Hierarchical clustering for image databases

The organization of an image database is one of the important issues in efficient storage and retrieval of images. Most of the existing image databases are based on flat structures, with the possibility of an index into the database that can help in narrowing down the images to be searched. In this paper, the author presents a technique to create a hierarchical data structure based on the clustering approach such that a user can select or discard a number of images for subsequent operations. The presented technique is based on application of wavelet analysis to scale the images in hierarchy, and can take advantage of the structure of compressed images in the JPEG 2000 standard