Systems and methods to present web image search results for effective image browsing

• US 20060155684A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Hao, Ma, Wei-Ying, Xie, Xing, Li, Zhiwei
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Systems and methods to present web image search results for effective image browsing are described. In one aspect, task-based attention objects for each of multiple images associated with image search results are generated. Thumbnail images from respective ones of the images are created as a function of at least the task-based attention objects. The thumbnail images emphasize image region(s) of greater priority to a user in view of a keyword or expanded keyword associated with the search results.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating task-based attention objects for each of multiple images associated with image search results; and

creating thumbnail images from respective ones of the images as a function of at least the task-based attention objects to emphasize image region(s) of greater priority to a user in view of a keyword or expanded keyword associated with the search results.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising presenting the thumbnail images to the user for browsing.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

calculating similarity measurements between the images as a function of one or more of content of the task-based attention objects and features associated with the images as a whole, the features comprising one or more of features extracted from the images and context associated with the images; and

mapping the thumbnail images to a 2-D layout space for presentation to the user as a function of the similarity measurements.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the mapping is configurable as a function of image overlap ratio.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the mapping is configurable as a function of a user specified image overlap ratio.

6. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

receiving an indication that a user has selected a particular thumbnail image of the thumbnail images to view with respect to local detail and global context; and

responsive to receiving the indication;

identifying an original image of the images corresponding to the particular thumbnail image; and

mapping the original image and remaining ones of the image thumbnails to the 2-D space using a distorted polar coordinate system in view of a configurable distortion rate.

7. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-program instructions executable by a processor for:

generating task-based attention objects for each of multiple images associated with image search results; and

creating thumbnail images from respective ones of the images as a function of at least the task-based attention objects to emphasize image region(s) of greater priority to a user in view of a keyword or expanded keyword associated with the search results.

8. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7, further comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for presenting the thumbnail images to the user for browsing.

9. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7, further comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for:

calculating similarity measurements between the images as a function of one or more of content of the task-based attention objects and features associated with the images as a whole, the features comprising one or more of features extracted from the images and context associated with the images; and

mapping the thumbnail images to a 2-D layout space for presentation to the user as a function of the similarity measurements.

10. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein results of the computer-program instructions for mapping are configurable as a function of image overlap ratio.

11. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein results of the computer-program instructions for mapping are configurable as a function of a user specified image overlap ratio.

12. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 9, further comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for:

receiving an indication that a user has selected a particular thumbnail image of the thumbnail images to view with respect to local detail and global context; and

responsive to receiving the indication;

identifying an original image of the images corresponding to the particular thumbnail image; and

mapping the original image and remaining ones of the image thumbnails to the 2-D space using a distorted polar coordinate system in view of a configurable distortion rate.

13. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for;

generating task-based attention objects for each of multiple images associated with image search results; and

creating thumbnail images from respective ones of the images as a function of at least the task-based attention objects to emphasize image region(s) of greater priority to a user in view of a keyword or expanded keyword associated with the search results.

14. A computing device as recited in claim 13, further comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for presenting the thumbnail images to the user for browsing.

15. A computing device as recited in claim 13, further comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for:

calculating similarity measurements between the images as a function of one or more of content of the task-based attention objects and features associated with the images as a whole, the features comprising one or more of features extracted from the images and context associated with the images; and

mapping the thumbnail images to a 2-D layout space for presentation to the user as a function of the similarity measurements.

16. A computing device as recited in claim 15, wherein results of the computer-program instructions for mapping are configurable as a function of image overlap ratio.

17. A computing device as recited in claim 15, wherein results of the computer-program instructions for mapping are configurable as a function of a user specified image overlap ratio.

18. A computing device as recited in claim 15, further comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for:

receiving an indication that a user has selected a particular thumbnail image of the thumbnail images to view with respect to local detail and global context; and

responsive to receiving the indication;

identifying an original image of the images corresponding to the particular thumbnail image; and

mapping the original image and remaining ones of the image thumbnails to the 2-D space using a distorted polar coordinate system in view of a configurable distortion rate.