Image Search lets you find patents by simply uploading an image. Unlike traditional image searches that focus on visual similarity, Image Search focuses on the concepts, technologies, and inventions depicted in the uploaded image. It finds patents describing similar ideas, even if they look different visually or have no images at all.
Using Image Search
1. Accessing Image Search
To start an Image Search, navigate to the IPRally homepage and select "Image search" from the list of search options. If AI Assistant Features are not enabled, you'll see a message about it instead of the search functionality.
2. Uploading an Image
Click on the upload area or drag and drop your image file. Supported file types are JPEG, PNG, or WEBP, with a maximum file size of 20MB.
3. Adding Context (Optional)
Below the image upload area, you'll find an optional text field where you can add context for the image. Use this to provide additional information or instructions for the AI. The search works with just the image, but adding context can help guide the AI's interpretation of the image. You can:
Describe non-visible elements. Example: "Exhaust gas catalyst structure"
Focus on specific features. Example: "Focus on the cooling mechanism"
Clarify overlooked details. Example: "Blue parts are ceramic composite"
Provide labels for diagrams. Example: "1: Rotor, 2: Stator, 3: Bearing"
4. Searching Patents
After uploading your image and optionally adding context, click the "Search Patents" button to initiate the search.
5. Search Results and Refinement
View the list of patent documents matching your image search. You can edit the context text or the resulting graph to refine your search. As with other search features in IPRally, you can apply boolean filters to further narrow down the results. Additionally, you can use the search results as a starting point for a graph search by editing the generated graph.
Best Practices for Image Search
Use clear, detailed images when possible.
Remember that Image Search finds conceptually related patents, not visually similar images. The results may not look like your uploaded image.
If the AI misinterprets the image, provide additional context to clarify the aspects you're interested in. Don't hesitate to run multiple searches, adjusting your input each time.
Edit the search graph directly for more precise control over the technological features you want to search for.
If you want to search with a different image, start a new search case. You cannot change the uploaded image after initiating a search.
Technical Process
IPRally uses Claude 3.5 Sonnet, a Large Language Model (LLM), to analyze the uploaded image and convert it into a textual description. This description is then transformed into a search graph, which is a structured representation of the invention's key features and relationships. The search graph is then used to find relevant patent documents, similar to how graph search and text search function in IPRally.
Enabling Image Search
If you are an administrator and want to enable AI Assistant Features (including Image Search) for your organization:
Go to Settings
Navigate to "Licenses" under the "Company" header
Review and accept the Generative AI Terms
Enable AI Assistant Features