Method for domain name sharing

• US 20040006597A1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carolyn J. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Carolyn J. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Carolyn J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 61/302 Administrative registration, e.g. for domain names at internet corporation for assigned names and numbers [ICANN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging

Abstract

The present invention allows similar named entities having trademarks or tradenames or other monikers in common, to market their complete electronic media identity, including web site and generic electronic mail boxes, using the same domain name which is shared without requiring sub-delegation. It satisfies both the uniqueness requirements of the current addressing system and sovereign trademark laws which have long been at odds.

Claims

1. A method for allowing an internet user to access an internet location of a specific company having a similar name to other entities;

said entities each having their own web sites and electronic mail addresses;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) requesting access to a single top level domain address of the similar name;

said top level domain address being a second level domain name;

said second level domain name being shared by a plurality of entities;

b) accessing one or more top level domain addresses of the similar name;

said access resulting from only requesting no more than one top level domain address;

such that the user can access the web site of said specific company and correspond electronically with said specific company intuitively and with ease.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending an electronic mail message with at least one keyword to a generic recipient mail address at a top level domain address of the similar name;

said generic recipient mail address belonging to one or more entities having the similar name;

said generic recipient mail address being hosted by a mail server;

said mail server having a search engine to match one or more keywords in the electronic mail message against a list of keywords provided by one or more entities having the similar name;

such that the electronic mail message sent by the user is sent to the specific company with ease.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the keyword is located in a subject field of the electronic mail message.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the keyword is located in a body field of the electronic message.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of accessing a web site of said specific company without having to request more than one top level domain address with the similar name.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of accessing at least one page location of the web site of said specific company, said page location being hosted by a web server designated by the specific company.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) accessing a single gateway web site at the top level domain address of the similar name;

said gateway web site containing at least one identifying link of the specific company having the similar name;

b) viewing at least one identifying link of the specific company having said similar name;

c) selecting the specific company by clicking the identifying link on said gateway web site.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of accessing at least one page location of the web site of said specific company, said page location containing at least one familiar uniform resource locator with said top level domain address of the similar name.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the page location is organized in a hierarchical organization.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein accessing the top level domain address of the similar name opens a plurality of browser windows;

each of the plurality of browser windows showing a different web site of the similar name;

each web site being live;

such that the user can select the web site of said specific company with ease.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of setting browser preferences for management of said plurality of browser windows.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of setting DNS query preferences for management of access requests for top level domain addresses;

said preferences comprising allowing, disallowing or conditionally allowing access to multiple web sites when accessing only one top level domain address;

said conditionally allowing being specified by the user.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of setting authoritative server query preferences;

said preferences comprising allowing, disallowing or conditionally allowing certain responses to access requests for top level domain addresses;

said conditionally allowing being specified by the user;

said certain responses being specified by the user.

14. A method for allowing a plurality of different entities having a similar name to co-locate at a top level domain address, said top level domain address being a second level domain name under a top level domain, and said method comprising:

a) entering into agreement with one or more entities having a similar name to share a domain name for web presence identity;

b) entering into agreement with one or more entities having a similar name to share generic recipient e-mail addresses at a domain name of the similar name;

such that a plurality of entities having the similar name can have their web site and e-mail address identity associated simply with the domain name of the similar name and, can be easily found by users.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

receiving an electronic mail message with one or more keywords addressed to a generic recipient mail address at a top level domain address of the similar name;

said generic recipient mail address belonging to one or more entities having the similar name;

said generic recipient mail address being hosted by a mail server;

said mail server having a search engine to match one or more keywords in the electronic mail message against a list of keywords provided by one or more entities having the similar name;

such that the electronic mail message intended for a specific company and sent to a generic recipient mail address at the top level domain address of the similar name is received by the specific company with ease.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the keyword is located in a subject field of the electronic mail message.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the keyword is located in a body field of the electronic mail message.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of presenting one or more identifying links identifying a specific company on a gateway web site of the top level domain address having the similar name, said identifying links being linked to a web site of the specific company.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of providing at least one page location at said web site of said specific company.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the page location is organized in a hierarchical organization.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein only one of the plurality of entities sharing the top level domain address of the similar name is the registrant of record for said second level domain name.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein two or more of the plurality of entities sharing the top level domain address of the similar name are co-registrants of said second level domain name.

23. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of recording the status of shared domain name on the registrant record.

24. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of creating new Shared Domain DNS resource records.

25. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

obtaining shared registration of a single second level domain name through a registrar;

said second level domain name being designated as a shared domain name;

said registration being open to a plurality of registrants having the similar name;

said registration generating one or more shared domain name resource records;

said records being retrievable by the user'"'"'s client application.

26. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

displaying a plurality of separate browser windows each containing a web site of the top level domain address having the similar name;

said display resulting from a single user request for access to a top level domain address of the similar name.

27. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of certifying a shared second level domain name under a top level domain using certificates of authority.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

certifying said top level domain as a Certificate Authority by a trusted root certificate authority;

certifying said shared second level domain name by said Certificate Authority;

creating retrievable DNS records for each shared second level domain name;

said DNS records verifying certified status;

generating one or more sets of said DNS records for each of the plurality of co-locating entities sharing said second level domain name;

hosting said records on one or more authoritative nameservers;

wherein said authoritative nameserver is known to an authoritative root server;

wherein said authoritative root server operates within a DNS root network;

wherein said DNS root network is selectable by the user from a client application;

such that the user can access and easily identify a certified shared top level domain address.