Method, product, and apparatus for resource identifier registration and aftermarket services

• US 7,188,138 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• 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:
  US10/604,626
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-220, 709223-227
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

When a network resource request having a domain name is received, it is determined whether the network resource can be accessed from the domain name. Rather than, or in addition to, displaying an error message or processing a search request in response to determining that a network resource can not be accessed, the domain name can instead be redirected to a registration service where the domain name can be 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, such a domain name may be redirected from the autosearch 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 network request method comprising:

receiving a network request to process input including a resource identifier, wherein said network request is one of a resource location request, search engine request, and primary market request, said primary market request including one of a resource identifier registration request, WHOIS request, and resource identifier availability request;

determining whether said resource identifier is unavailable for registration;

providing a user with an interface to one of a perform at least one resource identifier aftermarket request and one of an access and display aftermarket status of said resource identifier through one or more resource identifier aftermarket services in response to said determining that said resource identifier is unavailable for registration, wherein said aftermarket status is indicative of whether said resource identifier is available for back-order, sale, license, or lease by one of a listing service, auction service, and registrant of said resource identifier and wherein said aftermarket request is at least one of a back-order request, auction request, bid request, appraisal request, transfer of ownership request, escrow request, offer request, aftermarket listing request, and identifier aftermarket status monitoring and notification request; and

,

performing said network request at any time after said receiving said network request independent of said providing said user with said interface to said one of a perform said at least one said resource identifier aftermarket request and one of said access and display said aftermarket status of said resource identifier through said one or more resource identifier aftermarket services.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including inputting said resource identifier from a user interface element.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said inputting said resource identifier from a user interface element includes inputting said resource identifier into one of a one of a browser location field, text box object, command line, speech to text interface, optical recognition interface, and magnetic recognition interface.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further including one of a performing said resource identifier aftermarket request and automatically performing said resource identifier aftermarket request.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said providing said user with said interface includes providing results of said performing said network request as part of said interface.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said providing said user with said interface includes automatically providing said user with said interface in response to said receiving said network request to process said input.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resource identifier is one of a domain name, fictitious domain name, telephone number, and keyword.

8. A network request method comprising:

receiving a network request to process input including a resource identifier;

determining whether said resource identifier is unavailable for registration;

determining whether the resource identifier is back-ordered in response to said determining that said resource identifier is unavailable for registration;

a registration back-order service providing a back-order registration form to a user upon said determining that the resource identifier is not back-ordered, wherein said registration back-order service can automatically register or compete to register the resource identifier on behalf of said user when the resource identifier is available for registration;

determining whether to notify said user when the resource identifier is no longer back-ordered or will no longer be back-ordered upon said determining that the resource identifier is back-ordered; and

,

performing said network request at any time after said receiving said network request independent of said determining whether the resource identifier is back-ordered.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, further including retrieving a back-order registration record upon said determining that the resource identifier is back-ordered.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 8, further including adding the resource identifier to a back-order watch list of said user when it is determined to notify said user when the resource identifier is not back-ordered.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said receiving said network request to process said input includes receiving one of a resource location request, search engine request, resource identifier registration request, WHOIS request, and resource identifier availability request.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said determining whether the resource identifier is back-ordered includes determining from a back-order registry whether the resource identifier is back-ordered in response to determining that said resource identifier is unavailable for registration.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said resource identifier is one of a domain name, fictitious domain name, telephone number, and keyword.