Synthetic Image Location Search for Better Query Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in searching for content like clothing, art, movies, and music without an example image, leading to unaligned and time-intensive search results, and current image generation systems are non-intuitive and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A computing system that generates model-generated images based on user inputs using an image generation model, which are then processed by a search engine to determine location search results, leveraging user preferences and task graphs for personalized recommendations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If freeform text and Boolean strings are provided as search queries, then the search can be performed without example images, but the search results become mixed, unaligned, and time-intensive to refine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch accessibilityVSAvoidsearch result alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an image generation model as an intermediary between the text search query and the search engine. The model generates synthetic images from the text query, which then serve as the actual search input. This intermediary transforms imprecise text queries into precise visual representations that yield aligned search results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary image generation before executing the search. By generating synthetic images that represent the user's search intent beforehand, the system prepares a precise visual query that will produce better-aligned results when submitted to the search engine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If image queries are used to provide more tailored results, then search accuracy improves, but users may not have access to an image of what they are looking for

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch result tailoringVSAvoiduser input requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring users to find and provide an example image, the system inverts the approach by generating images from text descriptions. Users input what they are looking for in text form, and the system creates the image query automatically, reversing the traditional workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs the image creation task automatically without requiring user effort. The image generation model self-generates appropriate query images from the text description, eliminating the need for users to manually source or create example images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If current image generation systems are used with prompt input boxes, then images can be generated from text, but the process is non-intuitive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetext-to-image capabilityVSAvoidimage generation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the image generation task with the search execution into a single integrated workflow. Rather than requiring separate steps for prompt engineering and image generation, the system combines these operations to produce search results more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system skips the manual prompt engineering step that users would normally need to perform in traditional image generation systems. By automatically translating the search query into appropriate image generation parameters, the system rushes through the process without requiring iterative user refinement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS20260057564A1Location Search Based on Model-Generated Synthetic Images
Publication Date: 2026.02.26 GOOGLE LLC
  • US20260057564A1 patent drawing
  • US20260057564A1 patent drawing
  • US20260057564A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for searching using machine-learned model-generated outputs can provide a user with a medium for generating synthetic images depicting synthetic environments that can then be matched to a real world example. The systems and methods can include obtaining a search query, which can be utilized to generate a prompt input that can be processed by an image generation model to generate a plurality of model-generated images. A selection can then be received that selects a particular model-generated image to utilize to query a database.