Multimodal Visual Search With Image Citations for Answer Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users struggle to formulate text-based queries, especially when unfamiliar with the subject matter, and existing search services lack the ability to provide accurate answers while allowing users to verify their accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A visual search system processes multimodal queries, retrieving visually similar images and deriving textual content from associated documents, then provides this content alongside the images with attribution elements for quick verification by users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If text-based search services are used, then users can perform queries, but users struggle to formulate queries when unfamiliar with the subject matter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces text-based query input with image-based visual search. Instead of requiring users to type textual queries (mechanical action of keyboard input), users simply upload or capture an image of the object they are searching for. This substitution eliminates the need for users to know how to describe objects in text, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and query accuracy.
2Productivity
If search services provide answers, then information is delivered to users, but users cannot verify the accuracy of the answers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by displaying both the query image and the retrieved result images together in the search results. This visual feedback allows users to immediately compare the original object with the search results and verify accuracy. The system provides real-time visual confirmation rather than requiring users to cross-reference multiple text sources, thus maintaining fast information delivery while enabling verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from text-only search results to a multi-dimensional presentation that includes both images and text. By adding the visual dimension of image comparison to the traditional text-based answer delivery, users gain a new way to verify accuracy through visual matching, resolving the contradiction between fast information delivery and verifiability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple types of data are used in multimodal queries, then query accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal search system that handles both image-based visual search and text-based search through a single interface. The search service is designed to accept multiple input types (images and text) and process them through unified algorithms, making the system multi-functional. This universality allows the system to leverage multiple data types for improved accuracy without requiring separate complex systems for each search mode.
Data Source
AI summary
A result image is retrieved based on a similarity between a query image and the result image. A first unit of text is obtained, wherein the first unit of text comprises at least a portion of textual content of a source document that includes the result image. A second unit of text is determined responsive to a prompt associated with the query image, wherein the second unit of text comprises one or more of (a) at least some of the first unit of text, or (b) text derived from the first unit of text. The second unit of text and the result image are provided for display within an interface.