Numerous information retrieval tools like Search Engines, Web Directories and deep-web search portals exist. Meta-search engines (MSE) developed over the past years claim to automatically and simultaneously search many other such information retrieval tools and improvise the fused results. This paper acquaints SSIR (http://www.ssir.in) a tier-three Meta-Search Engine or a Meta-meta search tool. Upon receiving a query, SSIR passes the modified query to various Meta-Search Engines in parallel, collects and processes the results and passes it to the user like any other Meta-Search Engine. Currently it is hosted as a live prototype and various improvements are being added. Apart from being a public software product used for internet searching, it is being used as a tool for analysis of overlaps and uniqueness among search results of various MSEs. The study also analyses the percentage of contribution in the top results of popular search engines Google, Yahoo and Windows-Live in the top results covered by individual MSEs and by SSIR.

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To the web user, a Meta Search Engine (MSE) appears much like a regular search engine (SE). MSE, unlike an SE does not have an index. Instead, it dynamically queries multiple search engines; extracts, fuses and re-ranks results and presents to users. Generally, an MSE is developed from scratch even if the focus is on improving fusion ranking, query modification or domain specific search. This paper proposes a programmable MSE with the help of a LISP-like language called T! for interfacing search sources and for modifying fused results. This enables easy construction and deployment of an MSE service. The Programmable-Meta Search Engine (P-MSE) provides, but is not limited to the following new features: construction of a domain specific vertical or general MSE by addition of dynamic web pages as front-end; a tool for fully automated test-run of various fusion algorithms and query modification schemes using a program or script capable of http-querying as front-end on real-time web; a programmable service where account holders can upload scripts and deploy meta search engines. The concept of P-MSE developed here, is showcased by the MSE called SSIR (SSIR for the Savvy Information Retriever).