System and method for use of images with recognition analysis
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for enabling selection of image content items, the method comprising:
- using a processor to perform steps comprising;
performing image analysis on a collection of image content items to obtain information about each image content item;
wherein performing image analysis includes (i) identifying one or more objects in individual image content items, (ii) determining a category of each identified object, the category of each object being one of a plurality of possible object categories;
(iii) identifying a set of features that are specific to the determined category of the identified object in each image content item, and (iv) determining information based on the set of features for the determined category that characterizes the identified object, the information characterizing the object to be separately identifiable from at least some other identified objects in the determined category;
storing the information obtained from the image analysis in one or more data stores;
identifying one or more criteria determined from a text or image content provided in connection with either a user or programmatically identified input; and
performing a search operation to identify one or more image content items that satisfy the one or more criteria of the input using the stored information in the one or more data stores;
wherein at least some of the collection of image content items correspond to images of merchandise objects;
wherein performing the search operation includes selecting one or more image content items of merchandise objects for display with a document in response to said input specifying a merchandise object in the document;
wherein selecting one or more images of merchandise objects for display with the document includes selecting the one or more images based on a determination that the one or more images of merchandise objects are similar to the specified merchandise object;
providing a link with each of the selected one or more images of the merchandise objects, wherein the link is selectable to enable a user to purchase the merchandise objects from a network site operated by the merchant.
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Abstract
An index is provided that holds information about each image content item in a collection of items, For each image content item, a first information item identifying the image content item and its location on a network, and at least one of (i) a second information item identifying a signature value of an object in the image content, or (ii) identification of a recognized object in the image content.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for enabling selection of image content items, the method comprising:
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using a processor to perform steps comprising; performing image analysis on a collection of image content items to obtain information about each image content item; wherein performing image analysis includes (i) identifying one or more objects in individual image content items, (ii) determining a category of each identified object, the category of each object being one of a plurality of possible object categories;
(iii) identifying a set of features that are specific to the determined category of the identified object in each image content item, and (iv) determining information based on the set of features for the determined category that characterizes the identified object, the information characterizing the object to be separately identifiable from at least some other identified objects in the determined category;storing the information obtained from the image analysis in one or more data stores; identifying one or more criteria determined from a text or image content provided in connection with either a user or programmatically identified input; and performing a search operation to identify one or more image content items that satisfy the one or more criteria of the input using the stored information in the one or more data stores; wherein at least some of the collection of image content items correspond to images of merchandise objects; wherein performing the search operation includes selecting one or more image content items of merchandise objects for display with a document in response to said input specifying a merchandise object in the document; wherein selecting one or more images of merchandise objects for display with the document includes selecting the one or more images based on a determination that the one or more images of merchandise objects are similar to the specified merchandise object; providing a link with each of the selected one or more images of the merchandise objects, wherein the link is selectable to enable a user to purchase the merchandise objects from a network site operated by the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system that operates to enable selection of image content items, the computer system comprising:
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an image analysis sub-system that is configured to analyze individual image content items that form part of a collection of image content items, the image analysis sub-system being configured to (i) identify one or more objects from individual image content items, (ii) determine one or more of a plurality of categories for each identified object, (iii) associate a set of features that are specific to each of the plurality of categories, so that each category is assigned a set of features that are different from the set of features for at least some of the other categories; wherein for each identified object, the image analysis sub-system is configured to determine a signature value for the object by characterizing individual features in the set of features that are specific to the category of the identified object; a search component that is configured to (i) identify, from an input that specifies or includes an image, a given object and a corresponding category of the given object, (ii) determine a criteria from the image of the input, wherein the criteria is based at least in part on a specific set of features that are associated with the corresponding category of the object identified from the object in the image of the input, and (iii) use the signature value determined for each identified object in the collection to select one or more image content items from the collection that satisfies the criteria; wherein at least some of the collection of image content items correspond to images of merchandise objects; wherein the search component is configured to; select one or more image content items of merchandise objects for display with a document in response to said input specifying a merchandise object in the document, the one or more images being selected based on a determination that the one or more images of merchandise objects are similar to the specified merchandise object; provide a link with each of the selected one or more images of the merchandise objects, wherein the link is selectable to enable a user to purchase the merchandise objects from a network site operated by the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification