Patent ID: 7617134

Claim:
An apparatus for providing a certified photograph in a network environment, comprising: central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users, wherein the web site is operable to display one or more photos of the end users and to provide a label on the photos that certifies the photos as being substantially accurate, wherein the information is provided in a profile, which includes a certified photo, the label including indicia signifying an endorsement from the web site for the certified photo, wherein the web site includes a search component configured to receive a first search request from a particular end user, the first search request including a first option that allows the particular end user to query the central web site for only end user profiles that include a certified photo, and wherein the central web site is configured to respond to the first search request by providing the particular end user with the profiles that include the certified photo, and wherein the search component is configured to receive a second search request from the particular end user, the second search request including a second option that allows the particular end user to query the central web site for profiles that include and that do not include a certified photo.