SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING DISPARATE DATASTORES VIA A REMOTE DEVICE

A system and method are provided for searching the contents of a network system connected to data storage devices from a remote terminal over a wired or wireless link. This system formulates search requests, and dispatches the requests, A variety of search engines and services are invoked to find the requested contents. A summary is formed in a format brief enough for transmission over a wireless link. The search summary information is indexed the remote terminal to subsequently request all or part of a document referenced in the search summary, allows formation of requests of all or part of a referenced document in its original form or in a form transcoded appropriately for transmission over a wireless link and presented on the remote terminal.