Depth-based indexing and retrieval of photographic images 1

Abstract

This paper proposes a new technique for image capture, indexing, and retrieval to implement a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system more similar to the way people remember the real world [2]. The introduced technique uses range from focus technique to gather 3D information of a scene. The obtained depth-map is segmented and stored together with each individual image in database files. During retrieval the user can describe the query image not only in a conventional way but also with a layered representation where a few (typically 3) depth layers define the distance from the camera. This paper describes the beginning of our research with some preliminary results showing that depth information can be efficiently used in CBIR systems. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.