Method, product, and apparatus for requesting a network resource

• US 6,338,082 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEC Management, LLC (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota)
• Original Assignee: Eric Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/525,350
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/224, 709/226, 709/229, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/3015 Name registration, generation or assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Abstract

When a network resource request having a domain name is received, it is determined whether the network resource can be located including determing whether the domain name is resolvable. Rather than displaying an error message or processing a search request in response to determining that a network resource can not be located or of an unresolvable domain name, the domain name can instead be redirected to a registration service where the unresolvable domain name is automatically used to perform a registration request and determine domain name availability. When the domain name is not available for registration, domain name registrant information is provided. However, when the domain name is determined available, a registration form is provided. For example, sucha domain name in question may be redirected from theautosearch feature of a web browser to a service, which determines that the domain name is available for registration enabling a potential registrant to register the available domain name by selecting a domain name registration provider from a list of domain name registration providers.

Claims

1. A method for requesting a network resource from an identifier having a valid domain name comprising the steps of:

determining whether the network resource can be located;

requesting the network resource from the identifier in response to determining that the network resource can be located; and

,

determining whether the valid domain name is available for registration in response to determining that the network resource can not be located.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether the network resource can be located includes the step of determining whether the valid domain name is resolvable.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of determining whether the valid domain name is resolvable includes the step of minimizing the network bandwidth required to determine whether the valid domain name is resolvable.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of determining whether the valid domain name is resolvable includes the step of translating the valid domain name into a corresponding IP address.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step of translating the valid domain name into said corresponding IP address includes the step of accessing one of a zone file and a name resolver server.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of inputting the identifier from a user interface element.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said step of inputting the identifier from a user interface element includes the step of inputting the identifier into one of a browser location field, command line, and text box object.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of determining whether the domain name is available for registration includes the step of performing a WHOIS request.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of generating a registration form when the domain name is determined available for registration, and the step of displaying registration information when the domain name is determined not available for registration.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of determining which registrar of a plurality of registrars will determine whether the domain name is available for registration.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said step of determining which registrar of a plurality of registrars will determine whether the domain name is available for registration includes the step of retrieving one of a default named registrar and a method of selecting a registrar.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of retrieving one of a default named registrar and a method of selecting a registrar retrieves said method of selecting a registrar from one of a template and user modifiable configuration settings.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, further including the step of accessing said template from an autosearch.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said method of selecting a registrar is chosen from the least cost registrar, a preselected list of registrars, and a random choice of registrar.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said method of selecting said least cost registrar includes the step of consulting a table of registration cost information updated in real time.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of determining whether to process a search request after determining whether the valid domain name is available for registration.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of determining whether to process a search request includes the steo of determining if a search may be constructed from the identifier.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, further including the steps of constructing a search from identifier determined to allow a search, processing said search constructed from the identifier, and presenting the results of said search constructed from the identifier.

19. An apparatus for requesting a network resource from an identifier having a valid domain name comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said pocessor;

means for retrieving content from a computer network;

means for determining whether the network resource can be located;

means for requesting the network resource from the identifier in response to determining that the network resource can be located; and

,

means for determining whether the valid domain name is available for registration in response to determining that the network resource can not be located.

20. A computer program product for requesting a network resource from an identifier having a valid domain name comprising:

means for retrieving content from a computer network;

means for determining whether the network resource can be located;

means for requesting the network resource from the identifier in response to determining that the network resource can be located; and

,

means for determining whether the valid domain name is available for registration in response to determining that the network resource can not be located.

21. A method for locating a network resource from an identifier having a valid domain name comprising the steps of:

determining whether the valid domain name is resolvable;

locating the network resource in response to determining that the valid domain name is resolvable; and

,

determining whether the valid domain name is available for registration in response to determining that the valid domain name is not resolvable.