Patent ID: 6735577
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of automatically searching for relevant picture data sets in a quantity of n (n&gE;2) picture data sets electronically stored in a memory device, picture attributes for each of the n picture data sets being stored electronically in the memory device, and the n picture data sets as well as the stored picture attributes being adapted to be processed electronically by a processor, said method comprising:(a) providing a first selection of picture data sets from the n picture data sets using the processor to be output by a display device; (b) outputting several of the picture data sets of the first selection of picture data sets using the display device; (c) electronically recording a respective evaluation by a user for at least one relevant picture data set of the plurality of picture data sets output according to (b); and (d) providing a second selection of m (m&lE;n) picture data sets from the n picture data sets in a sequence which depends on a respective system relevance of the m picture data sets to be output by the display device; a machine learning process being carried out for electronically determining a decision function f to provide the second selection of the m picture data sets; the picture attributes electronically stored in the memory device for the at least one relevant picture data set constituting a training quantity for the machine learning process; the respective system relevance being determined for k (k&gE;m) picture data sets using the decision function f and the respective electronically stored picture attributes; and the k picture data sets comprising at least part of the m picture data sets of the second selection.