Method, device and system for automatic retrieval of similar objects in a network of devices
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRaymond B. Jennings, III, Martin G. Kienzle, Jason D. LaVoie
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Abstract
A method, device and system for characterizing an image sharing objects within a network. The method steps include initiating a query for a query object on a first device connected to a network of devices. Finding a similar object similar to the query object on a second device connected to the network of devices, wherein the similarity is automatically judged by any device on the network. Transferring the similar object from the second device to the first device.
Claims12
A program storage device readable by computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for sharing objects in a network, the method steps comprising:
- a responding client node receiving a query for a query object initiated by a requesting client node in a network of client nodes;
- the responding client node automatically determining if an object, which resides on the responding client node, is similar to the query object;
- transferring one or more similar objects, if any, to the requesting client node by the responding client node;
- and
- the responding client node forwarding the query to another client node to search for an object similar to the query object, and
- wherein at least one of the responding client node and the another client node can automatically fine tune similarity algorithms the resounding client node and the another client node contain for changing a similarity threshold for determining the similarity between objects in the network, and wherein the similarity threshold can be different for each similarity algorithm of each of the client nodes or the similarity threshold can be an aggregate of one or more of these similarity algorithms used by the client nodes.
A system for sharing similar objects within a network comprising:
- a plurality of controllers in communication with each other over a network;
- and
- a first storage device and a second storage device, which stores objects that can be shared between the first and second storage devices under control of the controllers, wherein the controllers control sharing of similar objects between the first and second storage devices by processing an object query issued by a requesting controller and automatically determining if a stored object in the first or second storage device is similar to a queried object and,
- wherein the plurality of controllers can each automatically fine tune similarity algorithms the plurality of controllers contain for changing a similarity threshold for determining the similarity between objects in the network, wherein the fine tuning of the similarity algorithms by the plurality of controllers includes lowering the threshold similarity used for determining the similarity between objects in the network, and wherein the threshold similarity for determining the similarity between the objects in the network is lowered if relatively little or no objects have been transferred after a number of searches has been performed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.