Image identification apparatus and method of identifying images

An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a hand drawn representation of at least part of said image, the image identification apparatus comprising:

• an image processor arranged in operation to generate a reference identification in response to spatial samples produced from at least part of said hand drawn representation, said reference identification being indicative of a first estimate of which of a plurality of pre-stored images corresponds to said hand drawn representation,
• a control processor which is arranged in operation to cause said image processor to generate a refined reference identification from said spatial samples and further spatial samples produced from a further part of said hand drawn representation, said refined reference identification being indicative of a refined estimate of which of said plurality of pre-stored images corresponds to said hand drawn representation, and
• a data store coupled to said image processor and to said control processor, which serves to store at least one of said spatial samples and said further spatial samples, wherein said control processor is arranged in operation to feed at least one of said spatial samples and said further spatial samples to said image processor to generate said refined reference identification,
• said control processor is arranged to receive a trigger signal generated in response to said at least part of said hand drawn representation being generated and said further part of said hand drawn representation being generated, and said control processor being arranged in operation to communicate at least one of said spatial samples and said further spatial samples to said image processor in response to said trigger signal, so as to enable said refined reference identification to be generated.