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An interactive image retrieval system with self-explanation function

In an image retrieval system, accurately extracting the content of the image which users want to search for based on an image in their heads is vital. As a result, many attempts have been made to use an image similar to the sought-for image as a retrieval key and thereby to increase the freedom of expression for users' images. Because of the high variability of image characteristics, however, the vagueness of the content which indicates the retrieval key itself rises compared to conventional methods that use keywords or other linguistic resources for the retrieval key. Therefore, in this research the authors consider these problems by reviewing image retrieval from the perspective of image communications between users and the system, and then propose an interactive mechanism which limits the increase in vagueness while using an image as the retrieval key. The authors then perform retrievals by having users revise the retrieval key based on this mechanism. The authors create their interactive mechanism in a real image retrieval system and confirm its validity through experiments. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Syst Comp Jpn, 32(13): 41–51, 2001