Distributed caching and download of file. A method is described that includes building a peer list comprising a listing of potential peer servers from among one or more networked computers. The peer list includes no more than a predetermined number of potential peer servers. Potential peer servers in the peer list are queried for a file or portion of a file. A message from a peer server in the peer list is received indicating that the peer server has the file or portion of a file available for download. The computer system downloads the file or portion of a file from the peer server.

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for restricting a fan-out type search of a distributed database. A search request is received indicating that a requesting node originating the search request desires to avoid receiving search results including inaccessible nodes. Responsive to receiving the search results from other nodes, the search results are filtered to remove search results from inaccessible nodes to form filtered search results. The filtered search results are passed to the requesting node.

A method of and apparatus for performing a research task interchangeably utilizes a multitude of search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, dichotomous key search, and parametric search. A search criteria is correlated to a searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein each matching item corresponds to a segment of the searchable database. The process is repeated by correlating a subsequent search criteria to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching items until the research task is completed. The searchable database can be formatted in a directory tree structure which includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. The collection of related data for a particular node can be displayed in an encyclopedia-like format. A specific node within the directory tree structure is accessible using a query string which defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure to access the specific node.

A method of and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a searchable database formatted in a directory tree structure. The directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing the value of each parameter for each related data. The method accesses a particular node within the directory tree structure and performs a parametric search using one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related data of the particular node. The parameters can be customizable and specific to the specific node. The method can also include accessing a particular node utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

A method of and apparatus for notifying a user of new data entered into an electronic system. The method includes formatting a searchable database into a directory tree structure, the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each related data is categorized by one or more navigation paths through the directory tree structure and by one or more set parameters, the parameters being specific to the node in which the related data is included. The method accesses a discrete data item via a navigation path and one or more set parameters, sets a notification signal by saving the navigation path and one or more set parameters associated with the discrete data item within the electronic system, triggers the notification signal when a new data item is entered into the searchable database that matches the saved navigation path and set parameters, and notifies the user of new data entered into the electronic system in response to triggering the notification signal.