Method and Device for Removing Objects from a Video Feed in Real-time

Abstract

According to embodiments of the invention, systems, methods and devices are directed to removal of objects in a video feed that are captured continuously through video sources in real-time. Various embodiments of the invention implement several novel features, including, in one embodiment, a device that is coupled to cameras has an input device for selecting the objects to be removed from the feed. The selected object is removed and replaced with pixels neighboring the location where the pixels were taken from. Contour may also be controlled via the input, and sensitivity may be adjusted based on the application. Removed objects may also be selectively reintroduced into the video feed via the input device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for selectively removing specific objects in real-time from a video feed, the method comprising:
 capturing a scene using a first and a second camera, the first and the second cameras being placed substantially close to one another;   receiving, at a multimedia device, a real-time video feed from each camera via an audio and video interface, wherein the multimedia black box has a display, a processor, memory and an input device;   displaying, on the display, the real-time video feeds from each of the cameras;   defining and identifying objects present in the video feeds by detecting the contours of each object in three dimensions using the different perspectives of each camera;   receiving via the input device, one or more selections of defined objects to be removed from an outputted video feed; and   removing the selections of defined objects from the video feed and outputting a final real-time video feed from the multimedia black box.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity of the contour detecting may be adjusted via the input device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity of the contour detecting may be adjusted via a remote server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the remote server is accessible by a web page. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touch screen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the final real-time video feed is outputted via a KVM switch. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the final real-time video feed is outputted via an HDMI output. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further wherein other parameters of the black box are configurable via the web page by pointing to the black box, wherein the other parameters include choices of processing means, locations of the remote server or the cloud, authentication information, security certificates, and various types of processing choices of the audio and video signals, further wherein asaid processing choice includes mixing the video and audio signals such that the processed video and audio signals appear to originate from only a single source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of:
 filling areas vacated by the removed objects with neighboring pixels from a vicinity of the removed object.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selections of objects to be removed are made by a user on a freeze frame of the scene from the first and the second cameras. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the defining of object contours is facilitated by a user outlining a visualization of the object on the display using the input device. 
     
     
         12 . A method for removing certain sensitive objects from a video feed in real-time, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a multimedia black box having at least a touch screen, video feeds from at least two cameras, the cameras capturing substantially the same scene, having substantially the same objects in a periphery, further wherein the at least two cameras have associated input and output elements for transmitting and receiving audio and video;   displaying the video feeds from the at least two cameras on the touch screen;   pausing the video feeds momentarily such that contours of objects present in the scene are selectively definable via gestures made on the touch screen;   combining the video feeds to produce a resultant video feed with the defined objects removed or censored; and   outputting the resultant video feed.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resultant video feed is outputted via an HDMI port. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resultant video feed is sent securely to a remote server through cloud computing via network cables, bluetooth, wifi, 4G, and other wireless technologies. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a step of:
 removing the defined objects and filling in the void with neighboring pixels from the vicinity of each object.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a step of:
 selectively reinstating a previously removed object based on gestures performed on the touch screen.