Shape-based search of a collection of content

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,
• obtaining a plurality of refinement shapes;
• associating ones of a plurality of images of inventory items to at least one of the refinement shapes based at least in part on similarity between a first plurality of local histogram descriptors associated with the refinement shapes and a second plurality of local histogram descriptors associated with the inventory items;
• and
• responsive to receiving information for a search request specifying at least one of the refinement shapes, providing search results including at least a reference to at least one of the images of the inventory items associated with the at least one of the refinement shapes specified in the search request.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,
• associating ones of a plurality of training images of training items to at least one of a plurality of refinement shapes based at least in part on similarities between the refinement shapes and shapes of the training items;
• calculating a first plurality of local histogram descriptors of the training images;
• receiving an image of an inventory item;
• calculating at least one second local histogram descriptor of the image of the inventory item;
• and
• associating the image of the inventory item to at least one of the plurality of refinement shapes based at least in part on similarities between the at least one second local histogram descriptor of the image of the inventory item and the first plurality of local histogram descriptors of the training images that are associated with the refinement shapes.

A computer program product embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

• program code for receiving a plurality of refinement shapes;
• program code for associating ones of a plurality of images of inventory items to at least one of the refinement shapes based at least in part on similarities between a first plurality of local histogram descriptors associated with the refinement shapes and a second plurality of local histogram descriptors associated with shapes of the inventory items;
• and
• program code for responsive to receiving information for a search request specifying at least one of the refinement shapes, providing search results including at least a reference to at least one of the images of the inventory items associated with the at least one of the refinement shapes specified in the search request.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory device including instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive a plurality of refinement shapes;
• associate ones of a plurality of images of inventory items to at least one of the refinement shapes based at least in part on similarities between a first plurality of local histogram descriptors associated with the refinement shapes and a second plurality of local histogram descriptors associated with shapes of the inventory items;
• and
• responsive to receiving information for a search request specifying at least one of the refinement shapes, provide search results including at least a reference to at least one of the images of the inventory items associated with the at least one of the refinement shapes specified in the search request.