Method and system for approving documents based on image similarity

• US 8,014,634 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Chan, Wesley T.
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/686,281
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 382/305, 382/181, 382/190, 382/209, 382/218, 358/403, 705/1.4, 707/1, 707/3, 707/4, 707/6
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A system and method for comparing graphical content (e.g., images) of documents for approval, rating, and other uses are provided. Information may be stored about one or more graphical documents. Graphical content of a first graphical document being evaluated for distribution may be compared to at least one second graphical document. An approval determination may be made for the first graphical document based on the stored information about the at least one second graphical document and the comparison.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus with one or more processors; and

a computer-readable memory in data communication with the data processing apparatus and storing instructions executable by the one or more processors and upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first graphical document;

comparing graphical content of the first graphical document to graphical content of a second graphical document;

flagging the first graphical document based on the comparison;

providing the flagged first graphical document to one or more evaluator terminals for rating information; and

approving or disapproving the flagged first graphical document based on the rating information received from the one or more evaluator terminals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to flag the first graphical document if the second graphical document contains material identified as objectionable and the graphical content of the first graphical document is substantially identical to the graphical content of the second graphical document.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to flag the first graphical document if the comparison indicates that the first graphical document contains material identified as objectionable.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to disapprove the first graphical document if the rating information contains a predetermined number of negative ratings from the one or more evaluator terminals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first graphical document contains graphical content having one or more links;

and

where the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to determine an operating status of the one or more links and disapprove the first graphical document if the operating status indicates at least one broken link.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to flag the first graphical document if the first graphical document contains less than a minimum number of ratings, is rated with a rating indicative of content identified as objectionable or one or more broken links, or is associated with a particular class of advertising model.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable memory further includes instructions executable by the one or more processors and upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

associating the first graphical document with one or more keywords or concepts; and

delivering the first graphical document, after approval, to a requestor requesting a document associated with the one or more keywords or concepts.

8. A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus with one or more processors; and

a computer-readable memory in data communication with the data processing apparatus and storing instructions executable by the one or more processors and upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising;

storing one or more graphical documents;

storing content rating information associated with the one or more stored graphical documents;

comparing graphical content of a graphical document under evaluation with graphical content of the one or more stored graphical documents to identify a matching graphical document; and

granting a distribution approval to the graphical document under evaluation based on the match and content rating information associated with the matching graphical document.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the content rating information indicates a presence of content identified as acceptable or objectionable; and

the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to deny distribution of the graphical document under evaluation if the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document indicates the presence of content identified as objectionable.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to grant the distribution approval to the graphical document under evaluation if the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document indicates the presence of content identified as acceptable.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer-readable memory further includes instructions executable by the one or more processors and upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving one or more negative ratings from one or more users associated with the graphical document under evaluation;

presenting the graphical document under evaluation to an evaluator terminal; and

receiving rating information associated with the graphical document under evaluation from the evaluator terminal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to grant the distribution approval based on at least one of the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document and the rating information received from the evaluator terminal indicative of an absence of content identified as objectionable.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein:

at least one of the stored graphical documents includes an approved advertisement image; and

the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising;

identify the approved advertisement image as the matching graphical document if the graphical content of the graphical document under evaluation is substantially identical to graphical content of the approved advertisement image; and

grant the distribution approval the first graphical document based on content rating information associated with the approved advertisement image.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable memory further includes instructions executable by the one or more processors and upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

associating the graphical document under evaluation with one or more keywords; and

receiving an advertisement request associated with a concept, and serve the graphical document under evaluation after the distribution approval is granted based on a correlation between the concept and the one or more keywords.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the advertisement request includes a search query.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to compare one or more image files associated with the graphical document under evaluation with one or more image files associated with the one or more stored graphical documents.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the graphical document under evaluation is associated with an advertising entity;

and

where the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to compare the graphical document under evaluation with one or more graphical documents associated with a same advertising entity.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to compare at least one of an image, animation, and sound of the graphical document under evaluation with at least one corresponding image, animation, and sound of the one or more stored graphical documents.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to compare at least one of the color scheme, objects, text, size, shape, formatting, file type, and source of the graphical document under evaluation with a corresponding color scheme, objects, text, size, shape, formatting, file type, and source of the one or more stored graphical documents.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more stored graphical documents are formatted in a common file type;

and

where the graphical document under evaluation is converted to the common file type prior to comparing.

21. A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus with one or more processors; and

a computer-readable memory in data communication with the data processing apparatus and storing instructions executable by the one or more processors and upon such execution cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising;

comparing graphical content of a first graphical document to graphical content of at least one approved graphical document, the at least one approved graphical document having graphical content approved for display with publisher content;

approving the first graphical document for distribution if the comparison indicates a substantial match between graphical content of the first graphical document and graphical content of the at least one approved graphical document; and

delivering the first graphical document to a requestor for publishing upon approving the first graphical document.

22. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing a first graphical document;

comparing graphical content of the first graphical document to graphical content of a second graphical document by a processor;

flagging the first graphical document based on the comparison;

providing the flagged first graphical document to one or more evaluator terminals for rating information; and

approving or disapproving the flagged first graphical document based on the rating information received from the one or more evaluator terminals by the processor.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising flagging the first graphical document if the second graphical document contains material identified as objectionable and the graphical content of the first graphical document is substantially identical to the graphical content of the second graphical document.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising flagging the first graphical document if the comparison indicates that the first graphical document contains material identified as objectionable.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising disapproving the first graphical document if the rating information contains a predetermined number of negative ratings from the one or more evaluator terminals.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the first graphical document contains graphical content having one or more links;

and

an operating status of the one or more links is determined and the first graphical document is disapproved if the operating status indicates at least one broken link.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising flagging the first graphical document if the first graphical document contains less than a minimum number of ratings, is rated with a rating indicative of content identified as objectionable or one or more broken links, or is associated with a particular class of advertising model.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

associating the first graphical document with one or more keywords or concepts; and

delivering the first graphical document, after approval, to a requestor requesting a document associated with the one or more keywords or concepts.

29. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing one or more graphical documents;

storing content rating information associated with the one or more stored graphical documents;

comparing graphical content of a graphical document under evaluation with graphical content of the one or more stored graphical documents to identify a matching graphical document by a processor; and

granting a distribution approval to the graphical document under evaluation based on the match and content rating information associated with the matching graphical document by the processor.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

indicating, by the content rating information, a presence of content identified as acceptable or objectionable; and

denying distribution of the graphical document under evaluation if the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document indicates the presence of content identified as objectionable.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising granting the distribution approval to the graphical document under evaluation if the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document indicates the presence of content identified as acceptable.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving one or more negative ratings from one or more users associated with the graphical document under evaluation;

presenting the graphical document under evaluation to an evaluator terminal; and

receiving rating information associated with the graphical document under evaluation from the evaluator terminal.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising granting the distribution approval based on at least one of the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document and the rating information received from the evaluator terminal indicative of an absence of content identified as objectionable.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein:

at least one of the stored graphical documents includes an approved advertisement image; and

further comprising;

identifying the approved advertisement image as the matching graphical document if the graphical content of the graphical document under evaluation is substantially identical to graphical content of the approved advertisement image; and

granting the distribution approval the first graphical document based on content rating information associated with the approved advertisement image.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

associating the graphical document under evaluation with one or more keywords; and

receiving an advertisement request associated with a concept, and serve the graphical document under evaluation after the distribution approval is granted based on a correlation between the concept and the one or more keywords.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the advertisement request includes a search query.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising comparing one or more image files associated with the graphical document under evaluation with one or more image files associated with the one or more stored graphical documents.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the graphical document under evaluation is associated with an advertising entity;

and

the graphical document under evaluation is compared with one or more graphical documents associated with a same advertising entity.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising comparing at least one of an image, animation, and sound of the graphical document under evaluation with at least one corresponding image, animation, and sound of the one or more stored graphical documents.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising comparing at least one of the color scheme, objects, text, size, shape, formatting, file type, and source of the graphical document under evaluation with a corresponding color scheme, objects, text, size, shape, formatting, file type, and source of the one or more stored graphical documents.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more stored graphical documents are formatted in a common file type;

and

where the graphical document under evaluation is converted to the common file type prior to comparing.

42. A computer-implemented method comprising:

comparing graphical content of a first graphical document to graphical content of at least one approved graphical document, the at least one approved graphical document having graphical content approved for display with publisher content by a processor;

approving the first graphical document for distribution if the comparison indicates a substantial match between graphical content of the first graphical document and graphical content of the at least one approved graphical document; and

delivering the first graphical document to a requestor for publishing upon approving the first graphical document by the processor.

43. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer program code to approve a graphical document, the program code effective to perform the following:

store a first graphical document;

compare graphical content of the first graphical document to graphical content of a second graphical document by a processor;

flag the first graphical document based on the comparison;

provide the flagged first graphical document to one or more evaluator terminals for rating information; and

approve or disapprove the flagged first graphical document based on the rating information received from the one or more evaluator terminals by the processor.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising flagging the first graphical document if the second graphical document contains material identified as objectionable and the graphical content of the first graphical document is substantially identical to the graphical content of the second graphical document.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising flagging the first graphical document if the comparison indicates that the first graphical document contains material identified as objectionable.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising disapproving the first graphical document if the rating information contains a predetermined number of negative ratings from the one or more evaluator terminals.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the first graphical document contains graphical content having one or more links;

and

an operating status of the one or more links is determined and the first graphical document is disapproved if the operating status indicates at least one broken link.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising flagging the first graphical document if the first graphical document contains less than a minimum number of ratings, is rated with a rating indicative of content identified as objectionable or one or more broken links, or is associated with a particular class of advertising model.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

associating the first graphical document with one or more keywords or concepts; and

delivering the first graphical document, after approval, to a requestor requesting a document associated with the one or more keywords or concepts.

50. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer program code to approve a graphical document, the program code effective to perform the following:

store one or more graphical documents;

store content rating information associated with the one or more stored graphical documents;

compare graphical content of a graphical document under evaluation with graphical content of the one or more stored graphical documents to identify a matching graphical document by a processor; and

grant a distribution approval to the graphical document under evaluation based on the match and content rating information associated with the matching graphical document by the processor.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein:

indicating, by the content rating information, a presence of content identified as acceptable or objectionable; and

denying distribution of the graphical document under evaluation if the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document indicates the presence of content identified as objectionable.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising granting the distribution approval to the graphical document under evaluation if the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document indicates the presence of content identified as acceptable.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

receiving one or more negative ratings from one or more users associated with the graphical document under evaluation;

presenting the graphical document under evaluation to an evaluator terminal; and

receiving rating information associated with the graphical document under evaluation from the evaluator terminal.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising granting the distribution approval based on at least one of the content rating information associated with the matching graphical document and the rating information received from the evaluator terminal indicative of an absence of content identified as objectionable.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein:

at least one of the stored graphical documents includes an approved advertisement image; and

further comprising;

identifying the approved advertisement image as the matching graphical document if the graphical content of the graphical document under evaluation is substantially identical to graphical content of the approved advertisement image; and

granting the distribution approval the first graphical document based on content rating information associated with the approved advertisement image.

56. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

associating the graphical document under evaluation with one or more keywords; and

receiving an advertisement request associated with a concept, and serve the graphical document under evaluation after the distribution approval is granted based on a correlation between the concept and the one or more keywords.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the advertisement request includes a search query.

58. The method of claim 50, further comprising comparing one or more image files associated with the graphical document under evaluation with one or more image files associated with the one or more stored graphical documents.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein the graphical document under evaluation is associated with an advertising entity;

and

the graphical document under evaluation is compared with one or more graphical documents associated with a same advertising entity.

60. The method of claim 50, further comprising comparing at least one of an image, animation, and sound of the graphical document under evaluation with at least one corresponding image, animation, and sound of the one or more stored graphical documents.

61. The method of claim 50, further comprising comparing at least one of the color scheme, objects, text, size, shape, formatting, file type, and source of the graphical document under evaluation with a corresponding color scheme, objects, text, size, shape, formatting, file type, and source of the one or more stored graphical documents.

62. The method of claim 50, wherein the one or more stored graphical documents are formatted in a common file type;

and

where the graphical document under evaluation is converted to the common file type prior to comparing.

63. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer program code to approve a graphical document, the program code effective to perform the following:

compare graphical content of a first graphical document to graphical content of at least one approved graphical document, the at least one approved graphical document having graphical content approved for display with publisher content by a processor;

approve the first graphical document for distribution if the comparison indicates a substantial match between graphical content of the first graphical document and graphical content of the at least one approved graphical document by the processor; and

deliver the first graphical document to a requestor for publishing upon approving the first graphical document.