Search engine system and method utilizing context of heterogeneous information resources

A method for facilitating searching via a metasearch engine among indexed and non-indexed information resources within a distributed computer system using a search query and a search context, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining for a respective one of said indexed and non-indexed information resources a respective information resource profile associated therewith, said respective information resource profile having a search context field therein;
• inputting a search context value into the search context field of said respective information resource profile, said search context value being associated with the content of said respective one information resource, whereby said respective one information resource is searchable using a search context query;
• receiving said search query and said search context associated therewith;
• comparing said search context to a plurality of stored search contexts;
• and
• requesting a number of search results from a corresponding number of indexed and non-indexed information resources using said search query and said search context, said search results from information resources having a stored search context substantially matching said search context.

A computer system for facilitating the searching of heterogeneous information resources using a search query and a search context, said computer system comprising:

• a metasearch engine for receiving said search query and said search context associated therewith;
• requesting means, within said metasearch engine, for requesting a number of search results from a corresponding number of heterogeneous information resources using said search query and said search context;
• and
• comparison means for comparing said search context to a plurality of context fields in a plurality of information resource profiles, whereby said plurality of information resource profiles facilitate the searching of said heterogeneous information resources within said computer system by narrowing the searching to only those heterogeneous information resources having an information resource profile substantially matching said search context.