Patent Document ID: 7693833
Application ID: 11701868

Base Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method for improving the integrity of search results, comprising the steps of: receiving a search query from a user via a web browser, the Internet, and a web server; using a search engine to obtain a set of potential search results using the search query; for each Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results, accessing a set of data sources to obtain extrinsic information concerning the legitimacy of a business associated with the Internet domain or web site, said extrinsic information comprising one or more sources of information consisting of physical location information, governmental compliance information, business rating information, certification information, consumer protection information, and information in accordance with recognized or accepted business standards or principles available from a source other than the Internet domain or web site mentioned in the search results; computing a legitimacy score for the domain or web site; using said legitimacy score to reorder or to change or to augment the appearance or presentation of the search result for said Internet domain or web site; and returning the processed search results to the user.

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Claim 3:
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data sources used for evaluating business legitimacy comprise information selected from the group of information consisting of domain name registry, digitally signed certificates issued by certificate authorities, business information, state and national corporation records, business license records, filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, enforcement actions by criminal justice agencies, and enforcement actions by industry self-regulation groups.