Search engine application with ranking of results based on correlated data pertaining to the searcher

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for a method of providing search results to a user, the method comprising:

• storing user data for the user, the user data comprising at least one of user consumer-history and user personal information relating to the user;
• receiving an initial search query from the user;
• determining a set of initial search results, each initial search result being associated with content that is stored on at least one of a plurality of computer systems and correlating at least in part with the initial search query from the user;
• sorting the set of initial search results by ranking the initial search results such that an initial search result that is associated with content that is most similar to the user data of the user is ranked highest;
• and
• displaying the ranked initial search results to the user.

A method of providing content that is stored on a computer system, comprising:

• (a) storing first data that is indicative of personal information of a user of the computer system, the personal information for use in a plurality of different searches;
• (b) receiving an initial search query from the user of the computer system;
• (c) determining an initial search space comprising a plurality of search results each being associated with the first data and the initial search query in a known fashion;
• and,
• (d) displaying the ranked initial search results to the user.

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of searching for content that is stored on a computer system, the method comprising:

• storing first data that is indicative of personal information of a user of the computer system;
• receiving an initial search query from the user of the computer system;
• determining an initial search space comprising a plurality of search results each being associated with content stored on the computer system;
• correlating the stored first data with the plurality of search results, so as to determine similarities between the personal information relating to the user and the content stored on the computer system in association with the said search results;
• based on the determined similarities, ranking the initial search results such that an initial search result that is associated with content that is most similar to the personal information of the user is ranked highest;
• and,
• displaying the ranked initial search results to the user.