Integrating Online Search Results and Social Networks

Abstract

A method includes receiving a search query from a client system associated with a first user, and obtaining one or more candidate identifiers associated with the first user. The method also includes identifying a social network set of search results matching the search query and social network criteria for the first user. The social network criteria is satisfied for a respective search result when the respective search result is authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers, and at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers is associated with at least one candidate identifier of the one or more candidate identifiers associated with the first user. The method also includes providing to the client system a list of search results including at least a subset of the social network set of search results.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, performed at a server system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, comprising:
 receiving a search query from a first user;   identifying a social network set of search results that (i) matches the search query and (ii) satisfies a social network criteria for the first user, wherein:
 the social network criteria is satisfied for a respective search result when the respective search result is annotated by a second user, distinct from the first user, represented by one or more author identifiers, and 
 at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers represents the second user and is associated, in a social network application, with a first candidate identifier associated with the first user; 
   identifying a particular social network application on which the first user and the second user are potentially connected; and   formatting for concurrent presentation to the first user:
 (i) a search result, in the social network set of search results, published on the particular social network application by the second user, and 
 (ii) information identifying the particular social network application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the social network set of search results includes:
 a first set of search results authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers associated with at least one candidate identifier of a plurality of candidate identifiers associated with the first user, and   a second set of search results authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers associated with at least one known identifier of the first user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the social network set of search results comprises:
 a first set of search results matching the search query without regard to the social network criteria.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the social network set of search results that (i) matches the search query and (ii) satisfies the social network criteria for the first user comprises:
 identifying a first set of search results matching the search query without regard to the social network criteria;   identifying search results within the first set of search results that match the social network criteria for the first user; and   applying ranking criteria to the search results in the first set of search result such that a rank of each search result that matches the social network criteria for the first user is boosted.   
     
     
         5 . A server system, comprising one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server system to:
 receive a search query from a first user;   identify a social network set of search results that (i) matches the search query and (ii) satisfies a social network criteria for the first user, wherein:
 the social network criteria is satisfied for a respective search result when the respective search result is annotated by a second user, distinct from the first user, represented by one or more author identifiers, and 
 at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers represents the second user and is associated, in a social network application, with a first candidate identifier associated with the first user; 
   identify a particular social network application on which the first user and the second user are potentially connected; and   format for concurrent presentation to the first user:
 (i) a search result, in the social network set of search results, published on the particular social network application by the second user, and 
 (ii) information identifying the particular social network application. 
   
     
     
         6 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the social network set of search results includes:
 a first set of search results authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers associated with at least one candidate identifier of a plurality of candidate identifiers associated with the first user, and   a second set of search results authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers associated with at least one known identifier of the first user.   
     
     
         7 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the social network set of search results further comprises:
 a first set of search results matching the search query without regard to the social network criteria.   
     
     
         8 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions to identify the social network set of search results that (i) matches the search query and (ii) satisfies a social network criteria for the first user comprise instructions to:
 identify a first set of search results matching the search query without regard to the social network criteria;   identify search results within the first set of search results that match the social network criteria for the first user; and   apply ranking criteria to the search results in the first set of search result such that a rank of each search result that matches the social network criteria for the first user is boosted.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium,
 storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a server system, the one or more programs including instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server system to:
 receive a search query from a first user; 
 identify a social network set of search results that (i) matches the search query and (ii) satisfies a social network criteria for the first user, wherein:
 the social network criteria is satisfied for a respective search result when the respective search result is annotated by a second user, distinct from the first user, represented by one or more author identifiers, and 
 at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers represents the second user and is associated, in a social network application, with a first candidate identifier associated with the first user; 
 
 identify a particular social network application on which the first user and the second user are potentially connected; and 
 format for concurrent presentation to the first user:
 (i) a search result, in the social network set of search results, published on the particular social network application by the second user, and 
 (ii) information identifying the particular social network application. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the social network set of search results includes:
 a first set of search results authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers associated with at least one candidate identifier of a plurality of candidate identifiers associated with the first user, and   a second set of search results authored or annotated by one or more author identifiers associated with at least one known identifier of the first user.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the social network set of search results further comprises:
 a first set of search results matching the search query without regard to the social network criteria.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server system to identify a social network set of search results that (i) matches the search query and (ii) satisfies a social network criteria for the first user comprise instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:
 identify a first set of search results matching the search query without regard to the social network criteria;   identify search results within the first set of search results that match the social network criteria for the first user; and   apply ranking criteria to the search results in the first set of search result such that a rank of each search result that matches the social network criteria for the first user is boosted.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers that represents the second user is deemed to be associated, in a social network application, with the confirmed candidate identifier in accordance with a determination that the first user and the second user are connected in the social network application. 
     
     
         14 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers that represent the second user is deemed to be associated, in a social network application, with the confirmed candidate identifier in accordance with a determination that the first user and the second user are connected in the social network application. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers that represent the second user is deemed to be associated, in a social network application, with the confirmed candidate identifier in accordance with a determination that the first user and the second user are connected in the social network application. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one author identifier of the one or more author identifiers is determined to be associated, in a social network application, with the confirmed candidate identifier based on a frequency of communication between the one author identifier and the confirmed candidate identifier.