Patent ID: 7860854

Claim:
An image processing system for searching images on a network, the image processing system comprising: (a) one or more processors; (b) a search engine configured to process images according to a matching algorithm; (c) an image analyzer coupled to said search engine, said image analyzer for comparing first and second images provided thereto from said search engine, wherein: the first image is associated with a first code associated with a first predetermined textual annotation, the second image is associated with a second code associated with a second predetermined textual annotation, the first code is descriptive of at least a region of the first image, the second code is descriptive of at least a region of the second image, and the image analyzer uses the matching algorithm for image analysis of the first and second images along with a comparison of the first and second codes in determining if the first and second images are likely to compare favorably, wherein: the matching algorithm comprises a plurality of factors related to matching that affect how the matching algorithm operates, the plurality of factors comprise at least one of parameters, characteristics, or constraints, either one or both of the first and second images is analyzed to identify a subset of the plurality of factors, and the matching algorithm is automatically tailored to either exclude or include the subset of the plurality of factors based upon one or both of: a determination of which factors are discriminating for either one or both of the first and second images, and information specific to a particular application.