Model-Driven Development of Content-Based Image Retrieval Systems

Generic systems for content-based image retrieval (CBIR), such as QB1C [7] cannot be used to solve domain-specific retrieval problems, as for example, the identification of manuscript writers based in the visual characteristics of their handwriting. Domain-specific CBIR systems currently have to be implemented bottom up, i.e. almost from scratch, each time a new domain-specific solution is sought. Driven by the recognition that CBIR systems, although developed for different domain-problems, have similar building blocks and architecture, we propose a framework model for the development of CBIR systems. The aim of the framework model is to support the design of domain- specific CBIR-systems on a conceptual level by reusing architectural design and building blocks. The model-driven development of CBIR systems can thus be realized by software components for modeling the data structures and the update, storage and retrieval operations using the predefined framework model, and by components for mapping this model onto a specific implementation platform.