Disclosed is a method, system, program, and data structures for ordering electronic files subject to searching. At least one keyword is associated with each file. A physical location of each file is identified by a file address, such as a URL. A popularity weight is associated with at least one file address and key word pair such that a file address is capable of having multiple associated keywords and one associated popularity weight for each file address and keyword pair. In response to executing a search query including search keywords, file address search results are received that have at least one associated keyword that matches at least one search keyword in response to executing the search query. The search results are ordered according to the popularity weight associated with each file address search result and keyword pair whose keyword matches the search keyword. A document is then coded to include the file address search results such that the document will display the file address search results according to the ordering.

A user-oriented database query system, comprising user management means; device management means; control means for identifying a user, receiving a database query request and appended parameters, converting the database query request into a database query command; query agent means for submitting database query command at suitable time and receiving the query results; query recording means for storing the database query request, the appended parameters, the query command, the query time and the query results; wherein the control means further determines a receiving device, converts the query results into a form acceptable by the receiving device and sends the query results thereto, and terminates the query after the acknowledgment of the success of sending.

A search engine that forms a compact representation of a plurality of user queries to efficiently find desired information in an information network. The search engine comprises a profile processor having logic to receive the queries from the users and a search module. The search module is coupled to the profile processor and has logic to receive the information content, to combine the user queries into a master query, and to match the master query with the information content to determine matching content. The search engine also includes logic to analyze the matching content to determine if any of the queries has been satisfied.

A method for finding a trading ad on a network includes steps of receiving a query, devising a query string from the query, sending the query string to a search engine of the network, searching via the search engine to find the trading ad, returning a search result by the search engine, sifting and extracting the trading ad from the search result, and matching and ranking the trading ad with respect to the query. A trader performs the steps of receiving, devising, sending, sifting and extracting, and matching and ranking. The trader is scalable such that the network can be the Internet, and the trader can be a computer software program.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus of compiling and providing business data in a distributed computer system, preferably the Internet or any other type of computer linked network system. The present invention also provides a computer program product that contains business data compiled from files containing business data located in a distributed computer system. The present invention to provide a cost-effective method for automatically compiling a business data as well as an automated method for refreshing business data so as to keep it current. The advantage of the present invention is that it enables one to compile business data from files in a distributed computer system in a cost effective and time effective manner taking advantage of the large number of data that is available in a distributed computer system. Another advantage is that the present invention enables one to quickly update business data to stay current.