User-specific search over protected contextual data

1. A method of facilitating a display of search results, said method comprising:

utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code configured to perform the steps of:

receiving a search query from a user having a predetermined access level;

executing a search based on the search query;

producing initial search results based on the executed search;

redacting sensitive information from the initial search results based on the predetermined access level;

filtering and re-ordering the redacted search results to forestall an inference of the redacted sensitive information; and

displaying to a user the filtered and re-ordered search results.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises re-ranking the redacted search results relative to a base search algorithm associated with said executing.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises constructing a binary logic formula corresponding to the search query.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein:

the search query comprises at least one search term;

said constructing comprising representing each of the least one search term as a boolean literal.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein:

the initial search results comprise at least one document; and

the redacted search results comprise at least one redacted document corresponding to at least one document from the initial search results.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said redacting comprises identifying at least one keyword for redaction from the search query, and redacting the at least one keyword from at least one document of the initial search results.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises setting a boolean literal of a search term to true if the search term is present in at least one document of the initial search results, else setting the boolean literal to false.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises setting a boolean literal of a search term from the search query to false if the search term is redacted from the initial search results.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises:

evaluating the binary logic formula; and

adding a redacted document to the redacted search results if the binary logic formula evaluates to true.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises hiding the redacted document from the redacted search results if the binary logic formula evaluates to false.

11. An apparatus for facilitating a display of search results, said apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive a search query from a user having a predetermined access level;

computer readable program code configured to execute a search based on the search query;

computer readable program code configured to produce initial search results based on the executed search;

computer readable program code configured to redact sensitive information from the initial search results based on the predetermined access level;

computer readable program code configured to filter and re-order the redacted search results to forestall an inference of the redacted sensitive information; and

computer readable program code configured to display to a user the filtered and re-ordered search results.

12. A computer program product for facilitating a display of search results, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive a search query from a user having a predetermined access level;

computer readable program code configured to execute a search based on the search query;

computer readable program code configured to produce initial search results based on the executed search;

computer readable program code configured to redact sensitive information from the initial search results based on the predetermined access level;

computer readable program code configured to filter and re-order the redacted search results to forestall an inference of the redacted sensitive information; and

computer readable program code configured to display to a user the filtered and re-ordered search results.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises re-ranking the redacted search results relative to a base search algorithm associated with said executing.

14. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises constructing a binary logic formula corresponding to the search query.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14 , wherein:

the search query comprises at least one search term;

said constructing comprising representing each of the least one search term as a boolean literal.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein:

the initial search results comprise at least one document; and

the redacted search results comprise at least one redacted document, corresponding to at least one document from the initial search results.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 , wherein said redacting comprises identifying at least one keyword for redaction from the search query, and redacting the at least one keyword from at least one document of the initial search results.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises setting a boolean literal of a search term to true if the search term is present in at least one document of the initial search results, else setting the boolean literal to false.

19. The computer program product according to claim 18 , wherein said filtering and re-ordering comprises setting a boolean literal of a search term from the search query to false if the search term is redacted from the initial search results.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a search query from a user with a given access level;

executing a search based on the search query;

producing search results which omit information relative to the user's access level and which re-order the search results to forestall inference of missing information;

said producing comprising:

identifying at least one keyword for redaction from the search query, and redacting the at least one keyword from at least one document of the search results; and

setting a boolean literal of a search term to true if the search term is present in at least one document of the search results, else setting the boolean literal to false.