Information retrieval

A method for retrieving information relating to an entity, the method including, in at least one electronic processing device, performing a search by:

• a) determining a respective search template for the entity, the search template being indicative of a sequence of query instructions;
• b) performing a sequence of queries in accordance with the sequence of query instructions of the respective search template, each query being a query of a data source performed in accordance with a respective query instruction and being performed at least in part using at least one of:
• i) an identity of the respective entity;
• and,
• ii) a result of a previous query performed in accordance with a previous query instruction in the sequence of query instructions;
• c) determining a result for at least some of the sequence of queries;
• and,
• d) determining information relating to the entity using the results.

A method of generating a search template for use in retrieving information relating to an entity, the method including in at least one electronic processing device:

• a) determining a number of selected queries;
• b) defining a sequence for execution of the number of selected queries;
• and,
• c) generating a sequence of query instructions in accordance with the number of selected queries and the determined sequence.

A system for generating a search template for use in retrieving information relating to an entity, the system including at least one electronic processing device that:

• a) determines a number of selected queries;
• b) defines a sequence for execution of the number of selected queries;
• and,
• c) generates a sequence of query instructions in accordance with the number of selected queries and the determined sequence.