Systems, methods, and storage media for anonymizing at least one feature in a scene

A data processing system configured for computer-implementation of a method for of anonymizing at least one feature in a scene, comprising:

• at least one processing unit;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processing unit;
• the memory containing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the at least one processing unit to:
• receive at least one image representing the scene;
• apply a sorting algorithm to the at least one image to identify features within the at least one image and classify the features according to at least one predetermined feature category to produce at least one classified feature in the at least one image;
• apply annotations to the at least one image by applying to the image an annotation scheme specifying at least one obscuring annotation type to be applied to at least one corresponding feature category;
• and
• modify the at least one image by, for each classified feature in the at least one image having an annotation indicating that said classified feature is in a feature category corresponding to particular obscuring annotation type to be applied, applying the particular obscuring annotation type to that classified feature in the at least one image so that at least one identifying aspect of that classified feature is obscured within the at least one image.

A computer-program product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium embodying computer-usable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to anonymize at least one feature in a scene by:

• receiving at least one image representing the scene;
• applying a sorting algorithm to the at least one image to identify features within the at least one image and classify the features according to at least one predetermined feature category to produce at least one classified feature in the at least one image;
• applying annotations to the at least one image by applying to the image an annotation scheme specifying at least one obscuring annotation type to be applied to at least one corresponding feature category;
• modifying the at least one image by, for each classified feature in the at least one image having an annotation indicating that said classified feature is in a feature category corresponding to particular obscuring annotation type to be applied, applying the particular obscuring annotation type to that classified feature in the at least one image so that at least one identifying aspect of that classified feature is obscured within the at least one image.