11. An image retrieval system comprising: a processor means: a means executed on the processor for handling keyword-based queries having one or more search keywords; a means for identifying at least one of (1) first images having keywords that match the search keywords from a keyword-based query, and (2) extracting low-level features from the first images and identifying second images using pattern match having low-level features similar to the first images, wherein the feature and semantic matcher ranks the images, and the low-level features comprise color, shape and texture, and the low-level features do not match the keyword-based or content-based; a means for presenting the first and second images to a user, wherein the second image is an example image; and a means for receiving feedback from the user as to whether the first and second images are relevant to the query further comprising: assigning a first weight to an association between the query keyword and the first images deemed relevant by the user and/or assigning a second weight to an association between the query keyword and the example image, wherein the first weight is greater than the second weight; and a storage means for storing the first weight and/or second weight on a computer-readable medium.
11. An image retrieval system comprising: a processor means: a means executed on the processor for handling keyword-based queries having one or more search keywords; a means for identifying at least one of (1) first images having keywords that match the search keywords from a keyword-based query, and (2) extracting low-level features from the first images and identifying second images using pattern match having low-level features similar to the first images, wherein the feature and semantic matcher ranks the images, and the low-level features comprise color, shape and texture, and the low-level features do not match the keyword-based or content-based; a means for presenting the first and second images to a user, wherein the second image is an example image; and a means for receiving feedback from the user as to whether the first and second images are relevant to the query further comprising: assigning a first weight to an association between the query keyword and the first images deemed relevant by the user and/or assigning a second weight to an association between the query keyword and the example image, wherein the first weight is greater than the second weight; and a storage means for storing the first weight and/or second weight on a computer-readable medium. 13. An image retrieval system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the means for handling query handler comprises: parser to parse text-based queries; and concept hierarchy to define various categories of images.