Method and System for Searching Images With Figures and Recording Medium Storing Metadata of Image

Abstract

A method and a system for searching images with figures and a recording medium storing metadata of image are provided. The searching method is divided into an image analysis stage and an image search stage. In the image analysis stage, figures between images are compared with each other and assigned with an identity respectively. A representative image of each identity is then evaluated from the image collection. In the image search stage, the representative images are displayed for user to select some of them as a searching criterion, so as to search and display the images matching the searching criterion in the image collection. Accordingly, the images required by user can be found through intelligent analysis of figures, intuitive definition of searching criterion, and simple comparison of identities so that both time and effort of organization for searching images with figures can be substantially saved.

1 . A method for searching images with figures, the method comprising:
 displaying the representative images;   selecting one or a plurality of the representative images as a searching criterion;   searching for images matching the searching criterion in the image collection, the matching performed in dependence upon at least the identity associated with each selected representative image; and   displaying the images matching the searching criterion.   
     
     
         2 . The search method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the representative image for each of the identities in the image collection comprises:
 respectively calculating a representative index of the identity in each of the images; and   selecting the image having the largest representative index as the representative image of the identity in the image collection.   
     
     
         3 . The search method according to  claim 2 , wherein the representative index comprises one of a size of the characteristic region, a number of appearances, and a capture time. 
     
     
         4 . The search method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the representative images comprises:
 sorting the representative images according to a relationship index of each of the identities in the image collection; and   sequentially displaying the representative images.   
     
     
         5 . The search method according to  claim 4 , wherein the relationship index comprises one of an average size of the characteristic regions, a number of appearances, and a capture time. 
     
     
         6 . The search method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting one or a plurality of the representative images as the searching criterion comprises:
 translating the selected representative images into the corresponding identities; and   using the identities as the searching criterion.   
     
     
         7 . The search method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of displaying the images matching the searching criterion comprises:
 sorting the images matching the searching criterion according to the number of the figures or the size of characteristic region; and   sequentially displaying the images matching the searching criterion.   
     
     
         8 . A method for searching images with figures, suitable for searching a plurality of images related to at least one figure in an image collection, the method comprising:
 comparing figures between images of an image collection and respectively assigning an identity to each image of the image collection for each occurrence of an identified figure of the figures, the identity not derived mathematically from the pixel content of the image and relating to the identified figure; and   selecting and associating a representative image in the image collection for each of the identities assigned.   
     
     
         9 . The search method according to  claim 8 , wherein before comparing figures between images of an image collection and respectively assigning an identity to each of the figures, the search method further comprises:
 normalizing one of the color, brightness, and contrast of the images of the image collection.   
     
     
         10 . The search method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of comparing figures between images of an image collection and respectively assigning an identity to each of the figures comprises:
 locating a characteristic region of each of the figures in the images;   extracting a regional characteristic of each of the figures in each of the characteristic regions; and   comparing the regional characteristic of each of the figures between images, and assigning an identity to the figures having the same regional characteristic.   
     
     
         11 . The search method according to  claim 10 , wherein the characteristic region comprises one of a face region, a dress region, a hair region, and a background region. 
     
     
         12 . The search method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of comparing figures between images of an image collection and respectively assigning an identity to each of the figures comprises:
 collecting a plurality of image groups in which figures have been respectively assigned with identities;   extracting the regional characteristic of each of the identities in the characteristic regions of the image groups; and   comparing the regional characteristic of each of the identities between the plurality of image groups, and reassigning those identities having the same regional characteristic with a unified identity.   
     
     
         13 . The search method according to  claim 8 , wherein respectively assigning the identity comprises recording the identity into a metadata corresponding to the image. 
     
     
         14 . The search method according to  claim 13 , wherein the metadata is stored in a header file of the image or an external file corresponding to the image. 
     
     
         15 . The search method according to  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 storing metadata of each image of the image collection in one or more non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage media, the metadata comprising:
 a facial characteristic data recording a facial data of a figure in the image; 
 a regional characteristic data recording a regional data of a characteristic region other than the face region in the image; and 
 an identification data, recording the identity of a figure in the image and a random generated number. 
   
     
     
         16 . The search method according to  claim 15 , wherein the identity relates to the figure associated with the facial characteristic data. 
     
     
         17 . The search method according to  claim 15 , wherein the facial characteristic data comprises data representing one of a face region, the size of the face region, the characteristic of the face region, and the number of figures in the image. 
     
     
         18 . The search method according to  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic region other than the face region comprises one of a dress region, a hair region, and a background region. 
     
     
         19 . The search method according to  claim 15 , wherein the regional characteristic data comprises data representing the characteristic region itself and data representing regional characteristic of the characteristic region.