Patent ID: 6976016

Claim:
A method of learning a user query concept for searching visual images encoded in computer readable storage media comprising: providing a multiplicity of respective sample images encoded in a computer readable medium; providing a multiplicity of respective sample expressions encoded in computer readable medium that respectively correspond to respective sample images and in which respective terms of such respective sample expressions represent respective features of corresponding sample images; defining a user query concept sample space bounded by a k-CNF expression which models a query concept and by a k-DNF expression; refining the user query concept sample space by, selecting multiple respective sample images from within the user query concept sample space by selecting respective sample expressions that correspond to such images, wherein respective sample expressions are selected by optimizing a tradeoff between a respective expression's having sufficient similarity to the k-CNF expression that a user is likely to indicate that its corresponding sample image is close to the user's query concept and such respective expression's having sufficient dissimilarity from the k-CNF expression that an indication by the user that its corresponding sample image is close to the user's query concept is likely to provide maximum information as to which disjunctive terms of the k-CNF expression do not match the user's query concept; presenting the multiple selected sample images to the user; soliciting user feedback as to which of the multiple presented sample images are close to the user's query concept; wherein refining the user query concept sample space further includes, refining the k-CNF expression by, identifying respective differences between one or more respective terms of respective sample expressions, corresponding to respective sample images indicated by a user as close to the user's query concept, and corresponding respective disjunctive terms of the k-CNF expression; determining which, if any, respective disjunctive terms of the k-CNF expression to remove from the k-CNF expression based upon the identified differences; removing from the k-CNF expression respective disjunctive terms determined to be removed; wherein refining the user query concept sample space further includes, refining the k-DNF expression by, identifying respective differences between one or more respective terms of respective sample expressions, corresponding to respective sample images indicated by a user as not close to the user's query concept, and corresponding respective conjunctive terms of the k-DNF expression; determining which, if any, respective conjunctive terms of the k-DNF to remove from the k-DNF expression based upon the identified differences; and removing from the k-DNF expression respective conjunctive terms determined to be removed.