Information processing unit, information processing method, and program

An information processing method of an information processing unit, the information processing unit that displays a diagnostic image serving as a diagnosis target and a diagnosed image similar to the diagnostic image for comparison, the information processing method comprising:

• inputting the diagnostic image;
• obtaining display operation history information representing an operation history of a user who controls displaying of the diagnostic image;
• extracting a predetermined region of the input diagnostic image to generate a query image;
• supplying the generated query image and the display operation history information to a diagnosed image search unit and obtaining the diagnosed image obtained as a search result by the diagnosed image search unit;
• and
• displaying the diagnostic image and the obtained diagnosed image for comparison,
• wherein the diagnosed image search unit executes
• extracting an image feature amount of the query image,
• retrieving diagnosed images each of which includes a sub-image with an image feature amount similar to the image feature amount of the query image from diagnosed images registered in advance, and
• extracting a diagnosed image with display operation history information similar to the display operation history information corresponding to the diagnostic image that is a base of the query image from the retrieved diagnosed images.

A program allowing a computer that displays a diagnostic image serving as a diagnosis target and a diagnosed image similar to the diagnostic image for comparison to function as:

• a diagnostic image input section that inputs the diagnostic image;
• an operation information obtaining section that obtains display operation history information representing an operation history of a user who controls displaying of the diagnostic image;
• a query image generation section that extracts a predetermined region of the input diagnostic image to generate a query image;
• a diagnosed image obtaining section that supplies the generated query image and the display operation history information to a diagnosed image search unit and obtains the diagnosed image obtained as a search result by the diagnosed image search unit;
• and
• a display control section that displays the diagnostic image and the obtained diagnosed image for comparison,
• wherein the diagnosed image search unit includes
• an image feature amount extraction section that extracts an image feature amount of the query image,
• a search section that retrieves diagnosed images each of which includes a sub-image with an image feature amount similar to the image feature amount of the query image from diagnosed images registered in advance, and
• a primary filter section that extracts a diagnosed image with display operation history information similar to the display operation history information corresponding to the diagnostic image that is a base of the query image from the diagnosed images retrieved by the search section.