Content based image retrieval through object extraction and querying

We propose a content based image retrieval system based on object extraction through image segmentation. A general and powerful multiscale segmentation algorithm automates the segmentation process, the output of which is assigned novel colour and texture descriptors which are both efficient and effective. Query strategies consisting of a semi-automated and a fully automated mode are developed which are shown to produce good results. We then show the superiority of our approach over the global histogram approach which proves that the ability to access images at the level of objects is essential for CBIR.