Systems, methods and apparatus for rating and filtering online content

A method of providing information, the method comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of search results based on a request from a first user of a communication network, each search result being associated with content accessible via the communication network;
• obtaining a first plurality of criteria associated with the first user, each of the first plurality of criteria corresponding to a respective one among a plurality of content attributes;
• identifying a plurality of second users of the communication network, each second user having a second plurality of criteria that has a predetermined degree of similarity to the first plurality of criteria;
• determining, for each second user among the plurality of second users, a trust score earned by the respective second user based on activities conducted within the communication network;
• for each search result among the plurality of search results, performing a series of first operations comprising:
• for each second user among the plurality of second users, performing a series of second operations comprising:
• determining a frequency value indicating how often the respective second user views the respective search result;
• determining at least one rating value indicating a rating produced by the respective second user with respect to an attribute of the content associated with the respective search result;
• weighting the frequency value based on the trust score of the respective second user, generating a weighted frequency value;
• weighting the rating value based on the trust score of the respective second user, generating a weighted rating value,
• generating at least one combined weighted frequency value and a set of combined weighted rating values for each respective search result among the plurality of search results;
• determining respective priority values for the plurality of search results, used on the at least one combined weighted frequency value, the set of combined weighted rating values, and the first plurality of criteria;
• and
• providing the plurality of search results to the first user arranged in an order determined based on the priority values.

A system comprising:

• a storage adapted to store one or more ratings;
• a processor adapted to:
• receive, from a plurality of users, a plurality of ratings associated with content accessible at a network address, wherein each of the ratings corresponds to one of a plurality of content attributes;
• generate a combined set of ratings for the content based on the plurality of ratings, the combined set of ratings comprising, for each of the plurality of content attributes, a combined rating value;
• receive, from a user device, a plurality of criteria, each criterion corresponding to a respective one among a plurality of content attributes;
• receive from the user device a request to access the content;
• compare the combined set of rating to the plurality of criteria received from the user device;
• allow the user device to access the content the combined set of ratings does not conflict with the plurality of criteria;
• and
• prevent the user device from accessing the content if the combined set of ratings conflicts with the plurality of criteria.