Similarity-based image retrieval considering artifacts by self-organizing map with refractoriness

In this paper, we propose a similarity-based image retrieval considering artifacts by self-organizing map with refractoriness. In the self-organizing map with refractoriness, the plural neurons in the map layer corresponding to the input can fire sequentially because of the refractoriness. The proposed image retrieval system considering artifacts using the self-organizing map with refractoriness makes use of this property in order to retrieve plural similar images. In this image retrieval system, as the image feature, not only color information but also spectrum and keywords are employed. We carried out a series of computer experiments and confirmed that the effectiveness of the proposed system.