摘要 |
An apparatus is disclosed for generating image feature data from an image having an arbitrary shape for use in image search. The apparatus includes rectangular area generating unit (2); rectangular image generating unit (3); padded-pixel value selecting unit (5); and image feature data generating unit (4). First, rectangular image generating unit (2) draws a rectangular area around input image (1) such that input image (1) is included therein. Rectangular image generating unit (3) pads a pixel value in an area of the rectangular area generated by rectangular area generating unit (2) which does not include pixels associated with input image (1) to generate a rectangular image. Image feature data generating unit (4) generates feature data from the image generated by rectangular image generating unit (3). <IMAGE> |