Patent · US Expired

Image retrieval method and apparatus using iterative matching

US7298931B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
11References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 2003
Grant dateNov 20, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 26, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F16/583
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An image retrieval method and apparatus using iterative matching are provided. The method comprises: (a) extracting K similar images in order of matching rank by retrieving N reference images stored in an image database through comparison between a query image selected by a user and the reference images; and (b) performing iterative matching for M similar images, which are ranked higher and selected from the K similar images, with a predetermined frequency, and rearranging the matching ranks of the M similar images. According to the method and apparatus, among similar images retrieved by using a query image selected by a user, M similar images that are ranked higher are selected, and by performing iterative matching for the M similar images using the high-ranked similar image, M similar images are rearranged in order of similarity and output. Accordingly, accuracy of the matching can improve greatly and a load to the retrieval engine due to iterative retrieval can be minimized.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.