Method of modifying image including photographing restricted element, and device and system for performing the method

1. A user device comprising:

a storage configured to store data; and

a processor configured to recognize a person included in an image captured by the user device or received by the user device from an external source, determine a degree of closeness in a relationship between the recognized person and a user who is registered as an owner of the user device based on whether at least one picture of the recognized person is stored on the storage, determine that the degree of closeness is lower than a predetermined level in response to any picture of the recognized person not being stored on the storage, determine that a location where the image is captured is a photographing restricted location in response to the image comprising a sign indicating that photography is prohibited, change a part of the image corresponding to the recognized person to be unrecognizable in response to the degree of closeness being lower than the predetermined level, and replace the image with another image in response to the location being determined as the photographing restricted location.

2. The user device of claim 1 , further comprising a camera configured to capture the image.

3. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a location where the image is captured is a photographing restricted location, and change the part of the image corresponding to the recognized person to be unrecognizable when the location is the photographing restricted location.

4. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the data stored in the storage is an address book, and the processor is further configured to determine that the degree of closeness is lower than the predetermined level in response to the recognized person not being included in the address book.

5. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the data stored in the storage is social networking service (SNS) usage records of the user, and the processor determines the degree of closeness by analyzing the SNS usage records.

6. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether a location where the image is captured is a photographing restricted location by accessing a database of an external server, and modifies the image when the location is the photographing restricted location.

7. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize a photographing restricted object from the image, and determine that a location where the image is captured is a photographing restricted location in response to the photographing restricted object being recognized from the image.

8. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the processor performs at least one of a mosaic process, a blur process, a background image composing process, and an alternative image composing process on the part of the image to change the part of the image to be unrecognizable.

9. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether the recognized person is registered as a friend of the owner of the user device on a social networking service system, and determines the degree of closeness is lower than the predetermined level in response to the recognized person not being registered as a friend of the owner of the user device.

10. A system for modifying an image, the system comprising:

a server configured to perform an image processing; and

a user device configured to request the image processing while transmitting an image to a server,

wherein the server is further configured to recognize a person included in the image received from the user device, determine a degree of closeness in a relationship between the recognized person and a user who is registered as an owner of the user device based on whether at least one picture of the recognized person is stored on the user device, determine the degree of closeness is lower than a predetermined level in response to any picture of the recognized person not being stored on the user device, determine that a location where the image is captured is a photographing restricted location in response to the image comprising a sign indicating that photography is prohibited, change a part of the image corresponding to the recognized person to be unrecognizable in response to the degree of closeness being lower than the predetermined level, and replace the image with another image in response to the location being determined as the photographing restricted location.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the server determines whether the location where the image is captured is the photographing restricted location by using stored data.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the server receives a time when the image is captured and the location where the image is captured from the user device, and determines whether photographing of the recognized person is restricted at the received time and the received location by using stored data.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user device encodes the image by using an encryption key received from the server and transmits the encoded image to the server in response to the degree of closeness being lower than the predetermined level, and

the server decodes the encoded image and changes the part of the decoded image corresponding to the recognized person.

14. A method of modifying an image by a user device, the method comprising:

recognizing a person included in the image;

determining a degree of closeness in a relationship between the recognized person and a user who is registered as an owner of the user device based on whether at least one picture of the recognized person is stored on the user device;

determining that the degree of closeness is lower than a predetermined level in response to any picture of the recognized person not being stored on the user device;

determining that a location where the image is captured is a photographing restricted location in response to the image comprising a sign indicating that photography is prohibited;

changing a part of the image corresponding to the recognized person to be unrecognizable in response to the degree of closeness being lower than the predetermined level; and

replacing the image with another image in response to the location being determined as the photographing restricted location.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the degree of closeness is lower than the predetermined level in response to the recognized person not being included in an address book stored in the user device.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether the degree of closeness is lower than the predetermined level by analyzing a social networking service (SNS) usage record of the user based on data stored in the user device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the changing comprises performing at least one of a mosaic process, a blur process, a background image composing process, and an alternative image composing process on the part of the image to change the part of the image unrecognizable.