HCL Technologies has been granted a patent for a system that enables secure access to photographs on social networking platforms. The method involves facial recognition, masking faces, and determining relationships to control access, allowing users to view either the original or transformed images based on their connections. GlobalData’s report on HCL Technologies gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on HCL Technologies, AI for workflow management was a key innovation area identified from patents. HCL Technologies's grant share as of June 2024 was 55%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Secure access to photographs on social networking platforms

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: HCL Technologies Ltd

The patent US12026284B2 outlines a method and system designed to facilitate secure access to photographs containing human faces on social networking platforms. The process begins with a photograph being uploaded, which includes tagged human faces. Utilizing facial recognition techniques, the system identifies these faces and applies a transformation algorithm to mask them, ensuring privacy. This transformation includes techniques such as RGB and brightness adjustments. Metadata is generated and stored, which allows for the potential re-transformation of the image back to its original state. The system also assesses the relationship between the downloader and the individuals tagged in the photograph, based on predefined rules, to determine access rights.

The system comprises several modules, including those for receiving photographs, determining facial data, transforming images, and managing relationships. It allows users to download either the transformed or original photograph, depending on their relationship with the individuals in the image. If a relationship is established, the original photograph can be displayed by unmasking the faces; otherwise, the transformed version is shown. The patent emphasizes the importance of privacy and security in sharing personal images on social media, providing a structured approach to managing access based on user relationships.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.