Providing services and information based on a request that includes a unique identifier

• US 20020138649A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Frakes, Jothan, Cartmell, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described that provides one or more types of services and/or information in response to an information request or other message that specifies a unique identifier of a defined type. The information requests can include requests for resources corresponding to specified URLs with domain names that include a unique identifier, and if so the service or information provided can be based on the defined type of the identifier and/or on an item corresponding to the unique identifier. Additional information included in header fields of HTTP messages used for such URL requests can also be used to determine services or information to be provided, either instead of or in addition to the specified domain name identifier. In addition, services and information can be provided for a requested URL that includes a domain name that has not been explicitly registered with the DNS name server computers.

Claims

1. A method for responding to a request from a client for a resource corresponding to a URL that contains a domain name having a second-level domain name portion that is a numeric identifier of a predefined type, the domain name not registered as part of Domain Name System (DNS), the responding including providing information and performing a service based on the predefined type and the identifier, comprising:

under control of an authoritative name server for a top-level DNS domain indicated by a top-level domain name portion of the domain name contained in the URL,

receiving a request initiated by the client to provide an IP address that is associated with the domain name;

determining that the domain name is not registered within DNS;

identifying multiple domain name groups associated with the top-level domain, each domain name group including multiple members that represent second-level domain names within the top-level domain, a first of the domain name groups corresponding to identifiers of the predefined type such that each member of the first group has a second-level domain name portion that is a unique identifier of that type;

determining that the domain name is a member of the first domain name group; and

responding to the received request with an IP address that is associated with the first domain name group, the IP address identifying a server computer capable of providing information and performing services for identifiers of the predefined type; and

under control of the identified server computer,

receiving a request initiated by the client to provide a resource corresponding to the URL;

identifying multiple identifier groups associated with the server, each identifier group including multiple members that are identifiers, a first of the identifier groups corresponding to identifiers of the predefined type such that each member of the first identifier group is a unique identifier of that type;

determining that the numeric identifier from the second-level domain name portion of the domain name is a member of the first identifier group; and

responding to the received request to provide the resource by,

determining a type of information and a service that are associated with the first identifier group; and

performing the determined service and providing the determined type of information,

so that without the domain name with the numeric identifier of the defined type having been registered with DNS, the server computer can provide information and perform a service related to the numeric identifier in response to a request for a URL that includes the domain name.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing of the determined type of information includes identifying Web pages provided by multiple Web server computers that each include information of the determined type, and wherein the provided determined type of information is a generated Web page that includes information about each of the identified Web pages.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing of the determined type of information includes identifying a Web page provided by a Web server computer that includes information of the determined type, and wherein the provided determined type of information is an indication of the identified Web page.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing of the determined type of information includes identifying a Web page provided by a Web server computer that includes information of the determined type, wherein the provided determined type of information is a copy of the identified Web page, and including transforming the provided copy of the identified Web page before the providing to adapt the provided copy to the client.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing of the determined service includes identifying another server computer that provides functionality related to the determined service and instructing the another server computer to provide the functionality.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the URL includes additional specified information related to the service to be performed and the type of information to be provided, and wherein the responding to the received request to provide the resource includes using the additional specified information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the received request to provide the resource is an HTTP message that includes additional information related to the service to be performed and the type of information to be provided, and wherein the responding to the received request to provide the resource includes using the additional specified information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined type of the identifier is a defined specification for a class of physical items, and wherein the identifier indicates a specific one of the physical items.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple types of information and multiple services are associated with the first identifier group, and wherein the determining of the type of information and the service includes sending a query to the client that indicates the multiple types of information and the multiple services and receiving a response from the client that includes information used to select the determined service and the determined type of information.

10. The method of claim 1 including receiving a request to specify a new domain name group associated with the top-level domain or to specify a new identifier group associated with the server, and associating the specified new domain name group with the top-level domain or the specified new identifier group with the server.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the request to specify the new group is received from a third-party entity, and including obtaining payment information from the third-party entity for the associating of the specified new group with the top-level domain or the server.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determined service and/or the determined type of information is based on the predefined type of the detected identifier and on the items of the group specified by the detected identifier.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the items of the group include products.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the items of the group include services.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the items of the group include locations.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the items of the group include accessible devices.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the items of the group include people.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the predefined type of identifiers are identifiers of a specified length.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the predefined type of identifiers are identifiers of a specified format.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the detected identifier is the second-level domain name portion of the identified domain name.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the detected identifier is multiple lower-level domain name portions of the identified domain name.

23. The method of claim 12 including:

receiving a second message that identifies a second domain name;

detecting a second identifier that is part of the second domain name;

determining that the second identifier is of a second predefined type that corresponds to a second group of items, the second predefined type distinct from the predefined type;

determining a second service or a second type of information that is related to the second predefined type, the second service distinct from the determined service and the second type of information distinct from the type of information; and

responding to the received second message by providing the second type of information or performing the second service.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein the responding to the received message includes providing the determined type of information by identifying a Web page provided by a Web server computer that includes information of the determined type and by an providing an indication of the identified Web page.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the identifying of the Web page includes identifying multiple Web pages that each include information of the determined type and by selecting one of the multiple Web page based on a characteristic indicated by the detected identifier.

26. The method of claim 12 wherein the responding to the received message includes providing the determined type of information by identifying multiple Web pages that each include information of the determined type and by generating a Web page that includes information about at least some of the identified Web pages.

27. The method of claim 12 wherein the responding to the received message includes providing the determined type of information by identifying a document to provide and by transforming a copy of the identified document before the providing to adapt the copy to an intended recipient.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the transforming of the copy includes translating content of the copy from one language to another language.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the transforming of the copy includes modifying a format in which the copy of the document is stored.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the transforming of the copy includes modifying the copy based on display capabilities of a device on which the copy will be presented.

31. The method of claim 12 wherein the identified domain name is part of a URL indicated by the received message, and wherein the determining of the service and/or of the type of information includes using information other than the identifier that is specified as part of the URL.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the other specified information is part of a path portion of the URL.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the identifier is a lower-level portion of the domain name, and wherein the other specified information is part of a distinct lower-level domain name portion of the domain name.

34. The method of claim 31 including receiving multiple messages that identify domain names having multiple top-level domain name portions, and wherein the other specified information is the top-level domain name portion of the domain name.

35. The method of claim 12 wherein the received message is an HTTP message, and wherein the determining of the service and/or of the type of information includes using information other than the detected identifier that is included with the HTTP message.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the other information is values of at least one of multiple HTTP header fields of the HTTP message.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the other information is part of a cookie included with the HTTP message.

38. The method of claim 12 wherein the message is received from a user, and wherein the determining of the service and/or of the type of information includes using preference information associated with the user.

39. The method of claim 38 including obtaining the preference information by sending a query to the user that indicates multiple type of information choices or multiple service choices that are each related to the predefined type and by receiving a response from the user that includes preference information related to at least one of the multiple indicated choices.

40. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining that the detected identifier is of the predefined type includes determining if the detected identifier is a member of a previously specified group of identifiers each of the predefined type, and including, before the receiving of the message, receiving a request to specify the group of identifiers.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the request to specify the group of identifiers is received from a third-party entity, and including obtaining payment from the third-party entity for the specifying of the group.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein multiple groups of identifiers each of a distinct predefined type have previously been specified, and wherein the determining that the detected identifier is of the predefined type includes determining if the detected identifier is a member of each of the previously specified groups of identifiers.

43. The method of claim 12 wherein the responding to the received message includes performing the determined service by identifying an accessible server that performs functionality related to the determined service and by requesting the accessible server to perform the related functionality.

44. The method of claim 12 including, before the receiving of the message:

receiving a request to provide an IP address that is associated with the domain name;

determining that the domain name is a member of a previously specified domain name group that includes multiple domain name members each corresponding to identifiers of the predefined type; and

responding to the received request to provide the IP address with an IP address that is associated with the domain name group.

45. The method of claim 44 including, after the specifying of the previously specified domain name group:

receiving a request to register an indicated domain name;

determining that the indicated domain name is a member of the domain name group; and

preventing the registering of the indicated domain name based on the determining.

46. The method of claim 44 including:

receiving a request to specify another domain name group;

determining that at least one member domain name of the another domain name group is a registered domain name; and

preventing the specifying of the another domain name group based on the determining.

47. The method of claim 12 including, before the receiving of the message:

receiving a request to provide an IP address that is associated with the domain name;

determining that the domain name does not match any entries associated with registered domain names; and

responding to the received request to provide the IP address with an IP address of a server computer capable of responding to received requests for URLs that include domain names that are not registered as part of DNS.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the detected identifier specifies at least one of the items of the group, and wherein the determined service or the determined type of information is based on the predefined type of the detected identifier and on the items of the group specified by the detected identifier.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the responding to the received message includes providing the determined type of information by identifying a document to provide and by transforming a copy of the identified document before the providing to adapt the copy to an intended recipient.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the message is received from a user, and wherein the determining of the service or of the type of information includes using preference information associated with the user.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the contents further cause the computing device to respond to received messages that identify domain names by, before the receiving of the message, performing a method comprising:

receiving a request to provide an IP address that is associated with the domain name;

determining that the domain name is a member of a previously specified domain name group that includes multiple domain name members each corresponding to identifiers of the predefined type; and

responding to the received request to provide the IP address with an IP address that is associated with the domain name group.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium transmitting a generated data signal containing the contents.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of a computer system.

12. A method for responding to received messages that identify domain names that are not registered as part of Domain Name System (DNS), the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a message that identifies a domain name that is not registered as part of DNS;

detecting an identifier that is part of the identified domain name;

determining that the detected identifier is of a predefined type that corresponds to a group of items, the detected identifier specifying at least one of the items of the group;

determining a service and/or a type of information that is related to the predefined type; and

responding to the received message by providing the determined type of information or performing the determined service.

48. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to respond to received messages that identify domain names, by performing a method comprising:

receiving a message that identifies a domain name;

detecting an identifier that is part of the identified domain name;

determining that the detected identifier is of a predefined type that corresponds to a group of items;

determining a service or a type of information that is related to the predefined type; and

responding to the received message by providing the determined type of information or performing the determined service.

55. A computing device for responding to received messages that identify domain names, comprising:

a response determiner component capable of receiving a message that identifies a domain name, detecting an identifier that is part of the identified domain name, determining that the detected identifier is of a predefined type that corresponds to a group of items, and determining a service or a type of information that is related to the predefined type; and

a response component capable of receiving an indication from the response determiner component of the determined service or the determined type of information, and of responding to the received message by providing the determined type of information or performing the determined service.

56. The computing device of claim 55 wherein the response determiner component and the response component are executing in memory of the computing device.

57. The computing device of claim 55 wherein the response component is an information provider component that provides the determined type of information by identifying a document to provide and by transforming a copy of the identified document before the providing to adapt the copy to an intended recipient.

58. The computing device of claim 55 including a component that, before the receiving of the message, receives a request to provide an IP address that is associated with the domain name, determines that the domain name is a member of a previously specified domain name group that includes multiple domain name members each corresponding to identifiers of the predefined type, and responds to the received request to provide the IP address with an IP address that is associated with the domain name group.

59. A computing device for responding to received messages that identify domain names, comprising:

means for receiving a message that identifies a domain name, detecting an identifier that is part of the identified domain name, determining that the detected identifier is of a predefined type that corresponds to a group of items and determining a service or a type of information that is related to the predefined type; and

means for responding to the received message by providing the determined type of information or performing the determined service.

60. A data structure stored in the memory of a computer system for use in responding to received messages that identify domain names, the data structure comprising:

a specification of a group of identifiers that are each a portion of a domain name, each of the identifiers in the group of a predefined type; and

an indication of at least one type of information to provide or service to perform in response to receiving an indication of one of the identifiers in the group so that when an indication of a domain name that contains one of the identifiers in the group is received, a response can be determined based on the indicated services or types of information to provide.

61. A data structure stored in the memory of a computer system for use in responding to received requests for an IP address that corresponds to a specified domain name, the data structure comprising:

a specification of a group of domain names that each contain an identifier of a predefined type; and

an indication of an IP address associated with the group, so that when a request for an IP address that corresponds to a specified domain name is received, the indicated IP address can be provided if the specified domain name is a member of the group.

62. A method for receiving services or information in response to a specification of a domain name that includes an identifier, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a domain name that includes an identifier of a predefined type that corresponds to a group of items and that is not registered as part of Domain Name System (DNS);

requesting an IP address that corresponds to the domain name, and receiving an IP address in response;

sending a request message to a server having the received IP address that indicates a URL that includes the domain name; and

in response to the sent request message, receiving information of a type that is related to the predefined type or receiving an indication of performance of a service related to the predefined type.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the indicated URL includes information other than the identifier contained in the domain name that provides preference information about the type of information to receive or the service to be performed.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein the sent message is an HTTP message that includes information other than the identifier contained in the domain name to indicate a preference about the type of information to receive or the service to be performed.

65. A method for responding to received requests for URLs that identify domain names, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from a client a request corresponding to a URL that identifies a domain name;

if the URL corresponds to an available resource, providing access to the resource to the client;

if the URL does not correspond to an available resource, determining if the domain name includes an identifier of a predefined type; and

if the domain name includes an identifier of a predefined type,

determining a service or a type of information that is related to the predefined type; and

responding to the received request by providing the determined type of information or performing the determined service.

66. A method for responding to received messages that identify domain names that include numeric identifiers that are members of a predefined group of numeric identifiers, the computer-implemented method comprising:

responding to a received first message from a first client that identifies a first domain name by,

detecting a first numeric identifier included in the first identified domain name that is a member of a predefined group of numeric identifiers;

determining a first type of service or a first type of information that is related to the predefined group; and

providing the first type of information to the first client or performing the first type of service for the first client; and

responding to a received second message from a second client that identifies a second domain name by,

detecting a second numeric identifier included in the second identified domain name that is also a member of the predefined group of numeric identifiers, the second numeric identifier distinct from the first numeric identifier; and

providing the first type of information to the second client or performing the first type of service for the second client.

67. A method for responding to received requests that indicate URLs with domain names that include identifiers of a predefined type, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a request that indicates a URL with a domain name that includes an identifier of a predefined type;

determining that the included identifier is of the predefined type;

determining a service or a type of information that is related to the predefined type; and

responding to the received request by providing the determined type of information or performing the determined service.