Method and Apparatus for Searching Images through a Search Engine Interface Using Image Data and Constraints as Input
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for searching for image data based on a likeness constraint of the image data to candidate image data submitted as search criteria comprising:
- a network appliance having access to servers on the network and access to candidate image data;
a server running a search interface application, the server having access to image data available over the network; and
a software suite for formatting and analyzing images and for creating image signatures unique to analyzed images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for searching for image data based on a likeness constraint of the image data to candidate image data submitted as search criteria includes a network appliance having access to servers on the network and access to candidate image data, a server running a search interface application, the server having access to image data available over the network, and a software suite for formatting and analyzing images and for creating image signatures unique to analyzed images.
38 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for searching for image data based on a likeness constraint of the image data to candidate image data submitted as search criteria comprising:
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a network appliance having access to servers on the network and access to candidate image data; a server running a search interface application, the server having access to image data available over the network; and a software suite for formatting and analyzing images and for creating image signatures unique to analyzed images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a network-based image search service, a method for searching for image data based on a likeness constraint of the image data to candidate image data submitted as search criteria comprising the steps:
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a. receiving at the service, the submitted candidate image data with other search criteria; b. formatting the candidate image data to adhere to an image format standard; c. analyzing the candidate image data to define and quantify image attribute or image feature values; d. creating an image signature unique to the candidate image data, the image signature carrying the values derived from step (c); and e. searching for other image signatures pre-created using steps (b)-(d) that match the candidate signature according to the likeness constraint. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a network-based image search service, a method for searching for image data based on a likeness constraint of the image data to candidate image data comprising the steps:
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(a) submitting an image signature derived from analyzing a candidate image with other criteria to the image search service. (b) at a service point on the network, using the image signature of step (a) to search for other image signatures created from analyzing searchable images the searchable image signatures indexed in the database and filtered in part according to the other criteria; and (c) receiving at an endpoint on the network search results including thumbnails and location data of images matched by image signature to the candidate image signature. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An image analyzer for analyzing digital images and for creating digital signatures unique to images analyzed comprising:
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a portion thereof for formatting an image for analysis to a standard format; a digital processing layer including image analysis components; a signature writer for writing a machine-readable signature carrying values derived from analysis; and an interface to a database application to store digital image signatures created.
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Specification