Search system and methods with integration of user annotations from a trust network

A system having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network for responding to a request, the system comprising:

• an input control logic configured to receive a first request from a user;
• a search control logic configured to obtain at least one search result based on the first request;
• a trust network control logic configured to identify one or more other users from a social network of the user based on:
• a respective first degree of separation between the user and each of the one or more other users and a reputation score of each of the one or more other users, wherein each degree of separation indicates a second degree of trust the user has in at least a first annotation generated by a corresponding other user of the one or more other users, and wherein the reputation score of the corresponding other user is determined based on a level of participation of the corresponding other user in the social network of the user and a rating associated with the at least first annotation;
• a personalization control logic configured to determine content in the at least one search result, wherein the content had previously been accessed by the at least one other user of the one or more other users;
• and
• a reporting control logic configured to incorporate, in the at least one search result, first information indicating that the content had previously been accessed by the at least one other user of the at least one or more other users, and transmit the at least one search result with the first information incorporated therein to the user in response to the first request.

A machine-readable non-transitory medium having information recorded thereon for responding to a request, wherein the information, when read by a machine, causes the machine to perform the following:

• receiving a first request from a user;
• obtaining at least one search result based on the first request;
• selecting one or more other users from a social network of the user based on:
• a respective first degree of separation between the user and each of the one or more other users and a reputation score of each of the one or more other users, wherein each degree of separation indicates a second degree of trust the user has in at least a first annotation generated by a corresponding other user of the one or more other users, and wherein the reputation score of the corresponding other user is determined based on a level of participation of the corresponding other user in the social network of the user and a rating associated with the at least first annotation;
• determining content in the at least one search result, wherein the content had previously been accessed by at least one other user of the one or more other users;
• incorporating, in the at least one search result, first information indicating that the content had previously been accessed by the at least one other user of the one or more other users;
• and
• transmitting the at least one search result with the first information incorporated therein to the user as a response to the first request.