Processing information queries in a distributed information processing environment

An apparatus configured to handle a shopping request at a travel reservation system, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a cache coupled with the processor;
• and
• a memory coupled with the processor, the memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• receive the shopping request from an inquiring entity;
• direct the shopping request to a first platform of a first travel content provider;
• if a first response to the shopping request is received from the first platform within a given time limit, forward the first response to the inquiring entity;
• if the first platform fails to respond to the query processing server within a given time limit, forward a second response to the shopping request to the inquiring entity based upon query response data stored in the cache;
• and
• if a third response to the shopping request is received from the first platform after the given time limit has been exceeded, update the query response data for the first travel content provider in the cache based upon the third response.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium;
• and
• instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor of a query processing server, cause the processor to:
• receive a shopping request from an inquiring entity;
• direct the shopping request to a platform of a travel content provider;
• if a first response to the shopping request is received from the platform within a given time limit, forward the first response to the inquiring entity;
• if the platform fails to respond within a given time limit, forward a second response to the shopping request to the inquiring entity based upon query response data stored in a cache;
• and
• if a third response to the shopping request is received from the first platform after the given time limit has been exceeded, update the query response data for the travel content provider in the cache based upon the third response.