Region-based image retrieval using integrated color, shape, and location index

A technique to retrieve images by region matching using a combined feature index based on color, shape, and location is presented within the framework of MPEG-7. Dominant regions within each image are indexed using integrated color, shape, and location features. Various combinations of regions are also indexed. The resulting indices and related metadata are stored in a Hash structure, where similar images tend to form clusters. The retrieval process is non-cascading and images can be retrieved based on color, shape or location and also based on a combined color-shape-location index. Results obtained show that retrieval effectiveness increases in non-cascaded region-based querying by combined index. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.