Object search and navigation method and system

• US 9,607,327 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alon Atsmon, Dan Atsmon
• Original Assignee: Alon Atsmon, Dan Atsmon
• Inventors: Atsmon, Dan, Atsmon, Alon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlein T
• Application Number:
  US12/499,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,820 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/838
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A computer implemented method of presenting visual content items, comprising: grouping the visual content items according to predefined similarity rules relating to visual characteristics of the visual content items such that each group has a range for the number of its members; selecting a representative visual content item for each group; presenting the representative visual content item of each group that has a minimal number of members above a predefined threshold; and optionally presenting the visual content items alongside the representative visual content items. The grouping may be carried out by using predefined color groups; by using predefined shape groups; or using Keypoints of the visual content items, and relate to groups of human faces, product images and landscape images.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of presenting a plurality of visual content items, comprising:

receiving a text query submitted by a user;

grouping a plurality of visual content items which are provided as query results to said text query in a plurality of groups according to a plurality of predefined similarity rules relating to a plurality of visual characteristics of the plurality of visual content items;

selecting a plurality of representative visual content items each for one group of the plurality of groups, each one of said plurality of representative visual content-items is selected according to at least one image parameter thereof, each one of said plurality of representative visual content items is selected from the plurality of visual content items of a respective said group;

presenting a graphical user interface having;

a first subpart presenting said plurality of representative visual content items each of one of the plurality of groups;

a second subpart presenting a plurality of categorization items each indicative of a different color;

a third subpart presenting members of one of the plurality of groups; and

filtering at least some of said plurality of groups or at least some of said plurality of visual content items in said plurality of groups in response to at least one user selection of at least one of said categorization items in said second subpart;

updating a presentation of said graphical user interface on a display of a user terminal in response to an outcome of said filtering;

labeling each group of the plurality of groups with a group label selected from a plurality of text fields of members of the respective group;

wherein the group label describes at least one non visual characteristic of the respective representative visual content item;

wherein said presentation comprises presenting said group label;

wherein the plurality of visual content items are images of a plurality of products and the least one non visual characteristic in indicative of a member of a group consisting of;

who made a product, when a product was made, where a product was made, a content of a product, a product usage instructions, and a safely of a product.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the plurality of visual content items alongside the representative visual content item.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined similarity rules defines a fixed number of visual content items.

4. The computer implemented methods of claim 1, wherein the grouping is carried out by using predefined color groups indicated by said to at least one user selection.

5. The computer implemented methods of claim 1, wherein the grouping is carried out using predefined shape groups indicated by said to at least one user selection.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the groups comprises human faces.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the groups comprises product images.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the groups comprises landscape images.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representative visual content item of each group are presented in descending order of their range for the number of its members.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representative visual content item of each group are reduced images.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representative visual content item of each group are thumbnails.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representative visual content item are presented on a predefined sub part of a users'"'"' display.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the representative visual content item are presented on a separate window.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the grouping is carried out using at least one keypoint of the visual content items.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the visual content items are product offerings.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the visual content items are product offerings presented on an online market place.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein members other than the representative visual content item are presented in a descending order of similarity relative to the representative visual content item.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the grouping is performed according to text similarity between text strings which are associated with different visual content items from the plurality of visual content items.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a first group of the plurality of groups by a user which clicks on an area in the presentation;

presenting a plurality of members of the first group in response to the selecting.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual content items are image files of a plurality of webpages.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said at least one image parameter is selected from a group consisting of resolution, symmetry, and background uniformity.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of categorization items is indicative of said different color and a shape category.

23. A data processing system for analyzing and presenting a plurality of visual content items, comprising:

a mediator computer server adapted to be connected via one communication link to a user client and another communication link to a plurality of sources holding the plurality of visual content items;

wherein said mediator computer server is adapted to;

receive a text query submitted by a user;

group the plurality of visual content items which are provided as query results to said text query in a plurality of groups according to a plurality of predefined similarity rules relating to a plurality of visual characteristics of the plurality of visual content items such that each group of the plurality of groups has a range for the number of its members,

select a plurality of representative visual content items each for one group of the plurality of groups, each one of said plurality of representative visual content items is selected according to at least one image parameter thereof, each one of said plurality of representative visual content items is selected from the plurality of visual content items of a respective said group;

present a graphical user interface having;

a first subpart presenting said plurality of representative visual content items;

a second subpart presenting a plurality of categorization items each indicative of a different color;

a third subpart presenting members of one of the plurality of groups; and

filter at least some of said plurality of groups or at least some of said plurality of visual content items in said plurality of groups in response to at least one user selection of at least one of said categorization items in said second subpart;

update a presentation of said graphical user interface on a display of a user terminal in response to an outcome of said filtering;

label each group of the plurality of groups with a group label selected from a plurality of text fields of members of the respective group;

wherein the group label describes at least one non visual characteristic of the respective representative visual content item;

wherein said presentation comprises presenting said group label;

wherein the plurality of visual content items are images of a plurality of products and the least one non visual characteristic in indicative of a member of a group consisting of;

who made a product, when a product was made, where a product was made, a content of a product, a product usage instructions, and a safely of a product.

24. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the graphical user interface is arranged to present the representative visual content items alongside the visual content items of the respective group.

25. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein for each group, members other than the representative visual content item are presented in a descending order of similarity relative to the representative visual content item.