An effective search method for distributed information systems using a self-organizing information retrieval network

In this paper the authors propose a search system composed of a self-organizing information retrieval network as a method to effectively search for information managed in a distributed fashion. An information retrieval network is a virtual network consisting of World Wide Web (WWW) server hosts that have search functions. A search system making use of the features of the authors' method can provide the following benefits: (1)information searches on a newly added WWW server host; (2) information searches that avoid a problem host; (3) information searches from any host. In this paper the authors demonstrate the validity of their idea by creating an information search system based on their idea and performing experiments on a university LAN. (C) 2000 Scripta Technica.