Distributed searching system and searching apparatus for use in the distributed searching system

摘要

A distributed search system that includes a plurality of agents connected on a network that includes an information resource provider. Each of the agents stores information corresponding to information resources in a storage device of a nearest agent as advertisement information. The stored advertisement information includes cost information. An agent which receives the advertisement information transfers the advertisement information to other agents in a range determined on the basis of the cost information. The cost information may be included in a search request of an information resource searcher making a search request to search the stored advertisement information. The information resource searcher sends the search request including the cost information to agents in a range of transmission corresponding to the cost information included in the search request.