Abstract: A method of purchasing an item, the method enabling a user to search for information on the cost of an item on a distributed computer system, the method comprising: generating a search request for the item at a user terminal; modifying the search request to indicate at least one user preference; forwarding the search request to a server adapted to retrieve data from the distributed computer system, the server adapted to provide a search result to a user terminal selected in accordance with a predetermined user preference dependent on the extent to which the search result conforms with the search request, whereby the user is able to purchase the item at the cost informed by the search result.

Abstract: A method of searching for data to be retrieved from a distributed computer system, the method comprising: generating a search request at a user end terminal comprising at least one search criterion; modifying the search request at a user end terminal to indicate at least one user preference; forwarding the search request to a proxy terminal arranged to forward the search request to a data source capable of retrieving data from the distributed computer system, the data source being capable of providing a search result to a user end terminal selected in accordance with one or more predetermined user preferences.