Domain name acquisition and management system and method

• US 20060161682A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Web.com Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SnapNames.com, Inc.
• Inventors: King, Raymond, Bayles, Len Albert, Wiener, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention can accept an indication of a domain name or set of domain names from interested entity. The desired domain names are names that an interested entity desires to register through a domain name registration system or systems, such as that operated by a registry-accredited registrar. The system can closely monitor the domain name registry or registrar databases used to provide domain name resolution or registration over a distributed network, such as the Internet, and determine the expiration or availability of the name or names supplied by the interested entity. When a desired domain name appears to be available, the system can register or re-register the domain name through a domain registration service. If there is more than one interested entity for a domain name, the system can also facilitate an auction for the domain name.

Claims

1. A method for effectuating a succeeding registration of a domain name for an interested entity following the expiration of a prior registration of the domain name, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from an interested entity a request identifying a domain name having a registered status; and

automatically;

determining an expiration date for the prior registration;

defining a time period for checking the status based on the expiration date;

periodically checking the status at a predefined frequency within the time period; and

when the status indicates that the domain name is registrable, immediately submitting a request for registration of the domain name for the interested entity.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

automatically;

predicting an earliest moment of registrability for the domain name based on the expiration date; and

increasing the frequency of said checking, proximate to the predicted earliest moment of registrability.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said checking includes pinging a registrar.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said checking includes substantially contemporaneous pinging of multiple registrars.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said checking includes pinging a registry.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said checking includes receiving a communication pushed from a registrar.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said checking includes receiving a communication pushed from a registry.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the interested entity is a registrant of the domain name; and

said requesting registration requests a renewal of the registered status of the domain name for the registrant.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said requesting registration of the domain name requests registration to an escrow entity;

and further comprising the step of transferring the succeeding registration from the escrow entity to the interested entity.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said submitting a request for registration includes submitting multiple substantially contemporaneous requests.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple substantially contemporaneous requests are sent to multiple registrars.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the request identifying the domain name is received through the Internet via a Web page.

13. A method for domain name management comprising the steps of:

receiving from an interested entity a request to monitor a domain name registration maintained by a registry;

monitoring a current status of the domain name registration;

detecting that the domain name registration has expired;

determining a deletion time period during which the domain name is expected to delete from the registry; and

during the expected deletion time period but prior to deletion, requesting a new registration of the domain name to succeed the expired domain name registration.

14. A method for domain name management according to claim 13 wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring database records maintained by the registry in association with the said domain name registration.

15. A method for domain name management according to claim 13 wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring expiration information maintained by a sponsoring registrar in association with the said domain name registration.

16. A method for domain name management comprising the steps of:

receiving from an interested entity a request to acquire a domain name registration maintained by a registry;

detecting that the domain name registration has expired;

estimating a deletion time at which the domain name is expected to delete from the registry; and

prior to the estimated deletion time, requesting a new registration of the domain name to succeed the expired domain name registration, thereby acquiring the domain name prior to deletion from the registry.

17. A method for domain name management according to claim 16 and further comprising transferring the new registration of the domain name to an interested entity.

18. A method for domain name management according to claim 16 and further comprising auctioning the new registration of the domain name among interested entities.

19. A method for domain name management comprising the steps of:

receiving from an interested entity a request to monitor an existing domain name registration maintained by a registry;

obtaining a list of deleting domain names maintained by the registry associated with an upcoming deletion date; and

if the existing domain name registration is on the deletion list, prior to actual deletion of the existing domain name registration, requesting a new registration of the domain name to succeed the expired domain name registration.

20. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein said obtaining a list comprises downloading a list of deleting names associated with an upcoming delete date.

21. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein said obtaining a list comprises querying registrar and or registry databases.

22. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein said obtaining a list comprises electronically receiving a published list of deleting names associated with an upcoming delete date.

23. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein said requesting a new registration comprises sending an add command to the registry.

24. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein the new registration request succeeds and further comprising auctioning the new registration among interested entities.

25. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein the new registration request succeeds and further comprising auctioning the new registration among the entities that requested monitoring of the existing domain name before the prior registration deleted.

26. A method for domain name management according to claim 19 wherein the new registration request succeeds and further comprising auctioning the new registration among entities including entities that express interest after the new registration is completed.