Message based network configuration of domain name services

• US 20060088026A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fishman, Neil S., Mazur, Leszek, Satkunanathan, Lingan, Damour, Kevin T., Manchester, Scott A., Roberts, Theodore H. III
• Application Number:
  US10/974,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks

Abstract

Systems and methodologies that facilitate hosting of a domain name and access of users to the internet, by using a well defined protocol to interact with a plurality of Domain Name Service (DNS) providers, via employing; a purchasing component, and a configuration component. Once a user has selected a domain name, the purchasing component can automatically query the provider(s) for terms of the service plan to host such domain name. The configuration component can configure various records to a user'"'"'s designated machines or IP addresses, to manage in-bound traffic to the user'"'"'s domain name.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates a user interaction with a Domain Name Service (DNS) provider comprising:

a standardized message schema exchanged between the DNS provider and a machine of the user, the schema comprising;

a purchasing component that characterizes a service agreement of the DNS provider; and

a configuration component that configures a DNS record of the DNS provider to manage inbound traffic to a domain name of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, the standardized message schema is in a form of an extensible mark up language.

3. The system of claim 1, the standardized message schema provides the user with a uniform presentation of plans when interacting with a plurality of DNS providers.

4. The system of claim 1, the record is at least one of a mail exchange record, an address record, and a canonical name record.

5. The system of claim 1, the purchasing component characterizes at least one of a plan selection, renewal option, promotional call and a billing plan.

6. The system of claim 1, the purchasing component performs a status query to verify ownership of the domain name.

7. The system of claim 1, the configuration component identifies an IP address for the user machine.

8. The system of claim 1, the machine and the DNS provider communicate over the internet.

9. The system of claim 8, the machine of the end user is at least one of a personal computer, work station, and an internet connection sharing device.

10. A method of facilitating selection of a DNS provider to host a domain name for a user comprising:

automatically querying a DNS provider for terms of service via a purchasing component of a standardized message schema that is exchanged between the DNS provider and a user machine;

configuring a record of the DNS provider via a configuration component of the standardized message schema, to manage inbound traffic to the domain name of the user.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a response by the user machine for plans offered by the DNS provider.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising employing an XML as part of the standardized message schema.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring a mail record exchange of the DNS provider to associate with the domain name.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring an address record of the DNS provider to associate with the domain name.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising configuring a reference record of the DNS provider to associate with the domain name.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving a user input for selection of an offered plan.

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 10.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending a billing query to the DNS provider.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising receiving a response to the billing query by the user machine.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising displaying terms of the service agreement to the user in a uniform format.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising:

a computer executable component that characterizes a service agreement of a DNS provider, as part of a standardized message schema exchanged between the DNS provider and a computer of an end user to host a domain name; and

a further computer executable component that configures a record associated with the domain name of the end user, to manage inbound traffic to the domain name.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, the computer executable component further comprises a status query component that verifies ownership of the domain name.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, the further computer executable component configures an address record of the DNS associated with the domain name, to point to an IP address of the computer.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, the further computer executable component configures an MX record of the DNS associated with the domain name, to point to an IP address of the computer.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 the further computer executable component configures a canonical name record of the DNS associated with the domain name, to point to an IP address of the computer.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, a received response by the computer is displayed to an end user via a uniform presentation such that the user enjoys a similar experience, regardless of the DNS provider the user interacts with.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 the standardized messages employ an XML format.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising an additional computer executable component that verifies entitlement of the domain name.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 21, the computer executable component provides for a transfer of the domain name from another DNS provider.

30. A system that facilitates hosting a domain name by a DNS provider comprising:

means for automatically characterizing a service agreement between a DNS provider and an end user computer; and

means for configuring the DNS provider that hosts the domain name.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising graphic interface means for providing a uniform experience regardless of which DNS provider the user selects to interact with.

32. The system of claim 30 the graphic interface means comprises a description space for describing terms of service.