Multiple partial-image compositional searching

1. A method, comprising:

deriving, by a processor, partial-image search criteria that comprise a combination of multiple partial-image user selections of portions of at least one image;

detecting 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 user selections;

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

reordering the multiple partial-image user selections based upon the determined ranking indication associated with the partial-image search preference indicator; and

returning, responsive to a search for images that correspond to the derived partial-image search criteria, visual search results that comprise at least one identified image that comprises features that correspond to the derived partial-image search criteria that comprise the combination of the multiple partial-image user selections.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface;

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

receiving the multiple partial-image user selections from the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting partial-image search selection set editing by the user, comprising one of:

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

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

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

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying partial images of each of the multiple partial-image user 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 at least one image.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

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

adjusting an ordering of the derived partial-image search criteria based upon a combination of the user reordered displayed sequence of the partial images.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the derived partial-image search criteria as text in association with the multiple partial-image user selections.

7. A system, comprising:

a display;

an input device; and

a processor programmed to:

derive partial-image search criteria that comprise a combination of multiple partial-image user selections of portions of at least one image;

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 user selections;

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

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

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

8. The system of claim 7 , 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, the user to visually mash up a partial-image search selection set comprising the multiple partial-image user selections; and

receive the multiple partial-image user selections from the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface.

9. The system of claim 7 , 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 user selections; and

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

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

10. The system of claim 7 , where the processor is further programmed to:

display, via the display, partial images of each of the multiple partial-image user 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 at least one image;

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

adjust an ordering of the derived partial-image search criteria based upon a combination of the user reordered displayed sequence of the partial images.

11. The system of claim 7 , 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 user selections.

12. 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:

derive partial-image search criteria that comprise a combination of multiple partial-image user selections of portions of at least one image;

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 user selections;

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

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

return, responsive to a search for images that correspond to the derived partial-image search criteria, visual search results that comprise at least one identified image that comprises features that correspond to the derived partial-image search criteria that comprise the combination of the multiple partial-image user selections.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , 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, the user to visually mash up a partial-image search selection set comprising the multiple partial-image user selections; and

receive the multiple partial-image user selections from the graphical multiple partial-image compositional search interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , 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 user selections; and

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

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

15. The computer program product of claim 12 , 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 user 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 at least one image.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , 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 the partial images within the partial-image search display area; and

adjust an ordering of the derived partial-image search criteria based upon a combination of the user reordered displayed sequence of the partial images.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 , 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 user selections.