Image search apparatus and methods thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of a method and apparatus of image search are provided. An exemplary method of image search includes: receiving a request and returning a web page, where the returned web page allows uploading an image and adding annotation content for the image; receiving and storing the image and the annotation content for the image; and providing the annotation content for the image as a search index to an image search engine. Using the disclosed method and server, more searches related to information in an image can be provided. Moreover, because more information related to merchandise in an image can be provided to a viewer, it is believed that more online transactions can be facilitated.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method comprising:
 receiving an operation to frame an object in an image, the operation to frame the object including at least one of moving a frame a desired position in the image or adjusting a size of the frame;   receiving a first piece of annotation content, the first piece of annotation content corresponding to a question about information of the object;   receiving one or more second pieces of annotation content, the one or more second pieces of annotation content corresponding to one or more answers to the question;   receiving one or more scores for the one or more answers; and   displaying at least one answer having a highest score for the object in the image.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising storing the at least one answer having the highest score in association with the image in a database. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising providing a web page for receiving the image and the first piece of annotation content. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising configuring a web page to provide a user selectable annotation content format, the user selectable annotation content format being one of a question format or an answer format. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein receiving the first piece of annotation content comprises receiving a selection of the question format in the web page. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising providing the at least one answer as a search index to an image search engine. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising storing at least one of the question about the information of the object or the at least one answer in auxiliary information of the image. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising parsing the at least one of the question about the information of the object or the at least one answer from the auxiliary information of the image in response to receiving a request for retrieving at least one piece of annotation content of the image. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the object comprises a merchandise, and the at least one answer comprises an icon for instantiating an instant messaging session with a merchant that provides the merchandise corresponding to the merchandise in the image. 
     
     
         48 . One or more storage devices storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
 receiving an operation to frame an object in an image, the operation to frame the object including at least one of moving a frame a desired position in the image or adjusting a size of the frame;   receiving a first piece of annotation content, the first piece of annotation content corresponding to a question about information of the object;   receiving one or more second pieces of annotation content, the one or more second pieces of annotation content corresponding to one or more answers to the question;   receiving one or more scores for the one or more answers; and   displaying at least one answer having a highest score for the object in the image.   
     
     
         49 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 48 , the acts further comprising storing the at least one answer having the highest score in association with the image in a database. 
     
     
         50 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 48 , the acts further comprising providing a web page for receiving the image and the first piece of annotation content. 
     
     
         51 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 48 , the acts further comprising configuring a web page to provide a user selectable annotation content format, the user selectable annotation content format being one of a question format or an answer format. 
     
     
         52 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 51 , wherein receiving the first piece of annotation content comprises receiving a selection of the question format in the web page. 
     
     
         53 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 48 , the acts further comprising providing the at least one answer as a search index to an image search engine. 
     
     
         54 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 48 , the acts further comprising storing at least one of the question about the information of the object or the at least one answer in auxiliary information of the image. 
     
     
         55 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 54 , the acts further comprising parsing the at least one of the question about the information of the object or the at least one answer from the auxiliary information of the image in response to receiving a request for retrieving at least one piece of annotation content of the image. 
     
     
         56 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 48 , wherein the object comprises a merchandise, and the at least one answer comprises an icon for instantiating an instant messaging session with a merchant that provides the merchandise corresponding to the merchandise in the image. 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
 receiving an operation to frame an object in an image, the operation to frame the object including at least one of moving a frame a desired position in the image or adjusting a size of the frame; 
 receiving a first piece of annotation content, the first piece of annotation content corresponding to a question about information of the object; 
 receiving one or more second pieces of annotation content, the one or more second pieces of annotation content corresponding to one or more answers to the question; 
 receiving one or more scores for the one or more answers; and 
 displaying at least one answer having a highest score for the object in the image. 
   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the object comprises a merchandise, and the at least one answer comprises an icon for instantiating an instant messaging session with a merchant that provides the merchandise corresponding to the merchandise in the image.