Outsourcing of instant messaging hosting services

• US 20070067396A1
• 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 8,234,340 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 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for initiating instant message hosting services for user accounts having a domain name, said method comprising:

receiving from an entity a request for initiation of instant message hosting services for said domain name;

establishing a secure communication channel with said requesting entity;

receiving account information from said requesting entity describing one or more user accounts having said domain name; and

providing instant messaging services for said one or more user accounts.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said verifying that said requesting entity is authorized to control said domain name includes determining whether an authorization code is published in a Domain Name Service (DNS) record associated with said domain name.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing instructions for publishing at least one Internet protocol address or host name associated with instant message hosting services in a DNS record associated with said domain name.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing instant messaging services includes providing a network-based interface for accessing said one or more user accounts.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an account administration interface for providing said requesting entity a set of administrative controls over said one or more user accounts.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising verifying that a domain user requesting creation of one of said one or more user accounts is authorized to utilize said instant messaging services.

8. One or more computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon to perform the method of claim 1.

9. A system for providing instant message 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 instant message hosting services for at least one of said plurality of domain names;

an account administration component configured to receive account information for one or more user accounts having one of said plurality of domain names; and

a messaging component configured to provide instant messaging services for at least a portion of said one or more user accounts.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said one or more requests include a request for initiation of email hosting services.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an email access component configured to provide domain email services for at least a portion of said one or more user accounts.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising 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.

13. The system of claim 12, 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 9, wherein said account administration component is configured to provide a user interface for receiving at least a portion of said account information.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said account administration component is configured to receiving at least a portion of said account information by importing said account information from a file.

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

receiving a request from an entity to establish instant message hosting services in connection with a domain name;

notifying said requesting entity acceptance of said request;

receiving account information for creating one or more user accounts having said domain name; and

providing instant messaging services for said one or more user accounts.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein said providing instant messaging services includes providing a network-based interface for receiving instant messages.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein said method further comprises providing at least one Internet protocol address or at least one authorization code for publishing in a DNS record associated with said domain name.

19. The media of claim 16, wherein said providing instant messaging services includes exchanging instant messages with user accounts having domain names other than said domain name.

20. The media of claim 16, wherein said method further comprises providing a user interface that includes controls for administering at least a portion of said one or more user accounts.