Method, apparatus, and computer program product for training a signature encoding module and a query processing module to identify objects of interest within an image utilizing digital signatures

A method for training at least one of a signature encoding module and a query processing module, the method comprising:

• training at least one of the signature encoding module and the query processing module, wherein the training comprises:
• providing the signature encoding module with a reference image containing an object of interest and having the object of interest marked within the reference image;
• generating a digital signature of the object of interest and at least some context associated with the object of interest in the reference image;
• providing the query processing module with a query image and the digital signature representing the object of interest and at least some of the context associated with the object of interest in the reference image;
• identifying the object of interest within the query image based upon the digital signature of the object of interest;
• and
• modifying at least one of the signature encoding module or the query processing module based upon a qualitative or quantitative difference between the object of interest identified within the query image and the object of interest marked in the reference image.