INTERNET SEARCH SUPPORTING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND INTERNET SEARCH SUPPORTING PROGRAM USING THE METHOD

A character string input in a URL input region of a browser is obtained. An HTTP request is sent, and a return code with respect thereto is confirmed. In the case where the return code is not a predetermined one, a search request is sent to a predetermined search engine. Registered search engines are extracted in the order from a high priority, and whether or not the search request has been sent to all the registered search engines is determined. Then, the search request is continued to be sent to the search engines in the order from a high priority until it is determined that the search request has been sent to all the search engines.