Outsourcing of email hosting services

• US 20070067395A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blinn, Arnold, Gillett, Don, Hagan, Cynthia
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging

Abstract

A system, a method and computer-readable media for initiating the hosting of email for an Internet domain name. A secure communication channel is established with an entity requesting email hosting services. After verifying that the requesting entity is authorized to control the domain name, information describing email accounts with the domain name is received, and email services are provided for the email accounts.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon to perform a method for initiating email hosting services for a domain name, said method comprising:

establishing a secure communication channel with an entity requesting email hosting services for one or more email accounts having said domain name;

communicating authentication information to said requesting entity via said secure communication channel;

verifying that said requesting entity is authorized to control said domain name;

providing a destination address to a network location configured to receive email addressed to at least one of said one or more email accounts;

receiving account information describing said one or more email accounts; and

providing email services for said one or more email accounts.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein said authentication information is a code to be published in a location associated with said domain name.

3. The media of claim 2, wherein said location is a Domain Name Service (DNS) record associated with said domain name.

4. The media of claim 2, wherein said verifying that said requesting entity is authorized to control said domain name includes determining whether said authorization code is published in said location.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein said destination address is an Internet protocol address or a host name associated with a server configured to receive email.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises providing instructions for said destination address to be published in a DNS record associated with said domain name.

7. The media of claim 1, wherein said providing email services includes providing a network-based interface for accessing said one or more email accounts.

8. The media of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises providing an account administration interface for providing said requesting entity a set of administrative controls over said one or more email accounts.

9. The media of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises verifying that a domain user requesting creation of one of said one or more email accounts is authorized to utilize said email services.

10. The media of claim 1, wherein said receiving said account information includes receiving information via an application program interface.

11. A system for providing email hosting services for a plurality of domain names, said system comprising:

a service request component configured to receive one or more requests for initiation of email hosting services for at least one of said plurality of domain names;

an authorization component configured to verify that each of said one or more requests originates from an entity authorized to control at least one of said plurality of domain names;

a service initiation component configured to provide one or more network locations where domain email may be routed; and

an account access component configured to provide domain email services for a plurality of user accounts having one of said plurality of domain names.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said service initiation component is configured to interact with a legacy email server.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said authorization component is configured to determine whether an authorization code is published in a DNS record associated with at least one of said plurality of domain names.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising an account administration component configured to receive account information describing at least a portion of said plurality of user accounts.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said account administration component is further configured to provide a user interface for receiving at least a portion of said account information.

16. A system for initiating email hosting services for a domain name, said system comprising:

a service-request interface configured to receive a request to establish email hosting services in connection with an indicated domain name;

a notification component configured to indicate acceptance of said request, wherein said acceptance is provided in response to verification that said request originates from an entity authorized to control said indicated domain name;

an account creation component configured to provide a user interface for receiving account information for creating one or more email accounts having said indicated domain name; and

an account access component configured to provide domain email services for said one or more email accounts.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said account access component is configured to provide said domain email services in a network-based interface.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a DNS-editing interface configured to provide instructions for publishing at least one Internet protocol address or at least one authorization code in a DNS record associated with said indicated domain name.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said user interface is accessible to one or more administrators appointed to control said one or more email accounts.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said user interface includes controls for removing at least a portion of said one or more email accounts.