This unit is responsible for searching repositories for relevant information. While we have used a simple keyword based search in our prototype, other search mechanisms like WAIS and Archie with further additions could be used depending upon the repository type and document formats. While our search engine only searches locally, in future refinements, the search engine must be enhanced to search other Collaboratory sites on the Internet as well. Its capability should extend beyond simple textual document search to include searches based on URLs, document types, etc.
We propose that existing search engines can be enhanced with addition of MIME capabilities to include document types so that in addition to a specific key word search, additional qualifications such as document type, location, etc. can be included as meta-fields. Thus, any request for search will be handled by the CGI process, which will then invoke the search engine by passing relevant input parameters. While the user enters input in a normal fashion, a CGI script parses it to provide a suitable string to the search engine, and further redisplays results in a formatted fashion.