Abstract: A system allows the retrieval, indexing and searching of information stored on computers connected by a communications network, where that information comprises ideographic, logographic or pictographic characters, which are encoded using two bytes per character. The binary value, which encodes a particular character contained in a given document, is converted into hexadecimal text format, which is then prefixed with a predetermined marker character to indicate that it is the hexadecimal value of a double-byte character. That value is then added to a sequential string of such values for each of such characters in that document. The marker characters are then removed from this string, leaving a series of alphanumeric characters separated at set intervals by blank spaces. Each set of characters demarcated by a blank space is then indexed as if it were a standard word such as an English word, albeit a meaningless one.

Abstract: A system retrieves and processes information stored on computers connected by a communications network. A central computer receives notification from a remote computer that the computer is available to receive data. In response to that notification, the central computer sends address data to the remote computer. To utilize the available network resources with maximum efficiency, the central computer optimizes performance of the distributed system by allocating address data to the remote computer based on at least one characteristic of the remote computer, such as a measure of network connectivity and/or on a performance characteristic of that remote computer. This allocation may take place in accordance with the relative importance of the data for indexing purposes. The remote computer uses a communication interface connected to the Internet to retrieve the information stored at the locations specified by the address data, and stores that information.