U.S. patent application number 09/107384 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for apparatus and method for retrieving image information in computer.
Invention is credited to LEE, HEE-JONG.
Application Number | 20010056419 09/107384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19516566 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010056419 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE, HEE-JONG |
December 27, 2001 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RETRIEVING IMAGE INFORMATION IN
COMPUTER
Abstract
An apparatus and method for retrieving image information in a
computer. A controller receives a schematic image inputted by a
user and normalizes the input image to an image of a constant size.
A feature vector of each sub block of the normalized image is
extracted, and the extracted feature vector is quantized to one of
representative values of a determined number within feature vector
space. An image profile indicating the frequency of occurrence of
the feature vector of the input image is generated with respect to
a quantizing level. A profile of the input image is compared with a
profile of each image in an image data base part. An image
corresponding to a profile whose similarity is within a reference
value is displayed.
Inventors: |
LEE, HEE-JONG; (SEOUL,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION ZINN MACPEAK & SEAS
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON
DC
200373202
|
Family ID: |
19516566 |
Appl. No.: |
09/107384 |
Filed: |
June 30, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 382/190;
382/218; 707/999.006; 707/999.104; 707/E17.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99936 20130101;
G06F 16/583 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/6 ;
707/104.1; 382/218; 382/190 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/30; G06K
009/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 1997 |
KR |
1997-36675 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for retrieving image information in a computer,
comprising: an image input unit for receiving an image input by a
user; an image size normalizer for normalizing the image to a
constant size normalized image; a feature vector extractor for
extracting a feature vector of each sub block of the normalized
image; a vector quantizer for quantizing the feature vector to one
of a fixed number of quantized levels; a profile generator for
generating an image profile indicating the frequency of occurrence
of each quantizing level within the feature vector; an image data
base unit for storing various image information; an image data base
index unit for storing profiles of images stored in the image data
base unit; a similarity comparator for comparing a profile received
from said profile generator with a profile of each image stored in
the image data base index unit; and a controller for reading an
image corresponding to a profile whose similarity is within a
reference value from said image data base unit and displaying the
corresponding image through an image display unit.
2. A method for retrieving image information in a computer,
comprising: receiving an image input by a user; normalizing the
input image to an image of a constant size; extracting a feature
vector of each sub block of the normalized image; quantizing the
extracted feature vector to one of a fixed number of quantizing
levels; generating an image profile indicating the frequency of
occurrence of each quantizing level within the feature vector;
comparing a profile of the input image with a profile of each image
in an image data base unit; and reading an image corresponding to a
profile whose similarity is within a reference value from said
image data base unit and displaying the corresponding image through
an image display unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a data base retrieving
method, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for
retrieving image information.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In most data base systems, a text-based keyword input method
has been used to retrieve desired information, regardless of
whether the information is text or image. However, in data base
systems for still images, it is difficult to find appropriate
keywords corresponding to still image information. Further, during
retrieval, it is difficult to guess the exact keyword corresponding
to a still image. Therefore, an easy method for retrieving still
images from the data base is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus and method for retrieving image information in a
computer.
[0006] To achieve the above objects, a controller receives a
schematic image input by a user and normalizes the input image to
an image of a constant size. A feature vector of each sub block of
the normalized image is extracted, and the extracted feature vector
is quantized to one of a fixed number of quantizing levels within
feature vector space. An image profile indicating the frequency of
occurrence of a quantizing level in the feature vector of the input
image. A profile of the input image is compared with a profile of
each image in an image data base part. An image corresponding to a
profile whose similarity is within a reference value is
displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image information
retrieving apparatus according to the present invention; and
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an image information
retrieving method according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] In the following description, numerous specific details such
as a processing flow are set forth to provide a more thorough
understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent,
however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may
be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,
well known functions and constructions have not been described so
as not to obscure the present invention.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, an image input unit 100 inputs a
schematic drawing of an image to be retrieved from an image data
base unit 114. An image size normalizer 102 normalizes an image
received from the image input unit 100 to an image of a preset
constant size. A feature vector extractor 104 extracts a feature
vector from the normalized input image. A vector quantizer 106
vector-quantizes the feature vector extracted from the feature
vector extractor 104 to various quantizing levels according to an
internal code book. A profile generator 108 generates a profile
showing the feature of the input image in such a manner that the
frequency of occurrence of each quantizing level within the feature
vector is indicated. A similarity comparator 110 compares a profile
of the input image with a profile of an image within the data base
and supplies the image in the image data base that is within a
similar range to an image display unit 116. An image data base
index unit 112 stores the profiles of the image information
contained in an image data base unit 114. The image data base unit
114 is a storage device in which the image information is stored.
The image display unit 116 displays the image received from the
similarity comparator 110. A controller 118 controls the image
information retrieving apparatus.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an image information retrieving method
according to the present invention. A user schematically draws the
image that is to be searched from the image data base unit 114 in
the image input unit 100. The controller 118 senses, at step 200,
the input image received from the user. At step 202, the input
image is normalized to an image of a preset constant size. The
normalized image is split into sub blocks of a preset number at
step 204. At step 206, the feature vector of each sub block is
extracted. The feature vector may be, for example, a DCT (Discrete
Cosine Transform) coefficient of each sub block. At step 208, the
extracted feature vector is quantized, and at step 210, the profile
indicated as the frequency of occurrence of the quantizing level
within the feature vector is generated. At step 212, the profile
generated at step 210 is compared with the profile for each image
in data base in the image data base index unit 112. It is checked
at step 214 whether there is a profile whose similarity is within a
reference value. If so, the corresponding image is read from the
image data base unit 114 and displayed through the image display
unit 116. If there is no profile whose similarity is within the
reference value, the controller 118 completes the whole
operation.
[0013] Therefore, if the user draws a desired image by lines and
colors, the feature vector of the drawing is extracted and a still
image having a similar feature vector is retrieved. Consequently,
the desired image can be retrieved without inputting the key word
by schematically inputting the feature part of the image.
[0014] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to a certain preferred embodiment thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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