ImageFinderLite Class Library

3. Full Image Recognition and Image Signature. 2

4. Attrasoft.TransApplet.ImageFinderLite Component. 2

In this article, we will briefly describe how to add an image recognition component into an application. In particular, we will discuss how to identify a full image.

1.� TransApplet

TransApplet is an Attrasoft developer tool (.Net Class Library) that enables System Integrators, Solution Developers, and Individuals to quickly add Image Recognition capability to their products and services. It is the software library used to create the ImageFinder.

TransApplet is the matching engine for all Attrasoft products, including the ImageFinder. ImageFinder for Windows is an off-the-shelf Application Software that enables System Integrators, Solution Developers, and Individuals to quickly add image recognition capability to their applications.

2. ImageFinderLite

ImageFinderLite for Windows is an Off-the-Shelf Application Software.

ImageFinderLite for Windows searches for an image from a folder in four clicks. The ImageFinderLite is the Windows version and AttraSeek is the Internet version.

For more details, see:

http://attrasoft.com/products_imagefinderLite.asp

3. Full Image Recognition and Image Signature

Our approach uses image signature to find and match images.

The unique attributes of an image � its �image signature� - are compared against a library of image signatures that have been taken earlier. All image matching uses image signatures.

4. Attrasoft.TransApplet.ImageFinderLite Component

Attrasoft.TransApplet80.ImageFinderLite is a component Attrasoft TransApplet. To use the ImageFinderLite object, you will need 5 steps:

Step 1. Set the Folder that contains the images you want to search through.

Step 2. Create a Image Signature Library from the folder.

Step 3. Load the Signature Library into the ImageFinderLite object.

Step 4. Get a key image file name, which will be matched against the library.

Step 5. Make a 1:N search.

5. Interface

The ImageFinderLite interface is given below:

public interface� I_ImageFinderLite

�� {

�� //variables:

�� //1. Foldername (string)

�� //2. Library Name (string)

�� //3. KeyImage (string)

�� //4. Signature (Attrasoft object)

�� //5. Result (Attrasoft object)

�� //step 1 Set Library Folder

�� bool setFolder(string folderName);

�� string getFolder();

�� //step 2 Create Image Siganture Library

�� bool computeSignatureLibrary();

�� bool setLibraryName(string a1File);

�� string getLibraryName();

�� //setp 3 Load Signature Library

�� bool loadLibrary();

�� //step 4 Get key file name

�� bool setKeyImage (string key);

�� string getKeyImage();

�� //step 5 search

�� bool� search ( );

�� bool setOutputFileName (string b1File);

�� string getOutputFileName ( );

�� }

Step 1. Set the Folder that contains the images you want to search through.

bool setFolder(string folderName)

string getFolder()

Use setFolder (string folderName) to set the folder that contains the images you want to search through; use getFolder() to see the current setting.

Step 2. Create Image Siganture Library from the folder.

bool computeSignatureLibrary()

Use computeSignatureLibrary() get a file that contains the image signatures from the specified folder.

bool setLibraryName(string a1File)

string getLibraryName()

Use setFolder setLibraryName(string a1File) to set the image signature file name that contains the images you want to search through. The default file is �.\data\a1.txt�, where �.� is the application folder. Use getLibraryName()to see the current setting.

Step 3. Load the Signature Library into the ImageFinderLite object.

bool loadLibrary();

Use loadLibrary()to load the Signature Library into the ImageFinderLite object.

Step 4. Get a key image file name, which will be matched against the library.

�

bool setKeyImage (string key)

string getKeyImage()

Use setKeyImage (string key) to set the unknown image that you want to search; use getKeyImage() to see the current setting.

Step 5. Make a 1:N search.

bool� search ( )

Use search ( ) to make an 1:N search.

bool setOutputFileName (string b1File)

string getOutputFileName ( )

Use setOutputFileName (string b1File) to set the output file name; the default name is �.\data\b1.txt�, where �.� is the application folder.� Use getOutputFileName ( ) to see the current setting.

6. Programming Example

Now we will show a programming example.

1. Create a User Interface in Figure 1.

Figure 1. A User Interface, which contains the five steps.

2. Link to the Library

Figure 2. Add the class library; see the highlighted areas in the Solution Explorer.

3. Initial files.

Apart from linking the class library, there are several data files required by. You will need to copy �.\data\*.*� from the CD into your project folder.

4. ImageFinderLite object

Add an imageFinderLite object:

Attrasoft.TransApplet80.ImageFinderLite.ImageFinderLite ifl;

��

Create the object in the form constructor:

��

public Form1()

{

�InitializeComponent();

ifl = new Attrasoft.TransApplet80.ImageFinderLite.ImageFinderLite

( this.richTextBox1 );

}

Figure 3. Add the ImageFinderLite object; see the highlighted areas in the Solution Explorer.

5. Following the 5 steps:

Step 1. Set the Folder that contains the images you want to search through.

Step 2. Create the Image Signature Library from the folder.

Step 3. Load the Signature Library into the ImageFinderLite object.

Step 4. Get a key image file name, which will be matched against the library.

Step 5. Make a 1:N search.

The details are given in the next section.

7. Codes for Each of the Steps

Step 1. Set the Folder that contains the images you want to search through.

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

�� {

�� if (folderBrowserDialog1.ShowDialog() != DialogResult.OK)

�� return ;

�� string cDir = folderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath;

�� textBox1.Text = cDir;

�� ifl .setFolder ( cDir );

�� }

Step 2. Create the Image Signature Library from the folder.

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

�� {

�� bool b = ifl.computeSignatureLibrary();

�� }

Step 3. Load the Signature Library into the ImageFinderLite object.

private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

�� {

�� if (openFileDialog1.ShowDialog() != DialogResult.OK)

�� return;

�� string fileName = openFileDialog1.FileName;

�� textBox2.Text = fileName;

�� ifl.setKeyImage(fileName);

�� }

Step 4. Get a key image file name, which will be matched against the library.

�� private void button4_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

�� {

�� bool b = ifl.loadLibrary ();

�� }

Step 5. Make a 1:N search.

�� private void button5_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

�� {

�� ifl.search () ;

�� }

8. Test Run

Run the software to get Figure 1; then

� Click Button 1 to set the Folder that contains the images you want to search through.

� Click Button 2 to create the Image Signature Library from the folder.

� Click Button 3 to load the Signature Library into the ImageFinderLite object.

� Click Button 4 to get a key image file name, which will be matched against the library.

� Click Button 5 to Make a 1:N search.

The results are given the text window in Figure 1 and in a text file, �.\data\b1.txt�.