Dynamic IP address update

• US 7,600,042 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Kevin M., Lemson, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene; Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US11/031,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/224, 709/228, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention provides for a configuration tool that during configuration of a message server assists a user in registering, transferring, maintaining a domain name and/or automatically configuring a message system in accordance therewith. The configuration tool guides the user through a series of inquiries, and based on the user input utilizes a list of registrars for registering a new domain name, configuring the system in accordance with an existing domain name, or transferring an existing domain name to a registrar within the list. The system then automatically configures the messaging server and other systems accordingly. Further, the system is configured to update a DNS for dynamic IP addresses corresponding to a domain name by periodically having the server send connection request to itself. This identifies when IP addresses associated with the domain name have changed, and thus the server may initiate the update of the DNS records.

Claims

1. In a messaging system including a message server, a method of the message server maintaining a domain name server record for a domain name of the message server, the domain name having a dynamic IP address, wherein the value of dynamic IP address can change causing a DNS record for the domain name to be incorrectly mapped to a computer system other than the message server, the method including acts of:

the message server automatically determining that the value of the dynamic IP address for the domain is no longer appropriately mapped to the domain name corresponding to the message server, including;

the message server identifying the domain name corresponding to the message server;

the message server sending a connection request addressed to the domain name, the connection request sent to the domain name to determine if the message server receives back the connection request, receiving back the connection request indicating that a previously assigned value for the dynamic IP address is appropriately mapped to the domain name in the DNS record for the domain name, sending the connection request being an attempt by the message server to send the connection request to the message server itself to determine if the previously assigned value assigned to the dynamic IP address has changed; and

after a predetermined time without receiving the connection request at the message server, determining that the previously assigned value of the dynamic IP address corresponding to the domain name has changed;

the message server determining a new value for the dynamic IP address corresponding to the domain name;

the message server sending the new value for the dynamic IP address to a registrar for updating the DNS record for the domain name such that messages are appropriately routed to the message server when messages are sent to the domain name, the registrar previously selected from among a plurality of registrars retrieved by an automatic configuration tool from a centralized database, the centralized database for a top-level domain in which the domain name is included.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the new value for the dynamic IP address to a registrar comprises sending the new IP address to a registrar, which routes the IP address to the domain name server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the new value for the dynamic IP address to a registrar comprises calling the registrar'"'"'s update process for sending the new value for the dynamic IP address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a password is used to authenticate the message server to the domain name service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an “

A”

record is updated.

6. In a messaging system including a messaging server, a computer program product for implementing a method of the messaging server maintaining a domain name server record for a domain name of the message server, the domain name having dynamic IP address, wherein the value of the dynamic IP address can change causing the DNS record for the domain to be incorrectly mapped to a computer system other than the messaging server, the computer program product comprising one or more computer storage media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the messaging server to perform the following:

determine that the value of the dynamic IP address for the domain is no longer appropriately mapped to the domain name corresponding to the message server, including;

identify the domain name corresponding to the message server;

send a connection request addressed to the domain name, the connection request sent to the domain name to determine if the message server receives back the connection request, receiving back the connection request indicating that a previously assigned value for the dynamic IP address is appropriately mapped to the domain name in the DNS record for the domain name, sending the connection request being an attempt by the message server to send the connection request to the message server itself to determine if the previously assigned value assigned to the dynamic IP address has changed; and

after a predetermined time without receiving the connection request at the message server, determine that the previously assigned value of the dynamic IP address corresponding to the domain name has changed;

determine a new value for the dynamic IP address corresponding to the domain name;

send the new value for the dynamic IP address to a registrar for updating the DNS record for the domain name such that messages are appropriately routed to the message server when messages are sent to the domain name, the registrar previously selected from among a plurality of registrars retrieved by an automatic configuration tool from a centralized database, the centralized database for a top-level domain in which the domain name is included.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein sending the new value for the dynamic IP address to a registrar comprises sending the new IP address to a registrar, which routes the IP address to the domain name server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein sending the new value for the dynamic IP address to a registrar comprises calling the registrar'"'"'s update process for sending the new value for the dynamic IP address.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein a password is used to authenticate the message server to the domain name service.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein an “

A”

record is updated.