Color indexing and searching for images

• US 20080046410A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adam Lieb
• Original Assignee: Adam Lieb
• Inventors: Lieb, Adam
• Application Number:
  US11/544,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is presented. The method includes compiling a database of discreet color values associated with images. The method further includes searching the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information. The method also includes returning results of the searching to the user with associated images.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a user interface coupled to the processor;

a network interface coupled to the processor;

wherein the system is to;

compile a database of discreet color values associated with images;

search the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information; and

return results of the searching to the user with associated images.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further to:

search the list of discreet color values for a set of user-specified discreet color values; and

match the user-specified discreet color values to a list of discreet color value sets.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is further to:

retrieve the images associated with a set of discreet color values; and

present the images associated with the list of discreet color values to a user.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

The color search system is contained within a larger general purpose search system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein:

The color values database is embodied as a subset of the local image database.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein:

The image set is a set of photographs

7. The system of claim 3, wherein:

The image set is a set of hand-drawn images

8. The system of claim 3, wherein:

The image set is a set of images generated by a computer from a dataset

9. The system of claim 3, wherein:

The image data may include data from additional secondary images representing the same object as a primary image.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein:

A human editor can manually remove images from the image set or manually update the color value data stored with each image.

11. A method, comprising:

compiling a database of discreet color values associated with images;

searching the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information; and

returning results of the searching to the user with associated images.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

compiling a database of discreet color values associated with images includes, for a set of images;

receiving image data for an image;

calculating precise color values of the image data;

assigning precise color values of the image data to a set of predetermined discreet color values based on a mapping algorithm; and

storing a list of precise color values and discreet color values with data indicating a source of the image data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

calculating precise color values of the image data includes

identifying solid borders of pixels within an image;

grouping pixels of like colors within the image;

merging groups of pixels with similar colors;

assigning a score to each group of pixels; and

creating the precise color value as a combination of the average pixel color value and the score of the group of pixels.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

calculating precise color values of the image data further includes;

filtering out fleshtone color values from the list of discreet color values;

filtering out background color values from the list of discreet color values;

filtering out greyscale color values from the list of discreet color values; and

removing low-scoring color values from the list of discreet color values.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

limiting the list of discreet color values to a predetermined maximum number of entries.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

classifying color values from the list of discreet color values as primary colors and secondary colors within the list of discreet color values.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

comparing the list of discreet color values to lists of discreet color values for other images.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

aggregating the list of discreet color values into aggregated data of discreet color values for a set of other images.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

comparing the list of discreet color values to aggregated data of discreet color values for a set of other images.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein:

searching the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information includes;

receiving a user-specified discreet color value;

searching a database of discreet color values for the user-specified discreet color value; and

matching the user-specified discreet color value to a discreet color value of the database of discreet color values.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

returning results of the searching to the user with associated images includes;

retrieving images associated with the matched discreet color value; and

presenting the images associated with the matched discreet color value to a user.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a color query from a user; and

parsing the color query into a set of user-defined discreet color values.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

parsing the color query into a set of user-defined discreet color values includes;

parsing the color query into a name for a color; and

looking up the name for a color in a table of names for colors and associated discreet color values.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

matching the user-specified discreet color value to a discreet color value of the database of discreet color values includes finding a discreet color value of the database within a predetermined distance of the user-specified discreet color value.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein:

matching the user-specified discreet color value to a discreet color value of the database of discreet color values includes finding a numerical match between a discreet color value of the database and the user-specified discreet color value.

26. A system, comprising:

a color indexer to index color values of images;

a color search engine to search color values; and

a result organizing engine to organize results of searches of color values.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a color parser to parse words for colors from a query string.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a color values database coupled to receive color values from the color indexer and to receive and respond to queries from the color search engine.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the color indexer is to interface with a third-party website.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the color indexer is to interface with a local image database.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a local image database.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein:

the local image database includes descriptions associated with images.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein:

the local image database includes prices associated with images.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein:

the local image database includes classifications associated with images.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein:

a color values database is embodied as a subset of the local image database.

36. A machine-readable medium embodying instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform a method, the method, comprising:

compiling a database of discreet color values associated with images;

searching the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information; and

returning results of the searching to the user with associated images.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein:

compiling a database of discreet color values associated with images includes, for a set of images;

receiving image data for an image;

calculating precise color values of the image data;

assigning precise color values of the image data to a set of predetermined discreet color values based on a mapping algorithm; and

storing a list of precise color values and discreet color values with data indicating a source of the image data.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

calculating precise color values of the image data includes

identifying solid borders of pixels within an image;

grouping pixels of like colors within the image;

merging groups of pixels with similar colors;

assigning a score to each group of pixels; and

creating the precise color value as a combination of the average pixel color value and the score of the group of pixels.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein:

calculating precise color values of the image data further includes;

filtering out fleshtone color values from the list of discreet color values;

filtering out background color values from the list of discreet color values;

filtering out greyscale color values from the list of discreet color values; and

removing low-scoring color values from the list of discreet color values.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein:

searching the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information includes;

receiving a user-specified discreet color value;

searching a database of discreet color values for the user-specified discreet color value; and

matching the user-specified discreet color value to a discreet color value of the database of discreet color values.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein:

returning results of the searching to the user with associated images includes;

retrieving an image associated with the matched discreet color value; and

presenting the image associated with the matched discreet color value to a user.

42. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a user interface coupled to the processor;

a network interface coupled to the processor;

wherein the system is to;

compile a database of discreet color values associated with images;

search the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information; and

return results of the searching to the user with associated images.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein:

compiling a database of discreet color values associated with images includes, for a set of images, the system further to;

receive image data for an image;

calculate precise color values of the image data;

assign precise color values of the image data to a set of predetermined discreet color values based on a mapping algorithm; and

store a list of precise color values and discreet color values with data indicating a source of the image data.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein:

calculating precise color values of the image data includes the system further to;

identify solid borders of pixels within an image;

group pixels of like colors within the image;

merge groups of pixels with similar colors;

assign a score to each group of pixels; and

create the precise color value as a combination of the average pixel color value and the score of the group of pixels.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein:

calculating precise color values of the image data further includes the system further to;

filter out fleshtone color values from the list of discreet color values;

filter out background color values from the list of discreet color values;

filter out greyscale color values from the list of discreet color values; and

remove low-scoring color values from the list of discreet color values.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein:

searching the database of discreet color values based on a query including color information includes the system further to;

receive a user-specified discreet color value;

search a database of discreet color values for the user-specified discreet color value; and

match the user-specified discreet color value to a discreet color value of the database of discreet color values.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein:

returning results of the searching to the user with associated images includes the system further to;

retrieve an image associated with the matched discreet color value; and

present the image associated with the matched discreet color value to a user.