Patent ID: 7308140

Claim:
A method of measuring a textural similarity of images, the method comprising: automatically determining a statistical dissimilarity (d(i, j)) between the images (i, j); and automatically determining a perceptual dissimilarity ({circumflex over (d)}|P (i) −P (j) |) between the images; and automatically determining a textural dissimilarity (D(i, j)) based on the statistical dissimilarity (d(i, j)) and a function of the perceptual dissimilarity ({circumflex over (d)}(|P (i) −P (j) |))where {circumflex over (d)} is a function whose value is dependant on a range and magnitude of the perceptual dissimilarity, wherein the textural dissimilarity D(i, j) is determined according to an equation D (i, j)=d(i, j)+d)i, j) α{circumflex over (d)}(P (i) , P (j) ) where α is a predetermined scaling factor and {circumflex over (d)} is a function defined as: d ^ ⁡ ( P ( i ) , P ( j ) ) = { 0  P ( i ) - P ( j )  ≤ 1  P ( i ) - P ( j )   P ( i ) - P ( j )  > 1.