The local feature extraction means which select the local characteristic quantity which is

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such problems that a retrieval method using the features of an entire image (global feature method) cannot deal with the rotation or cutting of an image and meanwhile a retrieval method using local features (local feature method) decreases retrieval accuracy if the number of local feature points extracted is small or too large.;SOLUTION: An image retrieval apparatus first narrows down retrieval result candidate images using local feature amounts. Next, for a query image and the search result candidate images, a plurality of corresponding local areas are newly set. Finally, an appropriate feature amount expression is automatically determined for each local area, and retrieval is performed using the feature amount expressions to determine a retrieval result image.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT