Interleaved Integer Indexing for Fast Color Range Search

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional data stores struggle with efficient searching of n-dimensional color ranges due to the multidimensional nature of RGB colors, which complicates indexing and range comparisons, leading to slower query speeds.

Innovation Solution

Converting n-dimensional color spaces into 1-dimensional representations by interleaving bits, allowing for the use of standard integer indexing and preprocessing to split color ranges for efficient searching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If traditional n-dimensional color space indexing is used, then color search functionality is provided, but query speed is slow due to complex multidimensional range comparisons

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequery speedVSAvoidindexing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the n-dimensional color space (RGB) into a 1-dimensional representation by interleaving the bits of each color channel. This dimensionality reduction allows standard integer indexing and binary search to be applied, dramatically improving query speed while eliminating the complexity of multidimensional range comparisons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation of colors from separate n-dimensional RGB values to a single 1-dimensional interleaved integer value. This parameter transformation enables the use of efficient 1-dimensional data structures and algorithms for color range searches, resolving the contradiction between search functionality and query performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If n-dimensional color ranges are searched directly, then accurate color matching is achieved, but processing time increases due to complex range comparisons

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor matching accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By converting n-dimensional color ranges into 1-dimensional interleaved ranges, the patent maintains the ability to accurately represent color boundaries while enabling efficient processing. The interleaved representation preserves the relative ordering of colors, allowing binary search and other efficient algorithms to maintain measurement precision while reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary conversion of color ranges into interleaved 1-dimensional representations before searching. This preprocessing step transforms complex multidimensional range definitions into simple 1-dimensional ranges that can be quickly compared and processed, reducing processing time without sacrificing color matching accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If standard integer indexing is used for colors, then fast searching is enabled, but n-dimensional color ranges cannot be efficiently represented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch efficiencyVSAvoidcolor range representation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a parameter transformation that converts n-dimensional color values into 1-dimensional interleaved integers. This transformation enables the use of standard integer indexing structures while maintaining the ability to represent color ranges. The interleaved representation preserves the topological relationships of colors, allowing versatile color range queries to be performed efficiently using 1-dimensional indexing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dimensionality reduction to map n-dimensional color space into 1-dimensional interleaved space. This mapping maintains the adaptability to represent various color ranges while enabling the use of efficient standard integer indexing, thus resolving the contradiction between search efficiency and color range representation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3161677B1Fast color searching
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 AMAZON TECH INC
  • EP3161677B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3161677B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3161677B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods are described to quickly search a data store based on one or more n-dimensional colors. The n-dimensional colors in the data store may be converted to interleaved integers and indexed. An n-dimensional color search range may be converted to one or more integer search ranges. A fast color search query may be formulated based on the one or more integer search ranges, and transmitted to the data store for searching. The data store may use the interleaved integer index to quickly compare the integer search ranges to the interleaved integers, and send back one or more colors or object results that matched the desired color range.