Shape Retrieval from Image Databases through Structural Feature Indexing

Efficient and robust information retrieval from large image databases is an essential functionality for the reuse, manipulation, and editing of multimedia documents. Structural feature indexing is a potential approach to efficient shape retrieval from large databases, but it is sensitive to noise, scales of observation, and local shape deformations. To improve the robustness, shape feature generation techniques are incorporated into structural feature indexing. The feature transformation rules obtained by an analysis of some particular types of shape deformations are exploited to generate features that can be extracted from deformed patterns. Experimental trials with large image databases of boundary contours show that the feature generation significantly improves robustness and efficiency of shape retrieval.