Patent ID: 7991714

Claim:
A search engine for searching a computer information system or network for stored images depicting objects of interest, wherein said searching for said stored images is in response to receipt of a query comprising a query image depicting at least one object of interest; said search engine comprising: (a) first means for locating images of objects of interest within both said query image and said stored images, said first means further comprising: i. a first autoassociative neural network trained on first low resolution stored patterns depicting objects of interest and first low resolution variations of said first low resolution stored patterns; ii. first window means for scanning over said query image, creating second low resolution query patterns and second low resolution variations; iii. means for applying as inputs to said first autoassociative neural network said second low resolution query patterns and said second low resolution variations, seeking a first low error in the difference between the input and output of said first autoassociative neural network, where said first low error in difference, when below a first preset threshold, indicates a detected object of interest; (b) second means for interrelating said query image, depicting objects of interest, to said stored images depicting the same objects of interest, said second means further comprising: i. a second autoassociative neural network trained on first high resolution stored patterns and first high resolution variations, wherein each of said first high resolution stored patterns depicts an object of interest; ii. second window means for scanning over said query images beginning with the location of said detected object of interest detected in said query image by said first means, creating second high resolution query patterns and second high resolution variations; iii. means for applying as inputs to said second autoassociative neural network, said second high resolution input patterns and said second high resolution variations, seeking a second low error in the difference between the input and output of said second autoassociative neural network, where said second low error in difference, when below a second preset threshold, indicates a hit query image being applied to said second autoassociative neural network; and iv. means for identifying at least one identified stored image that is interrelated to said query image, wherein said at least one identified stored image is interrelated to said hit query image; and (c) means for delivering, as an output response to said query image, said stored images interrelated by said second means for interrelating.