Profile search in PHP

I'm creating a social network. I'm trying to implement a profile search or a search engine where a profile can discover and connect to new profiles. Is there any algorithms or modules 开发者_Go百科out there in PHP? Do anyone have any suggestion of how to make the search as relevant as possible please give som code example.

Any algorithms that can sort out a profile by name(both first- and last name) in a network where there are thousands of similiar names. Facebook have done this by mutual friends algorithms, but I think they have patented it, so I can't use it.

I try to implement an algorithm where profiles can discover some new profiles by giving them the most relevant search result that is at least as good as Facebook's profile search. Any tips?

UPDATE: I made the question more specific

Many thanks! woho87

select name from profile where username LIKE '$username';

Sounds like you want some sort of recommendation engine (like fb/orkut and many sites have).

Simplest recommendation algo - recommend friends of friends. More - recommend people in same communities to each other. More advanced - if you monitor what your users visit/like on your site most, then match those with common interest.

In short - some intuition mixed with creativity.

There may be recommendation engines in PHP, but perhaps not exactly for profiles. You may be able to tweak some I guess.