Image Metadata Resource Location via Ranked Queues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for locating resources in a networked system are limited in flexibility and effectiveness, particularly when users seek resources not represented in images, as they rely on keyword-based search engines or manual navigation, lacking the ability to accurately find resources based on visual cues.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize images and their metadata to locate resources by creating queues for responding systems, ranking requests, and sending them to respective systems, allowing for the display of resource location requests with associated images and metadata, enabling users to specify relationships between images and resources, such as exact matches or similar items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If keyword-based search engines or manual navigation are used to locate resources, then the system is simple to implement, but the flexibility and effectiveness of resource location deteriorates when users seek resources not represented in images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image as an intermediary object that mediates between the user's search intent and the resource database. Instead of directly searching keywords or navigating manually, the user provides an image that serves as a visual intermediary to represent the desired resource characteristics, enabling more flexible and intuitive resource location while managing system complexity through structured image processing pipelines
2Measurement precision
If visual search engines are used to seek images that look like other images, then the search is focused on exact content matches, but the reach and flexibility to find resources not in pictures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic search scope adjustment where the system can switch between exact match mode (comparing visual features for precise identification) and extended search mode (using image metadata, descriptions, and related concepts to find resources beyond direct visual matches). This dynamic approach allows the search to adapt its precision and reach based on the specific query context and user needs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the search from a single visual dimension (image-to-image matching) to multiple dimensions by incorporating image metadata, textual descriptions, semantic relationships, and contextual information. This multi-dimensional approach enables the system to find resources that may not have exact visual matches but are related through other attributes, thereby increasing both precision and reach simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A method of using images and image metadata to locate one or more resources includes receiving a requests, each request requesting a location of a resource and including an image related to the resource, information specifying how the image and the resource are related, and metadata for the image. A queue is created for each of a plurality of responding systems, the queue ranked, and specifying the order in which the requests are to be displayed at respective responding systems. The generated queues and sent to their respective responding systems, and a response is received that specifies the location of a resource.