US Patent 11157550 Image search based on feature values

An image search device stores images and tag information about the images, receives an image, extracts, from the image, feature values for search queries a similar image search unit which performs a similar-image search to obtain similar images and grouping information, divides the queries into groups in accordance with the obtained grouping information, calculates the levels of importance of the groups, sorts the search results in accordance with the levels of importance of the groups, and outputs information about the search results for each group.