Box, Inc.
Collaborative information retrieval across a network of varying permissions

Abstract:

Searching data for a user includes searching a first set of data that is directly accessible to the user to provide a first set of search results, searching a second set of data that is not directly accessible to the user to provide a second set of search results, comparing the search results, and, if at least a portion of the second set of search results is better than the first set of search results, causing the portion to be provided to the user. Causing the portion to be provided to the user may include obtaining permission from an entity that controls permissions to the portion of the second set. The entity that controls permissions to the portion of the second set may be an owner of the portion. The first set of data may be determined based on credentials and sharing permissions of the user.