A fast algorithm for constructing image identification

In the transmission of remote images, a typical scenario may be one in which a user is searching through an image database which contains a large number of different images, only a small number of which are of interest. In order to select the desired image, the user may have to download (from a remote site) the complete image itself. Instead of downloading the complete image, it would save time and network bandwidth by first sending a much compressed version of the image (its identification image) that gives sufficient information to allow the user visually classify the image and then transmit the complete version of the desired image. In this work, we present a computationally very simple approach to create image identification for viewing classification purpose. The new scheme compresses and transmits only the information in and around the edges of the image and a simple interpolation technique is used to construct the ID image from those compressed features at the user's computer. The technique described herein may be useful in tele-browsing image databases.