1. A distributed information network constructed for gathering information from sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, comprising: a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each of which represented by metadata corresponding to directly or indirectly available information content; multiple distributed sites each of which implemented with an information provider that is remotely located from the root server, the information provider of each of the distributed sites storing metadata corresponding to information content that is retrievable from the site of or a site associated with the information provider, the information content being retrievable in response to a profiled information search request for search results derivable from the information content to which the metadata correspond; and a profiled information communication link between the root server and each of the multiple distributed sites, the profiled information communication link enabling formation of a path for delivery of the search results of directly or indirectly available information content to which the metadata correspond to a destination site from a site or sites represented by the metadata of the profiled information search request.