Computer address resolution

• US 20050097210A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Internet Computer Bureau PLC
• Original Assignee: Internet Computer Bureau PLC
• Inventors: Kane, Paul Martyn, McKinlay, Moses John
• Application Number:
  US10/725,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for resolving an unknown address request in a computer system. The name is received at the first server with a request for an address corresponding to that name. The name is compared with a database of names to detect any matching name in the database. If no matching name is detected a referral response is sent in answer to the request.

Claims

1. A method for resolving an address request in a computer system comprising the steps of:

receiving a name at a first server with a request for an address corresponding to that name;

comparing the name with a database of names to detect any matching name in the database; and

if no matching name is detected, sending a referral response in answer to the request.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the first server is a domain name server and the referral is to a second domain name server.

3. Apparatus for resolving an address request in a computer system comprising:

means for receiving a name at a first server with a request for an address corresponding to that name;

means for comparing the name with a database of names to detect any matching name in the database; and

means for sending a referral in answer to the request if no matching name is detected.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the first server is a domain name server and the referral is to a second domain name server.

5. A method for resolving an unknown address request in a computer system comprising the steps of:

receiving a referred request from a user;

performing a sequence of tests on the request; and

sending a synthesized address response to the user.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which the sequences of tests including the step of determining the type of the request.

7. A method according to claim 5 in which the sequence of tests including determining whether the start of a request matches a known string of characters.

8. A method according to claim 5 in which the request is a name to address resolution request.

9. A method according to claim 5 in which the synthesized response comprises an Internet Protocol address.

10. Apparatus for resolving an unknown address request in a computer system comprising means for receiving a referral request from a user;

means for performing a sequence of tests in the request; and

means for sending a synthesized address response to the user.

11. (cancelled)

12. (cancelled).