Method for retrieving data from an information network through linking search criteria to search strategy

In an information network comprising a plurality of provider network sites, each having a provider associated therewith, and a plurality of requester network sites, each having a requester associated therewith, a method of introducing providers and requesters to each other based on a search criteria provided by at least one of said providers and requesters, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a database;
• populating said database with network site data representative of the content of the network site from a plurality of said requester network sites and provider network sites, a plurality of other search criteria provided by other providers and requesters, and a plurality of search strategies comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to said other search criteria;
• linking at least one of said search strategies with at least one of said other search criteria;
• on behalf of each requester providing requester search criteria, creating a requester search agent and employing said search agent to:
• search said database for network site data and other search criteria relevant to said requester search criteria;
• for each relevant other search criteria, executing said at least one search strategy linked with said other search criteria to search said information network for network sites having data relevant to said requester search criteria;
• providing search results to said requester;
• and
• on behalf of each provider providing provider search criteria, creating a provider search agent and employing said search agent to:
• search said database for network site data and other search criteria relevant to said provider search criteria;
• for each relevant other search criteria, executing said at least one search strategy linked with said other search criteria to search said information network for network sites having data relevant to said provider search criteria;
• and
• providing search results to said provider.

In an information network comprising a plurality of network sites, a method of locating data relevant to a search criteria provided by a user, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a database;
• populating said database with data representative of other search criteria provided by other users;
• populating said database with a plurality of search strategies, each search strategy comprising information regarding network sites likely to contain information relevant to the other search criteria;
• linking at least one of said search strategies with at least one of said other search criteria;
• on behalf of said user, creating a search agent and employing said search agent to:
• search said database for other search criteria relevant to said user search criteria;
• for each relevant other search criteria, executing said at least one search strategy linked with said other search criteria to search said information network for network sites having data relevant to said user search criteria;
• providing search results to said user.