for the target image, an anonymized image obtained by an anonymizing operation on an image region of the determined anonymization target;

detecting, by a face recognition unit, a face image from the generated anonymized image, wherein

the face image comprises an image of a face of the determined anonymization target;

performing, by the image processing unit, an additional anonymization operation on the image region of the determined anonymization target based on the detected face image;

generating, by the anonymization target determination unit, an input image;

presenting, by the anonymization target determination unit, the detected face image in the input image; and

presenting, by the anonymization target determination unit, a face detection unit that allows the user to select whether to perform the additional anonymization operation on the image region.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute operations, the operations comprising:

detecting a plurality of anonymization candidates included in a target image captured in a medical facility;

determining an anonymization target of the plurality of anonymization candidates in the target image based on an operation of a user;

generating, for the target image, an anonymized image obtained by an anonymizing operation on an image region of the determined anonymization target;

detecting a face image from the generated anonymized image, wherein

the face image comprises an image of a face of the determined anonymization target;

performing an additional anonymization operation on the image region of the determined anonymization target based on the detected face image;

generating an input image;

presenting the detected face image in the input image; and

presenting a face detection unit that allows the user to select whether to perform the additional anonymization operation on the image region.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2024
From: MAEDA, TAKESHI; MATSUURA, KANA; NAKAMURA, TAKUYA
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066059/0593 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-120291 · Jul 21, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240320371A1 · Sep 26, 2024
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