Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s sources seem to have been right: Apple is interested in the surveillance camera market. Indeed, the Apple firm has not been discreet, as evidenced by a patent published on November 26, 2024.
Spotted by 9to5Macthe latter details video surveillance functionalities in more detail, starting with facial recognition of a video stream. So far, nothing really new compared to the competition.
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The rest of the patent is still intended to be more interesting. Apple explains that the technology allows the device to collect information on a person’s physical characteristics, which is then associated with its database of “recognized faces”.
When this association is made, Apple’s technology uses the data to find matches when a face is not recognized or visible. It thus compares the physical information collected previously to put a name on the unidentified person.
“In this way, the techniques can allow a device to identify a person without having a quality visualization or image of the face”thus underlines the patent. 9to5Mac specifies in passing that the data relating to the body “can only be stored for a short time” according to Apple. The media indicates on this subject that “for example, identifying a person from their clothing would probably only work if they were seen later in the day. Other characteristics, such as body shape, might be retained for longer”.
Last element to note, Apple also mentions the use of a person’s gait as an identifying characteristic: “In one example, physical characteristics may be associated with a person’s movement over a period of time (for example, a person’s gait when walking)”.
As a reminder, Ming-Chi Kuo announced earlier in the month that an Apple surveillance camera was planned for 2026. Unsurprisingly, it would be boosted with AI to offer an ultra-efficient and competitive system.
It now remains to be seen whether the push planned for 2025 into home automation with a first connected screen will be conclusive. If this is the case, this could make Apple want to complete the development of its connected surveillance camera, and potentially include the capabilities mentioned by this recent patent.
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