Communicating privacy rights pertaining to data captured by a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12169574-B2
Application number	US-202218049913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2022
Priority date	Oct 26, 2022
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods associated with communicating privacy rights pertaining to data captured from a vehicle. An example method executed by a processor of a data capture apparatus in a vehicle can include capturing an image. In an example scenario, the image may include an individual who is located outside the vehicle. Furthermore, in some cases, the image can be a part of a video clip containing multiple images. The method further includes generating an identifier for identifying the image(s). The identifier can be a machine-readable symbol such as, for example, a QR-code symbol or a barcode. A notification that includes the identifier may be generated and conveyed to the individual for use by the individual to exercise his/her rights to privacy with respect to the images in which he/she is present.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
initiating, by a vehicle, a data capture procedure that includes capturing of at least one image, the at least one image including an individual who is located outside the vehicle;
generating, by the vehicle, an identifier for identifying the at least one image;
generating, by the vehicle, a notification that includes the identifier; and
conveying, by the vehicle, the notification, to the individual, to inform the individual of the at least one image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a machine-readable symbol, and wherein the data capture procedure further includes operating at least one sensor for capturing data associated with at least one of the individual or an object located outside the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the vehicle, to a first cloud computer, the at least one image that includes the individual located outside the vehicle; and
transmitting, by the vehicle, to at least one of the first cloud computer or a second cloud computer, the identifier.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving, by the at least one of the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer, from a personal device, a request to one of delete the at least one image or provide information about the at least one image; and
providing, by the at least one of the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer, a response to the request.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one image is a first image in a video clip and wherein the request includes a copy of the identifier.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer is configured to store the identifier in a distributed ledger, and wherein the method further comprises:
providing, by the at least one of the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer, to a personal device of the individual, access to the identifier stored in the distributed ledger.

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
displaying, by the vehicle, the notification on a display screen that is viewable outside the vehicle; and
discontinuing, by the vehicle, displaying of the notification, upon termination of the data capture procedure.

8. A method comprising:
initiating, by a vehicle, a data capture procedure that includes capturing of at least one image;
generating, by the vehicle, upon initiating the data capture procedure, an identifier for at least one of requesting a deletion of the at least one image or requesting personal identity information contained in the at least one image;
transmitting, by the vehicle, to a first cloud computer, the image containing the personal identity information; and
transmitting, by the vehicle, to at least one of the first cloud computer or a second cloud computer, the identifier; and
enabling, by at least one of the vehicle, the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer, public access to the at least one of the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating, by the vehicle, a notification that includes the identifier;
displaying, by the vehicle, the notification on a display screen that is viewable from outside the vehicle; and
discontinuing, by the vehicle, displaying of the notification, upon termination of the data capture procedure.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the identifier is one of a quick response code or a barcode.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the first cloud computer or the second cloud computer is configured to store the identifier in a distributed ledger and wherein the distributed ledger is configured to be accessible by an individual.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
conveying, by the vehicle, a communication that indicates that the data capture procedure is being executed, wherein the communication is configured to be received by an individual located outside the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication includes the identifier configured for use by the individual to request a deletion of the personal identity information of the individual that is contained in the at least one image.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication is one of a visual communication or an audible communication.

15. A system comprising:
a vehicle, comprising:
a camera;
a display device having a display screen;
a data capture apparatus comprising:
a first memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and
a first processor configured to access the first memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
executing a data capture procedure that includes operating the camera to capture at least one image that includes an individual located outside the vehicle;
generating an identifier for identifying the at least one image;
generating a notification that includes the identifier; and
conveying, by the vehicle, the notification, to the individual, to inform the individual of the at least one image.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the identifier is a machine-readable symbol, wherein the display device is one of provided in a cabin area of the vehicle or mounted upon a body portion of the vehicle, wherein conveying the notification to the individual comprises displaying the notification on the display screen of the display device, and wherein execution of the computer-executable instructions further performs operations comprising:
discontinuing displaying of the notification upon termination of the data capture procedure.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second computer comprising:
a second memory that stores second computer-executable instructions; and
a second processor configured to access the second memory and execute the second computer-executable instructions to perform second operations comprising:
receiving, from the data capture apparatus, at least one of the identifier or the at least one image;
receiving, from a personal device of the individual, a request to one of delete the at least one image or provide information about the at least one image; and
providing, to the personal device, a response to the request.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the second computer is a cloud computer that is configured to store the identifier in a distributed ledger that is accessible by the individual.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first processor is configured to access the first memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to transmit to the cloud computer, the identifier in an encoded format.

20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a communication system configured to convey to the individual located outside the vehicle, a communication that indicates that the data capture procedure is being executed.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mitschker Katharina
• Sorsby Ryan
• Herman david michael

Classifications

• B60K35/85

  Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• H04W12/00

  Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity · CPC title

• H04L9/00

  {Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic} arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols · CPC title