Note 1:
Smart search will be / was launched on December 16, 2025 and replace Image search as a more powerful and flexible option for image-based searches.
Note 2:
AI Assistants need to be enabled in order to use Smart Search.
What is Smart Search?
Smart Search allows starting a patent search using any combination of
PDF documents
MS Office documents (PPTX, DOCX, XLSX)
Image files (PNG, JPG, WEBP)
Pure text files (TXT)
Free form text input in a text field
The documents and image files can contain content in text or images, and have any technically meaningful content: technical drawings, photos, formulas, flow charts, tables, etc. The content can be in any language.
Smart search makes a deep analysis of all the content given to define a search target, and performs an optimized patent search for it.
How does Smart Search work?
Smart search
Analyses the content of each file in the context and using any additional instructions in the free text field (when given)
The extracted content is viewable by the user
Identifies the core subject matter based on all materials and builds a search query in claim set format that is optimal for IPRally's AI search
Independent claim with most essential features
Dependent claims with preferred/optional features
The claim set is editable by the user
Makes an AI search
All standard review features and AI Assisted review features (Ask AI and Smart filters) are available for Smart search results.
Smart search uses Generative AI for steps 1 and 2, and IPRally's proprietary search AI for step 3. AI Assistants [link] need to be enabled in order to use Smart Search.
What can Smart search be used for?
Smart search is use case agnostic and suitable for searching with e.g.
Invention Disclosure Forms (IDFs)
Project plans
Product specifications and data sheets
Articles and manuscripts
In general, any technical material in the above-mentioned formats can serve as a starting point. Note that you can use Smart Search also with text-only inputs. The format really doesn't matter!
The ideal use cases include
Novelty searches
State of the art searches
R&D inspiration
Freedom-to-operate searches
Technology monitoring
Boolean Filters and Monitoring are available for use case specific adjustments.
For invalidity searches and other patent number-based searches, we recommend the Number search.
How to use Smart Search?
Step 1: Drag'n'drop or upload files and/or enter free text input
The image shows a combination of a Word document, 4 image files and added text instructions.
Step 2: Press Search Patents
Pressing the search button makes the AI start processing the materials for defining the essence of the technology and defining the target of the search.
Note:
Studying the materials can take even several minutes, if the content is complex and heavy in image format data. But good is worth waiting for!
Step 3 (Optional): Check the query
We present the search query in intuitive and editable "mock claim" format
Independent claim with most essential features
Dependent claims with preferred/optional features
At this point, it is easy refocus the search by removing or adding claims or features. All claims and features will be considered by the search. Therefore, for focused searches, keep only the most relevant claims and features.
Step 4 (Optional): Check material interpretations
Clicking a file thumbnail image brings a screen with AI's interpretation of the content of the file:
Flowcharts are described in flowchart description language (Mermaid) for accurate information representation:
Images are described in plain language:
Step 5: Review the results
The results are reviewable using IPRally's standard and AI assisted review features:
