Domain name system resolution

• US 20030041091A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Ye, Cheline, Douglas A., Ma, Michael, Chong, Lester J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords

Abstract

A host name query is received by a modem from a client computer. The host name query is simultaneously transmitted from the modem to a plurality of Domain Name System (DNS) servers. A response is returned to the client computer from the modem, where the response is based on the host name query and any responses received from the DNS servers. In a preferred embodiment at least one address associated with the host name query is acquired from the DNS servers. The client computer then sends a request for content to the address. If more than one address is returned, all but one of the addresses is eliminated. This can be done by rejecting all but the most recent address, or rejecting all addresses not provided by a service provider DNS server. (132 words)

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for resolving host names on a network, comprising:

receiving at a modem a host name query from a client computer;

simultaneously transmitting said host name query from said modem to a plurality of Domain Name System (DNS) servers; and

returning a response to said client computer from said modem, where said response is based on said host name query and any responses received from said DNS servers.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said returning further comprises:

acquiring at least one address associated with said host name query, from said DNS servers;

returning said address to said client computer, such that said client can send a request for content to said address.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising the steps, after said acquiring step, of:

determining that a plurality of addresses was acquired from said DNS servers; and

eliminating all but one of said addresses.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein said eliminating comprises rejecting all but the most recent address.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein said eliminating comprises rejecting all addresses not provided by a service provider DNS server.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said returning further comprises:

determining that a host has not been located by said DNS servers;

performing a search using said host name query as a search string; and

transmitting a results address of where results of said search are located, to said client computer.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein said performing further comprises sending said host name query as a search string to a search engine.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein said sending further comprises sending said host name query as a search string to a search engine selected by a service provider.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein said sending step further comprises sending said host name query as a search string to a search engine selected by a system administrator.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said returning step further comprises:

searching a cache for an address associated with said host name query; and

returning a located address to said client, such that said client computer can send a request for content to said address.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said returning step further comprises:

searching a cache based on said host name query;

returning cached content associated with said host name query to said client computer, such that said client can display said content.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein said modem is coupled to a VPN (Virtual Private Network), and at least one of said plurality of DNS servers forms part of the VPN.

13. A computer program product for resolving host names on a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage and a computer program embedded therein, the computer program comprising:

instructions for receiving a host name query from a client computer;

instructions for simultaneously transmitting said host name query to a plurality of Domain Name System (DNS) servers; and

instructions for returning a response to said client computer, where said response is based on said host name query and any responses received from said DNS servers.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said instructions for returning further comprise:

instructions for acquiring at least one address associated with said host name query, from said DNS servers;

instructions for returning said address to said client computer, such that said client can send a request for content to said address.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said instructions for returning further comprise:

instructions for determining that a plurality of addresses was acquired from said DNS servers; and

instructions for eliminating all but one of said addresses.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said instructions for eliminating comprise instructions for rejecting all but the most recent address.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said instructions for eliminating comprise instructions for rejecting all addresses not provided by a service provider DNS server.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said instructions for returning comprise:

instructions for determining that a host has not been located by said DNS servers;

instructions for performing a search using said host name query as a search string; and

instructions for transmitting an address of where results of said search can be viewed to said client computer.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said instructions for performing comprise instructions for sending said host name query as a search string to a search engine.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said instructions for sending further comprise instructions for sending said host name query as a search string to a search engine selected by a service provider.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said instructions for sending further comprise instructions for sending said host name query as a search string to a search engine selected by a system administrator.

22. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said instructions for returning step further comprise:

instructions for searching a cache for an address associated with said host name query; and

instructions for returning a located address to said client, such that said client computer can send a request for content to said address.

23. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said instructions for returning further comprise:

instructions for searching a cache based on said host name query;

instructions for returning cached content associated with said host name query to said client computer, such that said client can display said content.

24. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said modem is coupled to a VPN (Virtual Private Network), and at least one of said plurality of DNS servers forms part of the VPN.