Patent US 7,027,645

Computer based method and apparatus for evaluating a graphic image file for the presence of objectionable visual content. The graphic image file comprises a number of pixels each having spectral components defined in accordance with a color model (such as RGB). Relative weighting of the spectral components of each pixel is performed to classify each pixel as either not representing human skin or as possibly representing human skin. For those sets of adjacent pixels that possibly represent human skin, a brightness test is performed to determine whether the set of pixels represents a curved surface. A statistical analysis evaluates the run length of each such set of pixels. Display of the graphic image file is allowed or disallowed based on the results of the foregoing analyses. Web pages available from the World Wide Web are further screened for objectionable terms in the associated URLs and text.