Abstract: A multimedia integrated retrieval apparatus includes a feature value extracting unit calculating a feature value of single media data; a media information storage unit storing the feature value and storing composite media data in association with the single media data; a retrieval processing unit identifying other pieces of single media data corresponding to the single media data; a retrieval controlling unit, generating structural body data that includes a first node indicative of the single media data, a second node indicative of the another piece of single media data, a first link connecting the first node to the second node, a third node indicative of another composite media data, and a second link connecting the third node to the second node, if the another piece of composite media data including the another piece of single media data is present; and a display unit displaying the structural body data.

Abstract: Thumbnails of pages of a key document are arranged sequentially according to a page order in a row. Thumbnails of pages of a target document are arranged sequentially according to a page order in a row parallel to the row of the key document. A key page of the key document is compared with each page of the target document. When a page of the target document that is most similar to the key page is found, the row of the target document is shifted in a horizontal direction so that the page of the target document that is most similar to the key page is positioned next to the key page.

Abstract: An image retrieval method includes reading from a first database a first image group mapped to an object as a retrieval target, and extracting an image feature quantity of a plurality of images of the first image group. A second image group mapped to an object as a search key is read from a second database and an image feature quantity of a plurality of images of the second image group is extracted. Similarity is determined between the first image group and the second image group, based on the image feature quantity of the plurality of images of the first image group and the image feature quantity of the plurality of images of the second image group. On an output device, as retrieval results, the plurality of images of the first image group are displayed in order of similarity of the object as the retrieval target based on determined similarity.

Abstract: An information navigation system for supporting browsing of data which are linked mutually includes an starting point determination supporter, a browsing supporter, and a positioning supporter. The starting point determination supporter supports detection of first data being a starting point for an information navigation. The browsing supporter displays the first data and second data linked to the first data as in a virtual space, to allow a user to select data to be browsed next. The positioning supporter displays a current browsing position on a map which indicates a relation between all data.

Abstract: A symbol display device that displays a symbol for data while disposing the symbol at a coordinate position indicated by the data concerned, includes a pre-movement image position obtaining unit that records into a recording unit a pre-movement coordinate position at which the symbol is disposed; an image moving unit that moves the symbol to a coordinate position indicated by an instruction upon reception of the instruction; a post-movement image position obtaining unit that records, into the recording unit, a post-movement coordinate position of the symbol moved by the image moving unit; and a connection line drawing unit that connects the post-movement coordinate position and a pre-movement coordinate position by a line, and changing the line thickness of the connecting line or the size of the symbol.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of operating an apparatus having a display device for analyzing a plurality of images each representing a similar item, includes the steps of: displaying the plurality of the images in parallel by the display device; enabling a user to select partial regions of the images such that each of the partial regions represents a similar portion of the each item; extracting information associated with each of the partial regions of the images; and displaying data of the information of each of the partial regions in parallel in a format different from that appeared in the images.

Abstract: A difference emphasizing apparatus aligns a first three-dimensional model and a second three-dimensional model in orientation and position in accordance with a predetermined rule, and gets data of respective apices of the first three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model. Based on the gotten data, the apparatus finds a corresponding point on the first three-dimensional model, which corresponds to the apex of the second three-dimensional model in a direction of a particular axis. When the corresponding point is detected, the apparatus calculates a difference between the first three-dimensional model and the second three-dimensional model in the direction of the particular axis based on the corresponding point and the apex of the second three-dimensional model. The apparatus enlarges the difference in the direction of the particular axis, and calculates a position of the apex of the second three-dimensional model after the enlargement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to three-dimensional model retrieval apparatus and method.

Abstract: This invention discloses an image retrieval apparatus. The image retrieval apparatus comprises an unlabelled image selector for selecting one or more unlabelled image(s) from an image database; and a main learner for training in each feedback round of the image retrieval, estimating relevance of images in the image database and a user's intention, and determining retrieval results, wherein the main learner makes use of the unlabelled image(s) selected by the unlabelled image selector in the estimation. In addition, the image retrieval apparatus may also include an active selector for selecting, in each feedback round and according to estimation results of the main learner, one or more unlabelled image(s) from the image database for the user to label.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for searching a set of image data from a database which contains a plurality of sets of image data, at least one of the sets of the image data being associated with text data, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining keyword information; detecting first set of image data in said database associated with text data corresponding to said keyword information; and detecting second set of image data in said database on the basis of the feature of an image represented by said first set of image data.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for searching image data representing an image from a database by using a query image, the image data including information indicative of a shape of a contour of the image, comprising: obtaining a query image data representing the query image; extracting information indicative of a shape of a contour of the query image; and determining the image data in the database on the basis of correlation of the topological characteristics of the shapes of the contours of the images and the query image.

Abstract: A computer readable recording medium stores an information attachment program for attaching meta-information to multimedia data executed by a computer. The program causes the computer to perform an acquisition step of acquiring a search word of a text search done at a search site; a monitoring step of monitoring whether or not a search frequency of the search word acquired in the acquisition step satisfies a predetermined criterion; a determination step of determining whether or not at least a portion of the search word matches a character recognition processing result of the multimedia data when the search frequency of the search word is determined to satisfy the predetermined criterion in the monitoring step; and a registration step of registering the search word as meta-information of the multimedia data when, as a determination result of the determination step, the search word matches the character recognition processing result.

Abstract: A design support apparatus extracts feature data corresponding to design data to be searched upon receiving the design data to be searched. The apparatus checks the extracted feature data against the feature data associated with the feature associated information, ordering the design data associated with the feature associated information in descending order of similarity to the design data to be searched, retrieving one piece of the ordered design data. The apparatus generates a classification hierarchy consisting of pieces of classification data obtained by classifying a set of the retrieved design data based on a degree of feature similarity using the feature data associated with the feature associated information. The apparatus selects the design information closely associated with the classification data by fetching the design information corresponding to the design data contained in the classification data from the design associated information associating the design data and the design information.

Abstract: This invention is to enable retrieving of a content the searcher imagines in mind. The search method includes: obtaining a query brain image representing a brain activity state of a searcher when perceiving or imagining the content to be retrieved; identifying the content corresponding to the query brain image by using a structure associating a content with a brain image representing the brain activity state when perceiving the content; and outputting the content corresponding to the query brain image. Thus, by using the query brain image, without specifically indicating the content such as a drawing, the searcher can extract the pertinent content only by imaging the content.

Abstract: The invention discloses a search method of 3D model and device thereof. As stated in the invention, it transforms the query model and the object model into the set of 2D-slide polygons respectively; calculates the similarity between each 2D slice in the query model and the object mode by accumulating the similarities of all couples of 2D slices; and determines the search result according to the said total similarity. In accordance with the invention, it could be easily realize the search function of 3D model, and it is not sensitive to geometric noise, thus there's no need to look for the characteristic correspondence between models.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a shape comparison apparatus and method based on contour decomposition and correspondence. The apparatus comprises a polygonal approximation unit for approximating an image object contour as a polygon, namely representing the image object contour into an ordered contour primitive sequence; an attribute generation unit for calculating attribute value for contour primitive and contour primitive composition; and a comparison unit for establishing correspondence of polygons and hence calculating similarity between contours. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an image object contour extraction unit for extracting, in the case the input into the apparatus is an image object rather than an image object contour, an image object contour of an image object inputted into the apparatus.

Abstract: A pattern retrieving unit includes an acquiring unit that acquires a representative pattern image; a setting unit that sets a use condition of a type of shape feature of the representative pattern image; a receiving unit that receives a query pattern image used as a query; a determining unit that determines the type of shape feature of the representative pattern image to be the type of shape feature of the query pattern image, based on the use condition; a retrieving unit that retrieves a pattern image identical or similar to the query pattern image, using determined type of shape feature; and an output unit configured to output a result of retrieval by the retrieving unit.

Abstract: Thumbnails of pages of a key document are arranged sequentially according to a page order in a row. Thumbnails of pages of a target document are arranged sequentially according to a page order in a row parallel to the row of the key document. A key page of the key document is compared with each page of the target document. When a page of the target document that is most similar to the key page is found, the row of the target document is shifted in a horizontal direction so that the page of the target document that is most similar to the key page is positioned next to the key page.

Abstract: A data retrieving part searches a database for data under the conditions for a search input by a user through a search condition input part. A classifying and arranging part classifies and arranges data (search results) using feature values. A ground information providing part provides each data with ground information visualizing the ground for classification and arrangement of the data. The ground information is, for example, visualized distribution information of feature values of the data, color histogram label information, and label information on wavelet conversion feature values. A display part displays each data together with corresponding ground information, in accordance with the information on classification and arrangement from the classifying and arranging part.

Abstract: After thinning an input image (drawing), a primitive is extracted. First, a rough primitive is extracted, and then the rough primitive becomes a primitive in a merge-split process according to a greedy strategy. Based on the primitive and the spatial correlation among primitives, an attribute graph describing the contents and the structure of the drawing is generated. The attribute graph is generated using a modified Delaunay triangle and an attribute set. An attribute graph having an attribute set is generated for each of an inquiry drawing and a comparison drawing which are compared with each other, thereby perform drawing comparison.