Patent ID: 6816633
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An image retrieval method for retrieving images that resemble a specified image from a plurality of images, comprising:a decision step, of deciding an unnecessary area in the specified image, wherein said decision step includes a detection step, of detecting position and size of the unnecessary area based upon a change in luminance in the vertical and horizontal directions of the periphery of the specified image; a removal step, of removing the unnecessary area decided in said decision step from the specified image; a calculation step, of calculating a feature quantity of an image obtained by removing the unnecessary area, decided in said decision step, from the specified image; a retrieval step, of retrieving images resembling the specified image from the plurality of images using the feature quantity calculated in said calculation step; and a display step, of presenting a display based upon the images resembling the specified image obtained in said retrieval step.