A method for sharing a digital image between a first user terminal and at least one second user terminal over a communications network. The method includes: displaying on the second terminal a “degraded image”, the degraded image being obtained from a “first image” by digital processing of the first image, the digital processing visually concealing content of the first image; and following detection of an interaction of a user with the screen of the second terminal: defining a zone of interaction of the degraded image depending on the location of the interaction on the screen; obtaining a portion of the first image corresponding to the determined zone of the degraded image; and displaying on the screen of the second terminal the portion of the first image in the place of the corresponding area of the degraded image, throughout the duration of the interaction of the user with the screen.

An information processing device and an information processing method capable of effectively implementing sales promotion measures for promoting product purchase via an EC company while avoiding leakage of personal information are provided. The information processing device includes a processing unit that performs mask processing or mosaic processing on a predetermined area of a captured image acquired by capturing at least one of a purchase history, a delivery statement, and an email provided to a user by at least one electronic commerce company, and a determination unit that determines whether the captured image that has been processed includes predetermined information.

A visual privacy system unilaterally blocks rolling shutter cameras by providing a periodically interrupted ambient light source imposing bright and dark bands on the image yet at a frequency imperceptible to human observers in the environment. Communication of the modulation pattern to authorized cameras allows unaffected imaging in these regions by authorized individuals. The system also contemplates operation in a barcoding mode with a light modulation providing embedded barcodes that can be extracted from images taken in the region to indicate that the images were improperly acquired and to block the images in certain applications.

Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of limiting the content of a document displayed on a preview screen. The image processing apparatus and image processing method according to this disclosure generate limited display data for displaying a limited document in which the content of a limited area satisfying a specific limiting condition cannot be recognized in a document indicated by document data of a processing target in the image processing apparatus. Then display the preview screen of the limited document on a display unit of the image processing apparatus based on the limited display data.

According to at least one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for contextually masking visual elements in a photograph is provided. The present invention may include receiving privacy preferences from one or more users, identifying individuals in a photograph, constructing a ruleset based on the privacy preferences of the identified individuals within the photograph and, based on the ruleset, masking one or more visual elements within the photograph from view of a viewer.

An image processing apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a predetermined object in a captured image captured by an imaging unit, a first acquisition unit configured to acquire, as a first image, a captured image captured during a time period in which the object is not detected, based on detection of the predetermined object by the detection unit, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire, as a second image, a captured image in which the predetermined object is detected by the detection unit, a generation unit configured to generate a mask image of the predetermined object based on the first and the second images, and a combination unit configured to combine the mask image with the first image or the second image.

An image scanning apparatus and method for protecting personal information are provided. The image scanning apparatus may include an image sensor which scans a manuscript, a memory, and a processor to generate a scan image using a signal that is output from the image sensor, perform a masking process for personal information included in the generated scan image, generate scan data that includes additional information for recovering the masked personal information and the masked scan image, and store the same in the memory.

A system of devices receives and stores documents based on confidential information redacted from the documents. An electronic document is analyzed to identify character blocks having confidential information. The confidential information can be in different formats within the document. Redaction rules are applied to the character blocks to identify confidential categories for the confidential information within the blocks. The confidential information is redacted based on the rules such that the confidential information is removed from the document. A new electronic document is generated with the information redacted such that it is not viewable or printable. The two documents with different levels of confidential information is then stored on separate devices within the system.

An image forming apparatus includes a control unit and an image forming unit. The control unit generates image data of a first image based on a designated image or a designated character string designated by a user. The image forming unit forms the first image in a predetermined area based on the image data using a decolorizing recording agent. The image forming unit forms the first image on at least one of a front surface, on which a second image is formed, of a medium with the second image formed thereon, or a surface opposite to the front surface using a non-decolorizing recording agent.

A system of devices receives and stores documents based on confidential information redacted from the documents. An electronic document is analyzed to identify character blocks having confidential information. The confidential information can be in different formats within the document. Redaction rules are applied to the character blocks to identify confidential categories for the confidential information within the blocks. The confidential information is redacted based on the rules such that the confidential information is removed from the document. A new electronic document is generated with the information redacted such that it is not viewable or printable. The two documents with different levels of confidential information is then stored on separate devices within the system.