PicSOM A Framework for Content-Based Image Database Retrieval using Self-Organizing Maps

We have developed an image retrieval system which uses Tree Structured Self-Organizing Maps (TS-SOMs) as the method for retrieving images similar to a given set of reference images in a database. It also provides a framework for the research on algorithms and methods for content-based retrieval of images. A novel technique introduced in this paper facilitates automatic combination of the responses from multiple TS-SOMs and their hierarchical levels. The system tries to adapt to the user's preferences in selecting which images resemble each other in the particular sense the user is interested of. This mechanism implements a relevance feedback technique on content-based image retrieval. The image queries are performed through the World Wide Web and the queries are iteratively reened as the system exposes more images to the user.