Google's System for Auto-Searching Text on Your Device
Google's 2015 patent describes a system that automatically finds and displays relevant information online based on text it detects on your device, even without you asking it to.
Original patent title: “Automatically providing content associated with captured information, such as information captured in real-time”
Google's 2015 patent describes a system that automatically finds and displays relevant information online based on text it detects on your device, even without you asking it to. Granted to Google LLC in 2015 with 19 claims and 189 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a method where a device, like your phone, can automatically select a piece of text it receives or captures. It then uses that text to create a search query, choosing the best place (index) to look for answers. The device sends this query to other devices, gets back relevant information, and shows it to you. For example, if you capture text from a printed document using your phone's camera, the system can automatically identify the document and search for related content online, displaying it without you needing to manually copy, paste, or type anything into a search bar. ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1 outlines this core process of receiving text, selecting a portion without user interaction, forming a query, selecting an index, transmitting the query, and displaying results.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Methods that require a user to actively select the text portion for searching.
- Systems that do not automatically select an index to search from multiple options.
- Processes where the device does not transmit the query to a second computing device.
- Functionality that does not display information relevant to the query.
- Searching only static, pre-defined content sources without dynamic or user-generated content.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The real innovation here is the automatic selection of text and the intelligent choice of search indexes without explicit user commands. This moves beyond simple copy-paste search to a system that anticipates user needs based on the information presented on the device.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Google Lens
Google Search app's contextual features
Features that automatically provide links or information based on screen content
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is a foundational piece for many smart features we use daily, particularly those involving contextual information discovery. It laid the groundwork for how devices can proactively offer relevant content, influencing the development of features like Google Lens and other context-aware search functionalities within Google's ecosystem.
Filed
March 12, 2010
Granted
March 24, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Google LLC, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be the primary entity building on this technology through its development of Google Lens and other proactive search features. Other major tech companies in the consumer electronics and software space likely implement similar automatic content association functionalities, though specific independent development is hard to pinpoint without deeper analysis.
Market impact
This patent's technology has become a core component of how users interact with information on mobile devices. It enabled a shift towards more intuitive, context-aware information retrieval, reducing friction for users and driving the adoption of visual search and augmented reality information overlays.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a method where a device, like your phone, can automatically select a piece of text it receives or captures. It then uses that text to create a search query, choosing the best place (index) to look for answers. The device sends this query to other devices, gets back relevant information, and shows it to you. For example, if you capture text from a printed document using your phone's camera, the system can automatically identify the document and search for related content online, displaying it without you needing to manually copy, paste, or type anything into a search bar. Claim 1 outlines this core process of receiving text, selecting a portion without user interaction, forming a query, selecting an index, transmitting the query, and displaying results.
The clever bit
The real innovation here is the automatic selection of text and the intelligent choice of search indexes without explicit user commands. This moves beyond simple copy-paste search to a system that anticipates user needs based on the information presented on the device.
What it does not cover
- Methods that require a user to actively select the text portion for searching.
- Systems that do not automatically select an index to search from multiple options.
- Processes where the device does not transmit the query to a second computing device.
- Functionality that does not display information relevant to the query.
- Searching only static, pre-defined content sources without dynamic or user-generated content.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$546K – $1.7M
Midpoint $1.1M · 3.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Stephens, R., Mannby, C., Peterson, J., King, M. T., Smith, M. J., Daley-Watson, C. J., & Sanvitale, M. (2015). Google's System for Auto-Searching Text on Your Device (U.S. Patent No. 8,990,235). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8990235/bing-image-search
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Google's System for Auto-Searching Text on Your Device cover?
Google's 2015 patent describes a system that automatically finds and displays relevant information online based on text it detects on your device, even without you asking it to.
Who owns patent US 8990235?
Google LLC owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 24, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8990235 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 189 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is a foundational piece for many smart features we use daily, particularly those involving contextual information discovery. It laid the groundwork for how devices can proactively offer relevant content, influencing the development of features like Google Lens and other context-aware search functionalities within Google's ecosystem.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Methods that require a user to actively select the text portion for searching.
Same assignee
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