Computer implemented method, apparatus and computer program for privacy masking video surveillance data

A computer implemented method of carrying out a search based on metadata associated with video data, the method comprising

• acquiring privacy mask data defining a position of a privacy mask in a frame of the video data, and acquiring the metadata associated with the video data, the metadata describing an object or activity in the video data and including location data defining a location of the object or activity in the frame to which the metadata relates;
• comparing the location data with the privacy mask data defining the position of the privacy mask in the frame;
• and
• based on the comparison, carrying out the search for metadata matching a search criterion.

A system for privacy masking video data, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• acquire the video data and metadata associated with the video data, the metadata describing an object or activity in the video data and including location data defining a location of the object or activity in a frame to which the metadata relates;
• compare the location data with privacy mask data defining a position of a privacy mask in the frame;
• and
• based on the comparison, control displaying of information of the metadata.

A system for carrying out a search based on metadata associated with video data, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• acquire privacy mask data defining a position of a privacy mask in a frame of the video data, and acquire the metadata associated with the video data, the metadata describing an object or activity in the video data and including location data defining a location of the object or activity in the frame to which the metadata relates;
• compare the location data with the privacy mask data defining the position of the privacy mask in the frame;
• and
• based on the comparison, carry out the search for metadata matching a search criterion.