Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates user queries to a database. During operation, the system stores one or more query criteria templates in a template table in the database. Each record in the template table corresponds to a query criteria template. A query criteria template contains information on search-field names and search-field values for a query. The system also allows a user to select a template from the stored templates prior to performing a query, thereby reducing the number of search-field values the user has to manually enter. In this way, a number of query criteria templates can be stored in a single table with a column containing parsable query criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a distributed search in response to a user request. In response to a search request received from a user at a local server, a request is spawned and transmitted to a remote site to search information at the remote site. Substantially in parallel with the remote search request, a search of local resources (e.g., catalog of products/services) is initiated. At the remote site (e.g., an electronic marketplace), the search is conducted in the proper context for the user (e.g., user identity, language, organization) and the results are returned to the local server. The local server merges the local and remote search results, applies any desired business logic (e.g., to screen the results by price, description or other criteria) and provides a uniform display to the user.