Use of image similarity in image searching via a network of computational apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A data storage medium or media encoded with one or more computer programs and/or data structures for use in searching for a visual image, comprising:
- computer code for receiving, at a first node of a network of computational devices, data regarding a search visual image, the data having been sent from a second node of the network or in response to a communication from the second node identifying the search visual image; and
computer code for identifying, at the first node of the network, one or more matching visual images that have a specified degree of similarity to the search visual image, comprising;
computer code for determining the similarity of the search visual image to each of a plurality of candidate visual images located at one or more nodes of the network other than the first or second node, wherein the image similarity determination does not depend on the type of visual images being compared; and
computer code for selecting one or more candidate visual images as the one or more matching visual images, based on the determination of the similarity of the search visual image to the candidate visual images.
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Abstract
Process-response statistical modeling of visual images can be used in determining similarity between visual images. Evaluation of the content of visual images—and, in particular, image similarity determinations—can be used in effecting a variety of interactions (e.g., searching, indexing, grouping, summarizing, annotating, keyframing) with a collection of visual images.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A data storage medium or media encoded with one or more computer programs and/or data structures for use in searching for a visual image, comprising:
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computer code for receiving, at a first node of a network of computational devices, data regarding a search visual image, the data having been sent from a second node of the network or in response to a communication from the second node identifying the search visual image; and
computer code for identifying, at the first node of the network, one or more matching visual images that have a specified degree of similarity to the search visual image, comprising;
computer code for determining the similarity of the search visual image to each of a plurality of candidate visual images located at one or more nodes of the network other than the first or second node, wherein the image similarity determination does not depend on the type of visual images being compared; and
computer code for selecting one or more candidate visual images as the one or more matching visual images, based on the determination of the similarity of the search visual image to the candidate visual images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for use in searching for a visual image, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a first node of a network, image search data regarding a search visual image, the data having been sent from a second node of the network or in response to a communication from the second node identifying the search visual image; and
identifying one or more matching visual images that have a specified degree of similarity to the search visual image, the step of identifying comprising the steps of;
determining the similarity of the search visual image to each of a plurality of candidate visual images located at one or more nodes of the network other than the first or second node, wherein the image similarity determination does not depend on the type of visual images being compared; and
selecting one or more candidate visual images as the one or more matching visual images, based on the determination of the similarity of the search visual image to the candidate visual images.
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33. A data storage medium or media encoded with one or more computer programs and/or data structures for use in searching for a visual image, comprising:
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computer code for evaluating a search visual image to produce metadata regarding the search visual image that can be used to identify one or more matching visual images that are determined to have a specified degree of similarity to the search visual image;
computer code for enabling provision of the metadata from a first node of a network to a second node of a network for use at a node other than the first node of the network in identifying one or more matching visual images, wherein the image similarity determination does not depend on the type of visual images being compared. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for use in searching for a visual image, comprising the steps of:
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evaluating a search visual image to produce metadata regarding the search visual image that can be used to identify one or more matching visual images that are determined to have a specified degree of similarity to the search visual image; and
enabling provision of the metadata from a first node of a network to a second node of a network for use at a node other than the first node of the network in identifying one or more matching visual images, wherein the image similarity determination does not depend on the type of visual images being compared.
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Specification