Privacy-Respecting Computerized Application Search System

摘要

A method of operating an application search system includes storing application records corresponding respectively to applications. The method includes storing, in a privacy record data store, for each application, a global privacy indicator specific to the application and applicable to all users. The method includes, in response to receiving a first search query from a user device, identifying search results responsive to the first search query from the application records. The method includes, for each search result, selectively determining a privacy indicator based on the privacy record data store. The method includes determining a search sensitivity value based on the privacy indicators and declaring the first search query as private based on the search sensitivity value. The method includes transmitting the search results to the user device. The method includes, in response to the first search query being declared as private, transmitting a search privacy indicator to the user device.

主权项

1. A method of operating an application search system, the method comprising:
storing, in an application record data store, a plurality of application records corresponding respectively to a plurality of applications; storing, in a privacy record data store, for each application of at least some of the plurality of applications, a global privacy indicator specific to the application and applicable to all users; in response to receiving a first search query from a user device:
identifying a plurality of search results responsive to the first search query from the application record data store, the plurality of search results corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of application records;for each search result of the plurality of search results, selectively determining a privacy indicator based on the privacy record data store;determining a search sensitivity value based on the privacy indicators;declaring the first search query as private based on the search sensitivity value;transmitting the plurality of search results to the user device; andin response to the first search query being declared as private, transmitting a search privacy indicator to the user device.