Method and apparatus for image processing and comparison based on spatial relationships between image features

An apparatus for measuring similarities between storage systems or persons associated therewith, the storage systems containing collections of physical items, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:

• direct capturing of images of two storage systems using one or more remote image capture devices;
• receive the images of the two storage systems;
• for each one of the images:
• identify one or more pairs of physical items in the image, including determining identities of each physical item of each of the pairs of physical items, and identifying locations in the storage system of each physical item of each of the pairs of physical items;
• process the image to measure physical proximities between physical items of each of the pairs of physical items;
• and
• generate or update a measure of similarity between the storage systems or persons associated therewith, based on the physical proximities.

A method for automatically measuring similarities between physical items comprising:

• acquiring an image of a storage system via a network from a remote image capture device;
• identifying, using processing circuitry, a pair of physical items in the image, including determining identities of each item of the pair of physical items, and identifying locations in the storage system of each physical item of the pair of physical items;
• processing, using the processing circuitry, the image to measure a physical proximity between the pair of physical items;
• and
• generating or updating, using the processing circuitry, a measure of similarity between the pair of physical items based on the measured physical proximity.

A method for measuring similarities between storage systems or persons associated therewith, the storage systems containing collections of physical items, the method comprising:

• acquiring images of two storage systems via a network from one or more remote image capture devices;
• for each one of the images:
• identifying, using processing circuitry, one or more pairs of physical items in the image, including determining identities of each physical item of each of the pairs of physical items, and identifying locations in the storage system of each physical item of each of the pairs of physical items;
• processing the image, using the processing circuitry, to measure physical proximities between physical items of each of the pairs of physical items;
• and
• generating or updating, using the processing circuitry, a measure of similarity between the storage systems or persons associated therewith, based on the physical proximities.