Object similarity calculation method and apparatus

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• object extraction means for extracting an object image from image data;
• outline point extraction means for extracting a predetermined number of outline points from an outline of the object image;
• wavelet transformation means for performing wavelet transformation on the outline points;
• and
• similarity calculation means for calculating a similarity between the object image and a predetermined model image based on a wavelet transformation result,
• wherein said similarity calculation means comprises:
• first calculation means for calculating a similarity between the object image and the model image based on a component corresponding to a low frequency component of the wavelet transformation result;
• and
• second calculation means for calculating a similarity between the object image and the model image based on a component corresponding to a high frequency component of the wavelet transformation result, and
• wherein, in said first and second calculation means, the similarity is calculated by integrating a difference in outline points between the object image and the model image.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code, for determining a similarity of images, said product comprising:

• code for an object extraction step of extracting an object image from image data;
• code for an outline point extraction step of extracting a predetermined number of outline points from an outline of the object image;
• code for a wavelet transformation step of performing wavelet transformation on the outline points;
• and
• code for a similarity calculation step of calculating a similarity between the object image and a predetermined model image based on a wavelet transformation result,
• wherein said code for a similarity calculation step comprises:
• code for a first calculation step of calculating a similarity between the object image and the model image based on a component corresponding to a low frequency component of the wavelet transformation result;
• and
• code for a second calculation step of calculating a similarity between the object image and the model image based on a component corresponding to a high frequency component of the wavelet transformation result, and
• wherein, in the first and second calculation steps, the similarity is calculated by integrating a difference in outline points between the object image and the model image.