Method and apparatus for allowing users to augment searches

A computer-implemented method for providing searches for entities to a primary user, the method comprising:

• receiving a query for a search for relevant entities;
• searching, at a server computer, for a set of relevant entities relevant to the primary user from the plurality of entities based on the query, entity data, and user data;
• receiving location data from the primary user;
• automatically determining a relevant distance from the location data of the primary user;
• determining a set of criteria for an initial order of relevance, wherein the initial order of relevance is an order in which the set of relevant entities are to be communicated to the primary user;
• determining the initial order of relevance of the set of relevant entities based on the set of criteria and the relevant distance;
• communicating to the primary user, on a user device, the set of relevant entities in the initial order of relevance to the primary user;
• obtaining, via the user device, feedback data from the user related to the search for the set of relevant entities;
• augmenting the search for the set of relevant entities, thereby updating the set of relevant entities, based on the feedback data;
• and
• communicating, via the user device, the updated set of relevant entities to the primary user, thereby providing an augmented search for relevant entities to the primary user.

A server computer comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code executable by the processor to implement a method for providing searches for entities to a primary user, the method comprising:

• obtaining, at the server computer, user data related to a plurality of users relevant to the primary user;
• storing the user data at the server computer;
• obtaining, at the server computer, entity data from a plurality of data sources, wherein the entity data is associated with an entity in a plurality of entities
• storing the entity data, wherein the entity data associated with the plurality of entities is stored in an entity database;
• receiving a query for a search for relevant entities;
• searching, at the server computer, for a set of relevant entities relevant to the primary user from the plurality of entities based on the query, entity data, and user data;
• determining a set of criteria for an initial order of relevance, wherein the initial order of relevance is an order in which the set of relevant entities are to be communicated to the primary user;
• determining the initial order of relevance of the set of relevant entities based on the set of criteria;
• communicating to the primary user, on a user device, the set of relevant entities in the initial order of relevance to the primary user;
• obtaining, via the user device, feedback data from the user related to the search for the set of relevant entities;
• augmenting the search for the set of relevant entities, thereby updating the set of relevant entities, based on the feedback data;
• and
• communicating, via the user device, the updated set of relevant entities to the primary user, thereby providing an augmented search for relevant entities to the primary user.

A computer-implemented method for providing searches for entities to a primary user, the method comprising:

• receiving a query for a search for relevant entities;
• searching, at a server computer, for a set of relevant entities relevant to the primary user from the plurality of entities based on the query, entity data, and user data;
• receiving location data from the primary user;
• automatically determining a relevant distance from the location data of the primary user;
• determining a set of criteria for an initial order of relevance, wherein the initial order of relevance is an order in which the set of relevant entities are to be communicated to the primary user;
• determining the initial order of relevance of the set of relevant entities based on the set of criteria and the relevant distance;
• communicating to the primary user, on a user device, the set of relevant entities in the initial order of relevance to the primary user;
• obtaining, via the user device, feedback data from the user related to the search for the set of relevant entities;
• augmenting the search for the set of relevant entities, thereby updating the set of relevant entities, based on the feedback data;
• and
• communicating, via the user device, the updated set of relevant entities to the primary user, thereby providing an augmented search for relevant entities to the primary user.