Systems, Methods, And Devices For Image Matching And Object Recognition In Images Using Textures

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for determining whether a first image contains at least a portion of a second image includes: determining a first set of feature points associated with the first image; removing from said first set of feature points at least some feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image; and then attempting to match feature points in said first set of feature points with feature points in a second set of feature points associated with said second image to determine whether said first image contains at least a portion of said second image.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for determining whether a first image contains at least a portion of a second image, the method, implemented by hardware in combination with software, the method comprising:
 (A) determining a first set of feature points associated with the first image;   (B) removing from said first set of feature points at least some feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image; and then   (C) attempting to match feature points in said first set of feature points with feature points in a second set of feature points associated with said second image to determine whether said first image contains at least a portion of said second image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more textures in the first image represent one or more of: grass, trees, sand, and sky. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one of the one or more textures in the first image represents text overlaid on the first image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining said at least some feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said determining said at least some feature points comprises:
 using feature points in the first set to determine which feature points in the first set correspond to textures. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said determining said at least some feature points comprises:
 using a region surrounding each feature point in the first set to determine which feature points in the first set correspond to textures. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the region is a rectangular region. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining at least one region in said first image that corresponds substantially to said one or more textures. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said determining of said at least one region uses feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 verifying that said at least one region does correspond substantially to said one or more textures. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first image represents a brand logo. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 repeating acts (A) to (C) for each of multiple second images. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 repeating acts (A) to (C) for each of multiple first images. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 (a) hardware including memory and at least one processor, and   (b) one or more mechanisms running on said hardware, wherein said one or more mechanisms are configured to:
 (A) determine a first set of feature points associated with the first image; 
 (B) remove from said first set of feature points at least some feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image; and then 
 (C) attempt to match feature points in said first set of feature points with feature points in a second set of feature points associated with said second image to determine whether said first image contains at least a portion of said second image. 
   
     
     
         15 . A computer program product having computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable media, the computer readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method, said method operable on one or more devices comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor and running one or more services on said hardware, said method comprising:
 (A) determining a first set of feature points associated with the first image;   (B) removing from said first set of feature points at least some feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image; and then   (C) attempting to match feature points in said first set of feature points with feature points in a second set of feature points associated with said second image to determine whether said first image contains at least a portion of said second image.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15  wherein the one or more textures in the first image represent one or more of: grass, trees, sand, sky, and text overlaid on the first image. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15  wherein the method further comprises:
 determining said at least some feature points in the first set that correspond to one or more textures in the first image. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein said determining said at least some feature points comprises:
 using feature points in the first set to determine which feature points in the first set correspond to textures. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein said determining said at least some feature points comprises:
 using a region surrounding each feature point in the first set to determine which feature points in the first set correspond to textures. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15  wherein the method further comprises:
 determining at least one region in said first image that corresponds substantially to said one or more textures.