# 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.

- **Patent:** US 8990235
- **Original title:** Automatically providing content associated with captured information, such as information captured in real-time
- **Owner:** Google LLC
- **Granted:** 2015
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 189
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications, ai_ml

## What it does

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Real-world examples

1. Google Lens
2. Google Search app's contextual features
3. Features that automatically provide links or information based on screen content

## Why it matters

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.

## 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.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8990235/bing-image-search

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8990235

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._