IP Library Granted Patent US 9,311,340
Granted Patent B2
US 9,311,340 · App. 14/253,176 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Multiple partial-image compositional searching

Inventors: Kimberly H. Cady (Raleigh, NC); Scott B. Greer (Essex Junction, VT); Andrew J. Lavery (Austin, TX); Sarah R. Plantenberg (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G06F17/30268G06F17/3028G06F17/30256G06F17/30277G06K9/46G06K9/6202G06Q30/0643G06K2009/4666
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,311,340
App. No.
14/253,176
Granted
Apr 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Multiple partial-image selections are received. Each of the multiple partial-image selections includes a user-selected portion of one of a group of images. Partial-image search criteria are derived from a combination of the multiple partial-image selections. A search is performed for images that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections. Visual search results are returned. The visual search results include at least one identified image that includes features that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections.

Claims (49)

1. A system, comprising:

a display; and

a processor programmed to:

receive multiple partial-image selections that each comprises a user-selected portion of one of a plurality of images;

derive partial-image search criteria from a combination of the multiple partial-image selections;

perform a search for images that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections; and

return, via the display, visual search results that comprise at least one identified image that comprises features that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections.

2. The system of claim 1 , where the processor is further programmed to:

provide a graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface;

allow, via the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface, a user to visually mash up a partial-image search selection set comprising the multiple partial-image selections; and

where, in being programmed to receive the multiple partial-image selections that each comprise the user-selected portion of the one of the plurality of images, the processor is programmed to receive the multiple partial-image selections from the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface.

3. The system of claim 1 , where the processor is further programmed to:

detect partial-image search selection set editing by the user, comprising the processor being programmed to one of:

detect a user adjustment of relative positions of the multiple partial-image selections; and

detect a user deletion of at least one of the multiple partial-image selections; and

refine the partial-image search criteria based upon the detected partial-image search selection set editing by the user.

4. The system of claim 1 , where the processor is further programmed to:

display, via the display, partial images of each of the multiple partial-image selections in a sequence within a partial-image search display area based upon an order of selection, by the user, of respective portions of the plurality of images;

detect a user reordering of the displayed sequence of partial images within the partial-image search display area; and

where, in being programmed to derive the partial-image search criteria from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections, the processor is programmed to adjust an ordering of the partial-image search criteria based upon a combination of the user reordered displayed sequence of the partial images.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an input device, and where the processor is further programmed to:

detect a user dragging, using the input device, a partial-image search preference indicator onto at least a portion of one of the multiple partial-image selections;

determine a ranking indication associated with the partial-image search preference indicator; and

reorder the multiple partial-image selections based upon the determined ranking indication associated with the partial-image search preference indicator.

6. The system of claim 1 , where the processor is further programmed to display, via the display, the derived partial-image search criteria as text in association with the multiple partial-image selections.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, where the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive multiple partial-image selections that each comprises a user-selected portion of one of a plurality of images;

derive partial-image search criteria from a combination of the multiple partial-image selections;

perform a search for images that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections; and

return visual search results that comprise at least one identified image that comprises features that correspond to the partial-image search criteria derived from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

provide a graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface;

allow, via the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface, a user to visually mash up a partial-image search selection set comprising the multiple partial-image selections; and

where, in causing the computer to receive the multiple partial-image selections that each comprise the user-selected portion of the one of the plurality of images, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to receive the multiple partial-image selections from the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

detect partial-image search selection set editing by the user, comprising causing the computer to one of:

detect a user adjustment of relative positions of the multiple partial-image selections; and

detect a user deletion of at least one of the multiple partial-image selections; and

refine the partial-image search criteria based upon the detected partial-image search selection set editing by the user.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to display partial images of each of the multiple partial-image selections in a sequence within a partial-image search display area based upon an order of selection, by the user, of respective portions of the plurality of images.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

detect a user reordering of the displayed sequence of partial images within the partial-image search display area; and

where, in causing the computer to derive the partial-image search criteria from the combination of the multiple partial-image selections, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to adjust an ordering of the partial-image search criteria based upon a combination of the user reordered displayed sequence of the partial images.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

detect a user dragging, using an input device, a partial-image search preference indicator onto at least a portion of one of the multiple partial-image selections;

determine a ranking indication associated with the partial-image search preference indicator; and

reorder the multiple partial-image selections based upon the determined ranking indication associated with the partial-image search preference indicator.

13. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to display the derived partial-image search criteria as text in association with the multiple partial-image selections.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 20, 2026
From: WAYFAIR LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075591/0399 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2025
From: WAYFAIR LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073514/0326 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2025
From: WAYFAIR LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070513/0542 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 10, 2024
From: WAYFAIR LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069143/0399 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 24, 2021
From: WAYFAIR LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055708/0832 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2019
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: WAYFAIR LLC
Reel/Frame 050867/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2014
From: CADY, KIMBERLY H.; GREER, SCOTT B.; LAVERY, ANDREW J.; PLANTENBERG, SARAH R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032676/0530 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150294185A1 · Oct 15, 2015