Index trees for efficient deformable shape-based retrieval

An improved method for deformable shape-based image indexing and retrieval is described. A pre-computed index tree is used to improve the speed of our previously reported online model fitting method; simple shape features are used as keys in a pre-generated index tree of model instances. A coarse-to-fine indexing scheme is used at different levels of the tree to further improve speed. Experimental results show that the speedup is significant, while the accuracy of shape-based indexing is maintained. A method for shape population-based retrieval is also described. The method allows query formulation based on the population distributions of shapes in each image. Results of population-based queries for a database of blood cell micrographs are shown.