Method and mechanism for retrieving images
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving digital images, comprising:
- while images are viewed in a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) sessions, storing data that indicates which images are viewed in same sessions;
wherein the data indicates that a first set of images were viewed in one or more sessions in which a particular image was also viewed;
wherein the data indicates that a second set of images were not viewed in any session in which the particular image was also viewed;
receiving, from a client, request data that specifies search criteria;
wherein the search criteria identifies the particular image as a base image;
in response to receiving the request data, performing the steps of;
reading the data to determine that the first set of images, but not the second set of images, were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed,selecting one or more requested images based, at least in part, on whether the images were viewed in sessions in which said base image was also viewed,wherein images in the first set are more likely to be selected than images in the second set because the images in the first set were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed; and
transmitting, to the client, response data that identifies the one or more requested images;
wherein the step of selecting one or more requested images is performed by one or more computing devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for, in response to receiving a request, retrieving digital images that are associated with one or more keywords and which are similar to a digital image is provided. The request may be processed using a keywords index and a content index, and optionally, a session index that references data about what digital images users have viewed together in a session. A category associated with the identified digital image may also be used in processing the request, e.g., the category associated with the identified digital image may change the weight placed on various content attributes used in comparing the content of the identified digital image to other digital images. After the set of requested digital images are determined, request data, that identifies the set of requested digital images, may be sent to the requestor.
50 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving digital images, comprising:
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while images are viewed in a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) sessions, storing data that indicates which images are viewed in same sessions; wherein the data indicates that a first set of images were viewed in one or more sessions in which a particular image was also viewed; wherein the data indicates that a second set of images were not viewed in any session in which the particular image was also viewed; receiving, from a client, request data that specifies search criteria; wherein the search criteria identifies the particular image as a base image; in response to receiving the request data, performing the steps of; reading the data to determine that the first set of images, but not the second set of images, were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed, selecting one or more requested images based, at least in part, on whether the images were viewed in sessions in which said base image was also viewed, wherein images in the first set are more likely to be selected than images in the second set because the images in the first set were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed; and transmitting, to the client, response data that identifies the one or more requested images; wherein the step of selecting one or more requested images is performed by one or more computing devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 34, 35)
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12. A machine-readable non-transitory storage storing one or more sequences of instructions for retrieving digital images, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors cause:
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while images are viewed in a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) sessions, storing data that indicates which images are viewed in same sessions; wherein the data indicates that a first set of images were viewed in one or more sessions in which a particular image was also viewed; wherein the data indicates that a second set of images were not viewed in any session in which the particular image was also viewed; receiving, from a client, request data that specifies search criteria; wherein the search criteria identifies the particular image as a base image; in response to receiving the request data, performing the steps of; reading the data to determine that the first set of images, but not the second set of images, were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed, selecting one or more requested images based, at least in part, on whether the images were viewed in sessions in which said base image was also viewed, wherein images in the first set are more likely to be selected than images in the second set because the images in the first set were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed; and transmitting, to the client, response data that identifies the one or more requested images. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 36)
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23. An apparatus for retrieving digital images, comprising:
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a non-transitory machine-readable storage storing one or more sequences of instructions; and one or more processors, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the one or more processors causes; while images are viewed in a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) sessions, storing data that indicates which images are viewed in same sessions; wherein the data indicates that a first set of images were viewed in one or more sessions in which a particular image was also viewed; wherein the data indicates that a second set of images were not viewed in any session in which the particular image was also viewed; receiving, from a client, request data that specifies search criteria; wherein the search criteria identifies the particular image as a base image; in response to receiving the request data, performing the steps of; reading the data to determine that the first set of images, but not the second set of images, were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed, selecting one or more requested images based, at least in part, on whether the images were viewed in sessions in which said base image was also viewed, wherein images in the first set are more likely to be selected than images in the second set because the images in the first set were viewed in one or more sessions in which said base image was also viewed; and transmitting, to the client, response data that identifies the one or more requested images. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37)
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Specification