Searching of images based upon visual similarity

A method, comprising:

• selecting an image for comparison with a plurality of images;
• designating a first contiguous area within the image;
• specifying a first visual criterion corresponding to the first contiguous area for searching the plurality of images, wherein the first visual criterion is based upon a first visual similarity between the image and the plurality of images;
• designating a second contiguous area within the image;
• specifying a second visual criterion corresponding to the second contiguous area for searching the plurality of images, wherein the second visual criterion is based upon a second visual similarity between the image and the plurality of images, wherein the second visual criteria is different than the first visual criteria;
• assigning, to each of the first and second visual criterion, a first and second weight, respectively, such that each visual criteria is weighted in proportion to the corresponding first and second weight;
• and
• scoring each of the plurality of images based upon the first and second visual criteria and the first and second weights;
• selecting a subset of the plurality of images that meet a first threshold with respect to the scoring;
• and
• providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to enable the selecting of the image, specifying and displaying the subset of the plurality of images, selecting the subset and displaying of the subset of the plurality of images.