Screenshot Image Linking Using Markers and Fingerprint Matching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Screenshots captured by users often lack direct links to relevant content, making it difficult for users to access information related to the depicted images.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for linking screenshots to other resources by identifying and matching images within screenshots with reference images, generating notifications with relevant links, and utilizing recommendation engines to suggest similar products based on user screenshots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If screenshots are saved as image files without additional linking mechanisms, then storage simplicity is maintained, but user ability to access relevant content is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser ability to access relevant contentVSAvoidsystem complexity for linking screenshots
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically analyzing screenshots upon capture, extracting images, generating fingerprints, and matching them with reference images before the user needs to access the content. This automation eliminates the need for manual linking while improving content accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components including image extraction mechanisms, fingerprint generation algorithms, and matching systems that act as mediators between screenshots and reference content. These intermediaries enable automatic linking without requiring direct user intervention or complex manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the system analyzes and matches every screenshot with reference images, then content accessibility is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by focusing analysis only on specific regions within screenshots where images are likely to appear, rather than processing the entire screenshot. This selective approach reduces computational overhead while maintaining effective content matching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional image comparison methods with fingerprint-based matching technology. Instead of comparing entire images pixel-by-pixel, the system generates compact fingerprint representations that enable faster, more efficient matching with reference images, significantly reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If screenshots include only image data without metadata or links, then file simplicity is maintained, but information completeness is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddata structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple data elements including extracted images, generated fingerprints, matched reference image identifiers, and associated metadata into a unified data structure. This consolidation preserves complete information while managing complexity through integrated storage and processing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of essential information elements such as image fingerprints and reference identifiers that can be stored efficiently alongside screenshot data. These copies enable rapid retrieval and matching operations without requiring storage of entire reference images, balancing information completeness with storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20250384100A1Systems and methods for image linking
Publication Date: 2025.12.18 REWARDSTYLE
  • US20250384100A1 patent drawing
  • US20250384100A1 patent drawing
  • US20250384100A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for analyzing screenshots can include a computing device including a processor coupled to a memory and a display screen configured to display content. The system can include an application stored on the memory and executable by the processor. The application can include a screenshot receiver configured to access, from storage to which a screenshot of the content displayed on the display screen captured using a screenshot function of the computing device is stored, the screenshot including an image and a predetermined marker. The application can include a marker detector configured to detect the predetermined marker included in the screenshot. The application can include a link identifier configured to identify, using the predetermined marker, a link to a resource mapped to the image included in the screenshot, the resource accessible by the computing device via the link.