Image recognition algorithm, method of identifying a target image using same, and method of selecting data for transmission to a portable electronic device

A method of identifying a target image, the method comprising:

• receiving an input at a processing device, the input including data related to the target image;
• performing a retrieving step, the retrieving step comprising retrieving an image from an image database, the image database containing a plurality of potentially matching images, and, until the image is either accepted or rejected, designating the image as a candidate image;
• performing an image recognition step, the image recognition step comprising using the processing device to perform an image recognition algorithm on the target image and the candidate image in order to obtain an image recognition algorithm output;
• and
• performing a comparison step, the comparison step comprising:
• if the image recognition algorithm output is within a pre-selected range, accepting the candidate image as the target image;
• and
• if the image recognition algorithm output is not within the pre-selected range, rejecting the candidate image and repeating the retrieving step, the image recognition step, and the comparison step.

A method of selecting data for transmission to a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

• receiving at a processing device information related to a target image, the information sent from the portable electronic device;
• performing a retrieving step, the retrieving step comprising retrieving information relating to an image from an image database, the image database containing a plurality of potentially matching images, and, until the image is either accepted or rejected, designating the image as a candidate image;
• performing an image recognition step, the image recognition step comprising using the processing device to perform an image recognition algorithm on the information relating to the target image and to the candidate image in order to obtain an image recognition algorithm output;
• performing a comparison step, the comparison step comprising:
• if the image recognition algorithm output is within a pre-selected range, accepting the candidate image as the target image;
• and
• if the image recognition algorithm output is not within the pre-selected range, rejecting the candidate image and repeating the retrieving step, the image recognition step, and the comparison step;
• and
• after accepting the candidate image as the target image, transmitting a data set associated with the target image to the portable electronic device.