SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NON-EXISTING DOMAIN TRAFFIC

• US 20100106854A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hostway Corporation (Hosting.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hostway Corporation (Hosting.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, JooYong, Oh, Youngbae, Kirby, Simon Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/260,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

A system and method for controlling internet traffic controls internet traffic directed to a non-existing domain in a centralized manner. Instead of a non-existing domain response, the user may receive alternative responses such as a landing page including useful information and resourceful suggestions under the control of a global controller. The centralized control over the user'"'"'s request may be implemented by redirecting a DNS query to the global controller or an optimal search guide server at an individual internet service provider level. Redirection of the DNS query may involve a record modification of a domain name resolution response indicating the non-existing domain.

Claims

1. An internet traffic control method for a non-existing domain, comprising:

installing a domain name service (DNS) module;

receiving a DNS query directed to the non-existing domain at the DNS module;

redirecting to a controller the DNS query by the DNS module;

determining at the controller an optimal search guide server operable to provide an alternative response to a non-existing domain request;

sending an IP address of the optimal search guide server to the DNS module; and

forwarding the IP address of the optimal search guide server to a user application which has sent the non-existing domain request, thereby to direct the user application to access the optimal search guide server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a first domain name response data packet to the DNS query indicates the non-existing domain; and

upon determination of the first domain name response data packet indicative of the non-existing domain, modifying a name server record of the data packet responsive to the DNS query.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving another DNS query directed to an existing domain;

determining that a second domain name response data packet to another DNS query indicates an existing domain; and

upon determination of the second domain name response data packet indicative of the existing domain, returning existing domain information contained in the second domain name response data packet to the user application which has sent another DNS query without redirection of another DNS query to the controller.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a domain name of the non-existing domain request, and

evaluating the domain name to determine selected content relevant to the domain name.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an IP address of the DNS module; and

evaluating the IP address of the DNS module to determine a network location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the optimal search guide server comprises determining the optimal search guide server operable to store a landing page relevant to the selected content and proximate to the network location wherein the network location indicates a location of the user application.

7. An internet traffic control system for a non-existing domain, comprising:

a DNS module operable to redirect a DNS query for the non-existing domain and comprising a redirector operable to modify a name server record of a domain name response data packet to the DNS query and indicative of the non-existing domain; and

a non-existing domain name controller operable to receive the redirected DNS query and determine an optimal search guide server that provides an alternative response to a non-existing domain response informing a user application of the non-existing domain;

wherein the non-existing domain name controller returns information of the optimal search guide server to the DNS module in response to the redirected DNS query.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of internet service provider systems for providing an internet connection to a user application and in communication with the non-existing domain name controller wherein each internet service provider system comprises the DNS module and directs the user application to obtain a landing page provided by the optimal search guide server.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an internet service provider system operable to provide an internet connection to a user application, the internet service provider system comprising the DNS module and the non-existing domain name controller.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-existing domain name controller comprises a first controller and a second controller, the first controller assigned to and in communication with a first internet service provider system and the second controller in communication with the second internet service provider system and located independently of the second internet service provider system, and

wherein the first controller determines the optimal search guide server for the first internet service provider system and the second controller determines the optimal search guide server for the second internet service provider system and a third internet service provider system.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-existing domain name controller comprises:

a database for storing information of the optimal search guide server and criteria that defines the optimal search guide server; and

a logic comprising inputs of a domain name of the non-existing domain and an IP address of the DNS module and an output of an IP address of the optimal search guide server, wherein the logic further operates to refine and update the information of the optimal search guide server and the criteria.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the DNS module of each internet service provider system comprises a local name server operable to receive the DNS query from the user application and to return a resultant IP address to the user application, and

wherein the redirector intercepts the response data packet indicative of the non-existing domain before the local name server receives the response data packet.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the DNS module of each internet service provider system comprises a local name server operable to receive the DNS query from the user application and return a resultant IP address to the user application, and

wherein the local name server operates to cache the modified name server record when necessary.

14. An internet traffic control method for a non-existing domain, comprising:

operating a local name server to receive a domain name system (“

DNS”

) query from a user application comprising a browser wherein the DNS query comprises a first DNS query directed to an existing domain and a second DNS query directed to the non-existing domain;

communicating with an authorized name server to resolve the first and the second DNS queries;

receiving a DNS response from the authorized name server, the DNS response comprising a first DNS response corresponding to the first DNS query and a second DNS response corresponding to the second DNS query;

modifying a record of the second DNS response;

forwarding the first DNS response to the local name server without modification of the record;

receiving the first DNS response and the second DNS response at the local name server;

determining at a non-existing domain controller a search guide server operable to provide an alternative response to the user application which has sent the second DNS query; and

returning a resultant IP address of the search guide server to the user application.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the record of the domain name resolution response comprises modifying a name server record of a DNS response packet;

and further comprising;

redirecting the second DNS query to the non-existing domain name controller based on the modified name server record of the second DNS response wherein the local name server considers the non-existing domain name controller as the authorized name server.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the record of the domain name resolution response comprises modifying an A record of the DNS response packet to add the resultant IP address of the search guide server.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the record of the domain name resolution response comprises modifying an A record of the DNS response packet to add the IP address of the non-existing domain controller.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the search guide server comprises:

determining whether the search guide server stores a landing page relevant to a domain name contained in the second DNS query;

determining whether the search guide server is proximate to the user application; and

selecting the search guide server that stores the landing page relevant to the domain name contained in the second DNS query and proximate to the user application.

19. An internet traffic control system for a non-existing domain, comprising:

means for receiving and processing a DNS query from a user application;

means for redirecting the DNS query by modifying a predetermined record of a DNS response data packet to the DNS query, means for redirecting operable to determine that the DNS response data packet indicates the non-existing domain prior to the modification of the predetermined record; and

means for controlling internet traffic directed to the non-existing domain by responding to a redirected DNS query, means for controlling operable to determine an optimal search guide server which provides an alternative response to the user application which has sent the redirected DNS query;

wherein means for controlling further transmits an IP address of the optimal search guide server to the user application.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for controlling further comprises:

means for storing;

content information stored in a group of search guide servers;

a network location of the group of search guide servers; and

predetermined criteria for defining the optimal search guide server at least based on the content information and the network location of the group of search guide servers;

a logic comprising an input of a domain name of the redirected DNS query and network location information of the user application and an output of a resultant search guide server, the logic operable to generate the output based on the predetermined criteria;

wherein the logic is further operable to integrate in real time the content information and the network location of the group of search guide servers and update the predetermined criteria.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the resultant search guide server is operable to redirect the internet traffic associated with the non-existing domain to another search guide server, another search guide server being more proximate to the user application than the resultant search guide server, storing the content information more enhanced in quality and quantity than the resultant search guide server, or both.