Patent ID: 7194453
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An image retrieval apparatus implemented in a computer system for retrieving a desired image from a plurality of stored images, comprising: storage means for storing the plurality of images and an image feature set of each of the plurality of images in a form correlated with the image, wherein the image feature set of each image includes image features of a predetermined number of tile images obtained by dividing an image into the predetermined number of tiles; feature calculation means for dividing a retrieval source image into the predetermined number of tile images and obtaining an image feature set of the retrieval source image by calculating an image feature of each of the tile images; acquisition means for generating a plurality of image feature sets by multiplying an image feature included in an image feature set stored in said storage means by a constant, and acquiring a plurality of image feature sets regarding one image by varying the constant; similarity calculating means for calculating degree of similarity between each of the plurality of images and the retrieval source image based on the plurality of image feature sets acquired by the acquisition means and the image feature set calculated by the feature calculation means, wherein said similarity calculating means calculates degree of similarity between each image feature set of the plurality of image feature sets acquired by said acquisition means and the image feature set calculated by said feature calculation means, and adopts maximum degree of similarity for each of the stored images as the degree of similarity between each of the stored images and the retrieval-source image; and retrieval means for retrieving the desired image from the plurality of stored images based on the degrees of similarity between the plurality of stored images and the retrieval source image, calculated by said similarity calculating means.