US6026411A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating an image index and for internet searching and querying by image colors
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-06
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Granted: 2000-02-15
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Expires: 2017-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for building an image index and for searching and querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet or other network environment. First an index is built for each of the plurality of images. A selected number of levels is identified for image processing, and an upper resolution and a lower resolution are identified for each of the selected number of levels for image processing. An image is filtered at each selected level. A sample of pixels is acquired and stored at each selected level in the index. At query time, an image color is selected. A entry of the index is acquired. The acquired entry is compared with the selected image color. A match is identified responsive to the acquired entry being near the selected image color.
Inventors
- 👤 Helen Roxlo Delp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5838; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/912; Y10S707/913; Y10S707/915; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A computer program product for use in a computer system for building an index by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a selected number of levels for image processing, and for identifying an upper resolution and a lower resolution for each of said selected number of levels for image processing; means, recorded on the recording medium, for filtering an image at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring and storing a sample of pixels at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A computer program product for use in a computer system for building an index by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a selected number of levels for image processing, and for identifying an upper resolution and a lower resolution for each of said selected number of levels for image processing; means, recorded on the recording medium, for filtering an image at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring and storing a sample of pixels at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 1 includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a selected number of important colors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 1 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each selected level includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for utilizing a random, a pseudo-random or a deterministic method, and for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image in said index.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 1 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each selected level includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for generating a histogram of pixels by image color and for utilizing said histogram for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image in said index.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 4 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each said selected level includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a selected number of important colors and for utilizing said selected number of important colors and said histogram for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each said selected level for image processing of said filtered image in said index.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 4 includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a histogram threshold for selecting a number of important colors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer program product for use in a computer system for querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; an index by image colors from the plurality of images including images from the internet stored on said recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an image color; means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring an index entry from said index; means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer program product for use in a computer system for querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; an index by image colors from the plurality of images including images from the internet stored on said recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting an image color; means, recorded on the recording medium, for acquiring an index entry from said index; means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 7 includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for building said index for each of the plurality of images.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 7 includes said means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a selected coordinate system for comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 7 includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for calculating a match quality value responsive to each identified match of said acquired index entry and said selected image color.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 7 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a permissible color difference between said acquired pixel and said selected image color for identifying a match.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 7 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying said match responsive to said acquired entry being near said selected image color includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a predefined distance or for identifying a predefined range, and wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying said match is responsive to said acquired index entry being within said predefined distance or within said predefined range of said selected image color.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 7 wherein said means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying said match responsive to said acquired entry being near said selected image color includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying said match is responsive to said acquired index entry being equal to said selected image color.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said method comprising the steps of: identifying a selected number of levels for image processing, and identifying an upper resolution and a lower resolution for each of said selected number of levels for image processing; filtering an image at each selected level between said upper resolution and said lower resolution for image processing; and acquiring and storing a sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said method comprising the steps of: identifying a selected number of levels for image processing, and identifying an upper resolution and a lower resolution for each of said selected number of levels for image processing; filtering an image at each selected level between said upper resolution and said lower resolution for image processing; and acquiring and storing a sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images as recited in claim 14 wherein the steps of identifying said selected number of levels for image processing, and identifying said upper resolution and said lower resolution includes the step of either receiving user selections or identifying stored default values.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors as recited in claim 14 includes the step of identifying a selected number of important colors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image includes the steps of, utilizing a random, a pseudo-random or a deterministic method, and acquiring and storing a sample of pixels at each selected level in said index.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image includes the steps of generating a histogram of pixels by image color and utilizing said histogram for acquiring and storing a sample of pixels at each selected level in said index.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors as recited in claim 18 wherein the step of acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image includes the steps of identifying a selected number of important colors and utilizing said selected number of important colors and said histogram for acquiring and storing said sample of pixels at each selected level in said index.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer implemented method for building an index by image colors as recited in claim 18 includes the step of identifying a histogram threshold for selecting a number of important colors.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet comprising the steps of: building an index by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet; selecting an image color; acquiring an index entry from said index; comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and identifying a match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet comprising the steps of: building an index by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet; selecting an image color; acquiring an index entry from said index; comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and identifying a match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images as recited in claim 21 includes the step of calculating a match quality value responsive to each identified match of said acquired index entry and said selected image color.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images as recited in claim 21 wherein the step of identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color includes the step of identifying a selected coordinate system for comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images as recited in claim 21 wherein the steps of comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color include the step of identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being within a predefined distance of said selected image color.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images as recited in claim 21 wherein the steps of comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color include the step of identifying said match responsive to said acquired entry being within a defined range of said selected image color.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method for querying by image colors from a plurality of images as recited in claim 21 wherein the steps of comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color include the step of identifying said match responsive to said acquired index entry being equal to said selected image color.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer system having apparatus for building an index by image colors for a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer system comprising: a processor, a memory; a communications adapter; a bus connecting said processor, memory, and communications adapter; means for identifying a selected number of levels for image processing, and for identifying an upper resolution and a lower resolution for each of said selected number of levels for image processing; means for filtering an image at each selected level for image processing between said upper resolution and said lower resolution; and means for acquiring and for storing a sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer system having apparatus for building an index by image colors for a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer system comprising: a processor, a memory; a communications adapter; a bus connecting said processor, memory, and communications adapter; means for identifying a selected number of levels for image processing, and for identifying an upper resolution and a lower resolution for each of said selected number of levels for image processing; means for filtering an image at each selected level for image processing between said upper resolution and said lower resolution; and means for acquiring and for storing a sample of pixels at each selected level from said filtered image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer system having apparatus for querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer system comprising: a processor, a memory; a communications adapter; a bus connecting said processor, memory, and communications adapter; means for building an index by image colors from the plurality of images; means for selecting an image color; means for acquiring an index entry from said index; means for comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and means for identifying a match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer system having apparatus for querying by image colors from a plurality of images including images from the internet, said computer system comprising: a processor, a memory; a communications adapter; a bus connecting said processor, memory, and communications adapter; means for building an index by image colors from the plurality of images; means for selecting an image color; means for acquiring an index entry from said index; means for comparing said acquired index entry with said selected image color; and means for identifying a match responsive to said acquired index entry being near said selected image color.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-08-16 | 2004-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-14 | 2007-08-16 | 2008-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-14 | 2011-08-16 | 2012-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |