Overview of image segmentation techniques and searching for future directions of research in content-based image retrieval

Research in content-based image retrieval has proved extremely difficult because of the inherent problems in proper automated analysis and feature extraction of the image to facilitate efficient retrieval. An image may contain more than one object and to segment the image in line with object features to extract meaningful objects has become a challenge to the researchers in the field. Until we win over this challenge, the efficient retrieval of images from the database based on a given input image will be difficult to achieve. In this paper we take stock of the current situation and suggest some future directions in the resolution of this problem.