Patent ID: 8175387

Claim:
A method of comparing images comprising: receiving a first image and a second image, each of said images having a plurality of values representing pixel intensities of said images; creating a horizontal sequence of said values and a vertical sequence of said values for said first image, wherein said horizontal sequence orders said values row-by-row and wherein said vertical sequence orders said values column-by-column; creating a horizontal sequence of said values and a vertical sequence of said values for said second image, wherein said horizontal sequence orders said values row-by-row and wherein said vertical sequence orders said values column-by-column, wherein the horizontal sequence order for said second image is the same as the horizontal sequence order for the first image, and wherein the vertical sequence order for said second image is consistent with the vertical sequence order for the first image; determining a horizontal error distance between said horizontal sequences of said first and second images; determining a vertical error distance between said vertical sequences of said first and second images; and calculating a similarity value using said horizontal and vertical error distances.