Abstract: A system for relevant and precise information retrieval includes a processor configured to communicate with a database having a resource set and a user interface component to display a query, a representative set of resources and a representative set of conditions associated with the query. Responsive to user interaction via the user interface component, the system is configured to manage a relevant and precise database by storing, indexing and classifying the resource set based on the one or more user-selected images.

Abstract: A method of retrieving information comprises providing a query to a search engine and retrieving from the search engine a resource set, comprising at least one image matching the query. A representation of the resource set and a representation of a set comprising at least one condition are displayed via a user interface component. The condition set is associated with the query and is distinct from at least one other condition set associated with another query. Responsive to user interaction with the user interface component, one or more user selected images from the resource set are associated with a user selected condition from the condition set, to thereby classify the images.

Abstract: A method of retrieving information comprises providing a query to a search engine and retrieving from the search engine a resource set, comprising at least one image matching the query. A representation of the resource set and a representation of a set comprising at least one condition are displayed via a user interface component. The condition set is associated with the query and is distinct from at least one other condition set associated with another query. Responsive to user interaction with the user interface component, one or more user selected images from the resource set are associated with a user selected condition from the condition set, to thereby classify the images.

Abstract: An auction method is operable in a first computing device that is arranged to communicate with a plurality of second computing devices across a network, each of the second computing devices being controlled by a respective party. The auction method comprises, at the first computing device, generating a request for an offer comprising at least one negotiable parameter, the request being sent to a plurality of parties participating in the auction. The first computing device is responsive to a respective offer being received from a plurality of the parties, each offer comprising a value for each of one or more parameters including the at least one negotiable parameter, to identify a current best offer by combining the parameter values to provide a ranking value for each offer. Responsive to the current best offer failing to be identified as a successful offer, a request for a better offer is sent to at least some of the parties.