def search(self,
              q,
              t=None,
              focus=None,
              bbox=None,
              start=1,
              num=10,
              sortField=None,
              sortOrder="asc",
              useSecurity=True):
        if self._url.endswith("/rest"):
            url = self._url + "/search"
        else:
            url = self._url + "/rest/search"
        params = {
            "f" : "json",
            "q" : q,
            "sortOrder" : sortOrder,
            "num" : num,
            "start" : start,
            'restrict' : useSecurity
        }
        if not focus is None:
            params['focus'] = focus
        if not t is None:
            params['t'] = t
        if useSecurity and \
           self._securityHandler is not None and \
           self._securityHandler.method == "token":
            params["token"] = self._securityHandler.token
        if sortField is not None:
            params['sortField'] = sortField
        if bbox is not None:
            params['bbox'] = bbox
        return self._get(url=url,
                        param_dict=params,
                        securityHandler=self._securityHandler,
                        proxy_url=self._proxy_url,
                        proxy_port=self._proxy_port)