Content-based Image Retrieval Using Image Regions as Query Examples.

A common approach to content-based image retrieval is to use example images as queries; images in the collection that have low-level features similar to the query examples are returned in response to the query. In this paper, we explore the use of image regions as query examples. We compare the retrieval effectiveness of using whole images, single regions, and multiple regions as examples. We also compare two approaches for combining shape features: an equal-weight linear combination, and classification using machine learning algorithms. We show that using image regions as query examples leads to higher effectiveness than using whole images, and that an equal-weight linear combination of shape features is simpler and at least as effective as using a machine learning algorithm.