Two way local feature matching to improve visual search accuracy

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a visual search server having access to one or more repository images, information relating to distinctive features within a query image for a visual search request;
• in the visual search server,
• forward matching the distinctive features within the query image to distinctive features within each of the one or more repository images,
• when at least one of (a) a sum of weights based upon distances in the forward matched distinctive features between the query image and the respective repository image, and (b) a bit rate for the query image is higher than the predetermined threshold, backward matching distinctive features within the respective repository image to the distinctive features within the query image, and
• determining whether each repository image correlates to the query image based upon the forward matching and the backward matching.

A visual search server system, comprising:

• a network connection configured to provide access to one or more repository images and configured to receive information relating to distinctive features within a query image for a visual search request;
• a processing system configured to
• forward match the distinctive features within the query image to distinctive features within each of the one or more repository images,
• when selected criteria are met, backward match distinctive features within the respective repository image to the distinctive features within the query image, and
• determine whether each repository image correlates to the query image based upon results of matching distinctive features.

A visual search server, comprising:

• a network connection configured to provide access to one or more repository images and to receive information relating to distinctive features within a query image for a visual search request;
• a processing system configured to
• forward match the distinctive features within the query image to distinctive features within each of the one or more repository images,
• when at least one of (a) a sum of weights based upon distances in the forward matched distinctive features between the query image and the respective repository image, and (b) a bit rate for the query image is higher than the predetermined threshold, backward match distinctive features within the respective repository image to the distinctive features within the query image, and
• determine whether each repository image correlates to the query image based upon the forward matching and the backward matching.