Image analysis (interpretation) is a highly condensed description of the image content, adapted to the task at hand. It essentially consists of a search for an appropriate match between image substructures and computer internal models. It is discussed by a few examples how the matching procedure can be made efficient and how it can be kept transparent and flexible: The interpretation is based on an analysis-by-synthesis search procedure; model based synthesis of image prototypes is guided by a control structure that includes (1) a conventional search strategy as usual in the field of Artificial Intelligence problem solving and (2) a "generative model" that describes possible sequences of prototype construction steps. Especially, possibilities to construct prototype components independently from each other are pointed out by the generative model. (IITB)
