Method and system for comparing data objects using joint histograms
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsRamin D. Zabih, Gregory S. Pass
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A joint histogram is used for content-based data object comparison. For a data object which can be described by a plurality of features and values, a set of features describing the data object is selected. A joint histogram is a k-dimensional vector, such that each entry in the joint histogram contains the number of data points in the data object that are described by a k-tuple of feature values. The data object is analyzed according to the set of features and the results entered into the joint histogram. The joint histogram distinguishes the data object from other data objects. Joint histogram comparisons may be used to identify the similarity between two or more particular data objects.
Claims28
A computer-implemented method for comparing data objects where those data objects may be described by features, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a set of features describing a data object, each feature having a range of values;
- creating a joint histogram template based on the set of features, the joint histogram template having entries for combinations of features and values;
- analyzing the data object according to the set of features to obtain joint histogram values;
- and,
- entering the joint histogram values into the joint histogram template to create a joint histogram describing the data object,
- whereby the data object is identifiable by the joint histogram from other data objects.
A computer-implemented method for comparing images where those images may be described by features, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a set of features describing an image, each feature having a range of values;
- creating a joint histogram template based on the set of features, the joint histogram template having entries for combinations of features and value;
- analyzing the image according to the set of features to obtain joint histogram values;
- and,
- entering the obtained joint histogram values into the joint histogram template to create a joint histogram describing the image,
- whereby the image is identifiable by the joint histogram from other images.
A computer-implemented method of image retrieval from a database, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a set of features describing an image;
- creating a joint histogram template based on the set of features, the joint histogram template having entries for combinations of features and values;
- analyzing the image according to the set of features to obtain histogram values;
- entering the obtained histogram values into the joint histogram template to create a joint histogram describing the image;
- and
- storing the joint histogram in the database,
- whereby the image is identifiable by the joint histogram from other images in the database.
A system for data object retrieval from a database, comprising:
- means for selecting a set of features describing a data object;
- means for creating a joint histogram template based on the set of features, the joint histogram template having entries for combinations of features and values;
- an object analyzer for analyzing the data object according to the selected set of features, the object analyzer producing histogram values, the object analyzer creating a joint histogram describing the data object by entering the values into the joint histogram template;
- and,
- means for storing the joint histogram in the database.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.