Abstract: A network comprises a plurality of content servers (MS-1-MS-4) which each store media content objects and a directory of descriptive information about the stored media content objects. A control point (CP) in the network queries the servers (MS-1-MS-4) to retrieve descriptive information. The control point (CP) analyses the information to determine which content servers store the same object. Upon receiving a search request, the control point (CP) uses the stored information to determine which content servers in the network need to be queried in order to retrieve the content, or further information about the content. Queries to servers which do not contain relevant content can be reduced or eliminated.