Patent Document ID: 8503777
Application ID: 12970806
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. An apparatus for image retrieval, comprising: a computer configured for processing images; a memory coupled to said computer; and programming configured for retention in said memory and executable on said computer for performing operations comprising: maintaining a repository of images in an image repository; determining a one dimensional color feature as a pseudo-color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity, for an input image; generating a histogram of said pseudo-color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity; determining multiple seed values from within said histogram of pseudo-color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity, in response to: (a) finding a range between minimum and maximum values of color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity, within the histogram based on an image size dependent threshold, (b) finding pseudo histogram peaks, cliffs and falls within said histogram as candidate seeds; (c) determining a predetermined number of seeds based on finding largest candidate seeds which exceed a predetermined fraction of difference between minimum and maximum values of color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity; determining a similarity threshold for each seed; determining a location centroid of blocks in a same category of value as each seed; building a geometric figure from location centroids for each seed as a geometric feature description of said pseudo-color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity; comparing a geometric feature description of said pseudo-color saturation, or block intensity, or a combination of pseudo-color saturation and block intensity; and retrieving images from said repository of images in response to said comparing.