Retrieval method for multi-category images

We propose an image retrieval technique based on multiple categories. Generally, an image can be associated with many concepts or objects. When concepts or objects are regarded as categories, an image could have multiple labels corresponding to these categories. Thus, image retrieval based on multiple categories would be an important technology for an image database system. To realize multicategory image retrieval, we employ the PMM (parametric mixture model) of multi-category text classification. We carried out multi-category image classification experiments using PMM and the color histogram feature. The experimental results show the possibility of multi-category image classification and retrieval using PMM.