Multiple image copy detection and evolution visualisation using tree graphs

Image copy detection is an important problem for several applications such as detecting forgery to enforce copyright protection and intellectual property. One of the important problems following copy detection, however, is the assessment of the type of modifications undergone by an original image to form its copies. In this work, we propose a method for quantifying some of these modifications when multiple copies of the same image are available. We also propose an algorithm to estimate temporal precedence between images (i.e., the order of creation of the copies). Using the estimated relations, a tree graph is then built to visualize the history of evolution of the original image into its copies. Our work is important for ensuring better interpretation of image copies after their detection. It also lays a new ground for enhancing image indexing, dissemination analysis and search on the Web.