1. A method for soliciting information based on a computer user's context information, said method when coupled to a computer readable storage medium executing the following steps: receiving a user search request; identifying context information for the user, the context information including at least an inferred focus of attention for the user; determining search criteria corresponding to the user search request by combining the user search request and the context information, the context information relating to at least one of the user's physical environment or a user's mental environment; generating a product interest characterization having a plurality of fields, wherein one or more of the plurality of fields includes the search request received from the user corresponds to the user search request, and wherein another one or more of the plurality of fields includes data received from a context awareness model that provides context information for the user; performing a search based on the request and the determined search criteria; and providing a search result to said user.