Search method and apparatus for locating digitally stored content, such as visual images, music and sounds, text, or software, in storage devices on a computer network

A search method for locating a digital file of particular content or similar content stored at a location in at least one of a plurality of database and/or server devices connected to and accessible via a computer network, comprising:

• producing at least one reference image in an optical pattern that is characteristic of the particular content or similar content;
• accessing and downloading a plurality of digital candidate files from their respective storage locations in one or more of the plurality of database and/or server devices;
• producing a plurality of candidate images in optical patterns that are characteristic of content in the respective downloaded digital candidate files;
• comparing features of the optical pattern of the reference image that is characteristic of the particular content or similar content with features of the optical patterns of the respective candidate images that are characteristic of content in their respective downloaded digital candidate files to find and report matches of such reference image with one or more of the candidate images and thereby identify and/or locate a digital file of the particular content or similar content.

Search apparatus for locating a digital file of particular content or similar content stored at a location in at least one of a plurality of database and/or server devices connected to and accessible via a computer network, comprising:

• reference image producing means for producing at least one reference image in an optical pattern that is characteristic of the particular content or similar content;
• candidate file access means connectable to the computer network for accessing and downloading a plurality of digital candidate files from their respective storage locations in one or more of the plurality of database and/or server devices;
• candidate image producing means connectable to the candidate file access means for converting digital candidate files to candidate images in optical patterns that are characteristic of content in the respective downloaded digital candidate files;
• and
• optical comparing means for comparing the optical pattern of the reference image with the optical patterns of the respective candidate images in order to determine, by matching a candidate image optical pattern to the reference image optical pattern, whether any of the candidate digital files from any of the respective storage locations has the particular content or similar content.