Patent ID: 8515936

Claim:
A computer implemented method for providing search results from a private database in combination with a web-based search, comprising: receiving a search request from a search request user, the search request user having a social network account that allows the social network user to form relationships by invitation with other social network users and to share private social network data on the social network through the relationships; providing one or more databases including a plurality of database entries, a first portion of the database entries including private network data from the social network account or an index thereof and a second portion including public non-social network data that is publicly accessible on the World Wide Web; receiving authentication data associated with the search request user, wherein the authentication data identifies access rights of the search request user to the social network data from the social network account or index thereof; searching the plurality of database entries to generate a plurality of search result items, a first portion of the search result items including private social network data from the social network account or an index thereof and a second portion of search result items including public non-social network data; determining whether the search request user has access rights to the first portion of the search result items; ranking the search result items according to relevancy to generate a search result; and providing to the search request user the search result for display on a graphical user interface, the search result comprising one or more lists of selectable links, a first portion of the selectable links linking to private network data to which the search request user has access rights; and a second portion of the selectable links linking to public non-social network data.