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. The information resource provider registers information corresponding to information resources to his nearest agent. The agent stores that information in its storage device and transfers it to the neighboring agents as advertisement information. The transferred advertisement information includes cost information. The agents which receive the advertisement information store it in their storage devices and transfer the advertisement information to the neighboring agents repeatedly, 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.