CONTENT BASED IMAGE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20090125487A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Platinum Solutions Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Platinum Solutions Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Acton, Scott T., Rossi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US12/271,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for searching a target image in a data repository. A user may search a collection of images and retrieve images based upon the image content of a target or query image. The system may apply a combination of pre-processing techniques and image search techniques to provide matches for the target or query image.

Claims

1. A method for searching a target image, the method comprising:

creating a data repository of images;

identifying the target image to search;

pre-processing, via a computer, the target image, wherein an object of interest is segmented from a target image;

searching, via the computer, the object of interest for matches in the data repository; and

presenting the search results on a presentation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein segmenting the object of interest uses active contours.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the search is one of search by target, search by sketch, search by body location, search by metadata, and search by a combination of searches.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the object of interest includes one of a scar, mark, glyph, graffiti, and tattoo.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a background of the target image;

analyzing a color content of the object of interest;

analyzing a texture content of the object of interest;

analyzing a shape content of the object of interest;

uploading the target image to the data repository; and

entering data associated with the target image in the data repository.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein weights are created for the images stored in the data repository.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is one selected from a group consisting of a display device, a printing device, and an audio device.

7. A system for searching a target image, the system comprising:

a data repository;

an identifying means for identifying the target image to search;

a means for pre-processing the target image, wherein an object of interest is segmented from a target image;

a searching means for searching the object of interest for matches in the data repository; and

a presentation means for presenting the search results.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein segmenting the object of interest uses active contours.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the search is one of search by target, search by sketch, search by body location, search by metadata, and search by a combination of searches.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the object includes one of a scar, mark, glyph, graffiti, and tattoo.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for detecting a background of the target image;

means for analyzing a color content of the object of interest;

means for analyzing a texture content of the object of interest;

means for analyzing a shape content of the object of interest;

means for uploading the target image to the data repository; and

means for entering data associated with the target image in the data repository.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein weights are created for the images stored in the data base.

13. A system for searching a content of an image, the method comprising:

a processor;

a user interface functioning via the processor; and

a repository accessible by the processor;

wherein a data repository of images is created;

wherein a target image is identified for searching;

wherein pre-processing of a target image segments an object of interest from a target image;

wherein searching is performed on the object of interest for matches in the data repository; and

wherein search results are presented on a presentation device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is housed on a server.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is coupled to a network.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the coupling is selected from a group consisting of a wired connection, a wireless connection, and a fiberoptic connection.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the repository is housed on a server.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server is coupled to a network.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to search a content of an image, the control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for creating a data repository of images;

second computer readable program code means for identifying a target image to search;

third computer readable program code means for pre-processing the target image, wherein an object of interest is segmented from a target image;

fourth computer readable program code means searching the object of interest for matches in the data repository; and

fifth computer readable program code means for presenting the search results.