System and method for detecting patterns or objects in a digital image

Abstract

An image analysis system detects objects and patterns within a digital image. The system includes a synaptic link generator, a knowledge element (knixel) identifier, a theme identifier, and a corresponding theme/knixel associations knowledge base. The synaptic link generator includes a determinant extractor for computing a set of determinants for a plurality of pixels within the digital image. The synaptic link generator uses the determinants to generate a synaptic link for each pixel having a set of determinants and a knowledge element identifier is stored at an address corresponding to each synaptic link. The theme identifier evaluates associative links in a theme knowledge base to determine whether the knowledge elements or other themes identified as being present in the digital image conform to a logical relationship defined by the associative links. If the theme identifier determines the logical relationship between the knowledge elements or other themes defined by associative links for a theme are present in the digital image, a theme is deemed present in the image and an action associated with the theme is performed. These actions include the substitution of a pixel value for pixels corresponding to the knowledge elements associated with a theme to highlight or otherwise redefine the visual appearance of the pixels within the image. The actions also include an action to provide access to an external resource from the image analysis system, or to link the theme identified by the associative links evaluated by the theme identifier to other knowledge elements or themes stored within the knowledge base.