Patent ID: 8219594

Claim:
An image processing apparatus which extracts a plurality of objects contained in input image data, and stores the objects in a storage device, said image processing apparatus comprising: a first generating unit configured to generate a plurality of pieces of first information of a specific type and to associate the plurality of pieces of first information with respective ones of the plurality of objects; a detecting unit configured to detect a relationship of two or more of the plurality of objects; a second generating unit configured to generate a plurality of pieces of second information of the specific type and to associate the plurality of pieces of second information with respective different groups of the objects which have the relationship detected by said detecting unit; an inputting unit configured to input a query of the specific type for searching the objects; a selecting unit configured to select a search level, based on a user's instruction, from a plurality of different search levels including at least an object level targeting a single object, where the first information is used, and a group level targeting a plurality of objects having a relationship, where the second information is used; a searching unit configured to, in a case where the object level is selected by said selecting unit, search the pieces of first information for a match of the query and identify the object associated with the matching piece of first information, and in a case where the group level is selected by said selecting unit, search the pieces of second, information for a match of the query and identify the object(s) associated with the matching piece of second information; and a display unit configured to display the one or more objects identified by said searching unit.