IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,001,147
Granted Patent B2
US 9,001,147 · App. 13/295,710 · Granted Apr 7, 2015

System and method for using an image to provide search results

Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal (Evanston, IL)
Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
G06F17/30247G06T2207/20112G06T2207/20224
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,001,147
App. No.
13/295,710
Granted
Apr 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results.

Claims (12)

1. A computer-readable media embodied in a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer executable instructions for providing search results, the instructions performing steps comprising:

using an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells;

iteratively causing the image manipulating application to substitute predefined image information for image information contained within selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to thereby form a plurality of translated versions of the object image;

causing each of the plurality of translated versions of the object image to be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to thereby obtain search results; and

causing the obtained search results to be grouped according to one or more predefined criteria.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the predefined criteria comprises a URL associated with each reference image discerned by the image recognition capable search engine as being a match for each of the plurality of translated versions of the object image.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the predefined criteria comprises a tag associated with each reference image discerned by the image recognition capable search engine as being a match for each of the plurality of translated versions of the object image.

4. A computer-readable media embodied in a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer executable instructions for providing search results, the instructions performing steps comprising:

using an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells;

iteratively causing the image manipulating application to substitute predefined image information for image information contained within selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to thereby form a plurality of translated versions of the object image;

causing each of the plurality of translated versions of the object image to be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to thereby obtain search results until such time as the search results obtained by the image recognition capable search engine in response to a one of the plurality of translated versions of the object image changes; and

causing the search results obtained in response to the one of the plurality of translated versions of the object image resulting in the change to be displayed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2011
From: WESTPHAL, GEOFFRY A.
To: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
Reel/Frame 027299/0355 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130120440A1 · May 16, 2013