An attribute bounded network of computers is created. Computers in the
distributed computer network are identified by specific attributes (e.g.,
a geographically bounded region) and a server is used to distribute
processing assignments (e.g., addresses of electronic documents to be
indexed) based upon the identified attributes. A peer-to-peer computer
network is also provided based upon geographically bounded regions, the
peer-to-peer computer network can be used to share electronic documents.
A virtual community can be created within a peer-to-peer computer network
by identifying peer computer connections based upon associated attributes
(e.g., a geographically bounded region). The attribute bounded network of
computers provides indexes having fresher data by allowing spidering of
electronic documents more often than can be done by a central server
indexing site.