How Google Displays Knowledge Panels Next to Search Results
A method for automatically assembling and displaying information boxes on search result pages by pulling data from multiple sources based on user query patterns.
Original patent title: “Providing knowledge panels with search results”
A method for automatically assembling and displaying information boxes on search result pages by pulling data from multiple sources based on user query patterns. Granted to Google LLC in 2016 with 33 claims and 25 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system that identifies a 'factual entity' (like a person, place, or thing) within a user's search query and automatically populates a 'knowledge panel' alongside standard search results. The system selects a specific template based on the entity type (e.g., a person vs. a map) and pulls content from at least two different sources to fill in the blanks. It ranks this content based on how often other users have searched for that specific entity in combination with that information. For example, if you search for a famous actor, the system uses the 'person' template to pull an image from one source and a biography from another, displaying them together in a sidebar without requiring you to click away.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover simple text-based snippets that appear as standard search results.
- Does not cover panels that are manually curated or hard-coded by human editors.
- Does not cover search results that do not include a sidebar-style knowledge panel area.
- Does not cover systems that pull all information from a single, unified database.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system doesn't just display data; it uses the frequency of past user search queries to determine which specific facts are most relevant to show for a given entity, effectively letting collective user behavior dictate the 'best' content for the panel.
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 Search sidebar panels for celebrities
Google Search location panels for businesses
Google Search movie info boxes
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is the backbone of the 'Knowledge Graph' interface that transformed search engines from simple link lists into answer engines. By aggregating disparate data sources into a structured, interactive format, Google significantly reduced the need for users to click through multiple websites to find basic facts.
Filed
August 3, 2012
Granted
February 23, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Google remains the primary implementer of this technology, using it to maintain dominance in search. Other major search providers like Microsoft (Bing) and various AI-driven search startups are building similar knowledge-aggregation systems to compete.
Market impact
This patent helped solidify the shift toward 'zero-click' searches, where users get their answers directly on the results page. This forced a massive change in how websites optimize for search engines, as traffic patterns shifted away from traditional blue-link clicks toward information-rich snippets.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system that identifies a 'factual entity' (like a person, place, or thing) within a user's search query and automatically populates a 'knowledge panel' alongside standard search results. The system selects a specific template based on the entity type (e.g., a person vs. a map) and pulls content from at least two different sources to fill in the blanks. It ranks this content based on how often other users have searched for that specific entity in combination with that information. For example, if you search for a famous actor, the system uses the 'person' template to pull an image from one source and a biography from another, displaying them together in a sidebar without requiring you to click away.
The clever bit
The system doesn't just display data; it uses the frequency of past user search queries to determine which specific facts are most relevant to show for a given entity, effectively letting collective user behavior dictate the 'best' content for the panel.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover simple text-based snippets that appear as standard search results.
- Does not cover panels that are manually curated or hard-coded by human editors.
- Does not cover search results that do not include a sidebar-style knowledge panel area.
- Does not cover systems that pull all information from a single, unified database.
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
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
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
$161K – $516K
Midpoint $323K · 6.1 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
33 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Henry, J. W. (2016). How Google Displays Knowledge Panels Next to Search Results (U.S. Patent No. 9,268,820). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9268820/onedrive-cloud-storage
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US9268820"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Software & Internet
US 4405829 · 1983 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
US 6285999 · 2001 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How Websites Get Ranked by Importance
US 5960411 · 1999 · Amazon com Inc
How Amazon's One-Click Ordering Works for Online Purchases
US 7669123 · 2010 · Facebook Inc
Displaying Friends' Activities in a Social Network Feed
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Google Displays Knowledge Panels Next to Search Results cover?
A method for automatically assembling and displaying information boxes on search result pages by pulling data from multiple sources based on user query patterns.
Who owns patent US 9268820?
Google LLC owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 23, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9268820 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is the backbone of the 'Knowledge Graph' interface that transformed search engines from simple link lists into answer engines. By aggregating disparate data sources into a structured, interactive format, Google significantly reduced the need for users to click through multiple websites to find basic facts.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover simple text-based snippets that appear as standard search results.
Same assignee
More from Google LLC
Patent monitoring