Recognition procedure for identifying multiple items in images

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a controller stored on a memory and executable by the one or more processors, the controller configured to receive a query image of items;
• a feature identifier coupled to the controller and configured to compute a set of features of the query image;
• a matching engine coupled to the feature identifier and configured to compare the set of features of the query image with features of indexed images in data storage, determine that a shape formed from the set of features of the query image is geometrically consistent with a shape formed from features of a first indexed image, wherein the shapes are determined to be geometrically consistent based on the features being inter-transformable by a combination of translation, rotation, and scaling and determine whether the query image matches the first indexed image;
• wherein the matching engine determines a region of interest where the match was found in the query image, responsive to the query image matching the first indexed image, removes inliers corresponding to the region of interest from the set of features of the query image to produce a reduced set of features;
• for the reduced set of features, the matching engine compares the reduced set of features of the query image with features of indexed images in data storage, determines that a shape formed from the reduced set of features is geometrically consistent with a shape formed from features of a second indexed image, and determines whether the query image matches the second indexed image, and returns all matches found.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• receive a query image of items;
• compute a set of features of the query image;
• compare the set of features of the query image with features of indexed images in data storage;
• determine that a shape formed from the set of features of the query image is geometrically consistent with a shape formed from features of a first indexed image, wherein the shapes are determined to be geometrically consistent based on the features being inter-transformable by a combination of translation, rotation, and scaling;
• determine whether the query image matches the first indexed image;
• responsive to the query image matching the first indexed image, determine a region of interest where the match was found in the query image;
• remove inliers corresponding to the region of interest from the set of features of the query image to reduce the set of features;
• for the reduced set of features, compare the reduced set of features of the query image with the features of indexed images and determine that a shape formed from the reduced set of features is geometrically consistent with a shape formed from features of a second indexed image and whether the query image matches the second indexed image;
• and
• return all matches found.