Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for parsing a UPnP search criteria and creating a search criteria structure that is understandable to any content provider/storage device include an apparatus for dividing a universal plug and play search criteria into elements, assigning at least one element a designation and providing information regarding the assigned designation and an order of the at least one element within the universal plug and play search criteria, the information to be used for searching content. The apparatus of the invention creates a list of structures for performing a search, each structure including a designation of at least one respective element and an order of the at least one respective element within the universal plug and play search criteria.