Still picture search/retrieval method carried out on the basis of color

Abstract

Still picture search/retrieval method and system for retrieving a still picture without omission by extracting representative color component from a location of the still picture which includes a thing for search. A search condition input processing module receives color information constituting a search condition via an input unit. A still picture dividing method determination processing module receives via the input unit a method for dividing the still picture into rectangular meshes of a same size. A divided mesh designation processing module receives designation of a mesh for search from those resulting from the division. Still picture information is read out from a database for dividing each still picture into meshes by a still picture division processing module. A representative color component extraction processing module extracts a color component having the highest frequency of histogram within the search-destined mesh. A search execution processing module evaluates the representative color component to determine an evaluation value. A still picture having the evaluation value exceeding a threshold value is retrieved as the search result. The retrieved still picture is displayed on a display unit through a searched still picture display processing module.