IP Library Granted Patent US 8,762,390
Granted Patent B2
US 8,762,390 · App. 13/679,317 · Granted Jun 24, 2014

Query specific fusion for image retrieval

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,762,390
App. No.
13/679,317
Granted
Jun 24, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for image retrieval include constructing a plurality of graphs including a first graph for candidate images retrieved based upon holistic features of a query image and a second graph for candidate images retrieved based upon local features of the query image, wherein constructing includes weighting connected images based upon a Jaccard similarity coefficient. The plurality of graphs are fused to provide a fused graph. Candidate images of the fused graph are ranked, using a processor, to provide retrieval results of the query image.

Claims (146)

1. A method for image retrieval, comprising:

capturing images from a camera sensor or from a computer generated display memory;

constructing a plurality of graphs including a first graph for candidate images retrieved based upon holistic features of a query image and a second graph for candidate images retrieved based upon local features of the query image, wherein constructing includes weighting connected images based upon a Jaccard similarity coefficient determined as:

w

(

q

,

d

)

=

α

N

k

(

q

)

N

k

(

d

)

N

k

(

q

)

N

k

(

d

)

where w is weight of an edge for images q and d that are reciprocal neighbors, N represents a neighborhood, and α is a decay coefficient related to number of hops to the query;

fusing the plurality of graphs to provide a fused graph; and

ranking, using a processor, candidate images of the fused graph to provide retrieval results of the query image.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein fusing includes combining weights of the connected images from each of the plurality of graphs.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein ranking includes determining a maximum weighted subgraph.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein ranking includes iteratively expanding the maximum weighted subgraph by adding an image to the subgraph with a greatest weight that is connected to the subgraph.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein ranking includes ranking images according to an order they were added to the subgraph.

6. A method for image retrieval, comprising:

capturing images from a camera sensor or from a computer generated display memory;

constructing a plurality of graphs including a first graph for candidate images retrieved based upon holistic features of a query image and a second graph for candidate images retrieved based upon local features of the query image, wherein constructing includes weighting connected images based upon a Jaccard similarity coefficient determined as:

w

(

q

,

d

)

=

α

N

k

(

q

)

N

k

(

d

)

N

k

(

q

)

N

k

(

d

)

where w is weight of an edge for images q and d that are reciprocal neighbors, N represents a neighborhood, and α is a decay coefficient related to number of hops to the query;

fusing the plurality of graphs to provide a fused graph; and

ranking, using a processor, candidate images of the fused graph to provide retrieval results of the query image by determining a maximum weighted subgraph, the subgraph being iteratively expanded by adding an image to the subgraph with a greatest weight that is connected to the subgraph.

7. A system for image retrieval, comprising:

a processor;

a graph construction module configured to construct a plurality of graphs including a first graph for candidate images retrieved based upon holistic features of a query image and a second graph for candidate images retrieved based upon local features of the query image, the graph construction module further configured to weight connected images based upon a Jaccard similarity coefficient determined as:

w

(

q

,

d

)

=

α

N

k

(

q

)

N

k

(

d

)

N

k

(

q

)

N

k

(

d

)

where w is weight of an edge for images q and d that are reciprocal neighbors, N represents a neighborhood, and a is a decay coefficient related to number of hops to the query;

a graph fusion module configured to fuse the plurality of graphs to provide a fused graph; and

a link analysis module configured to rank, using a processor, candidate images of the fused graph to provide retrieval results of the query image.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the graph fusion module is further configured to combine weights of the connected images from each of the plurality of graphs.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the link analysis module is further configured to determine a maximum weighted subgraph.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the link analysis module is further configured to iteratively expand the maximum weighted subgraph by adding an image to the subgraph with a greatest weight that is connected to the subgraph.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the link analysis module is further configured to rank images according to an order they were added to the subgraph.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2015
From: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA, INC.
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034765/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2012
From: YANG, MING; ZHANG, SHAOTING; YU, KAI
To: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA INC.
Reel/Frame 029313/0994 →