Domain name acquisition and management system and method

• US 7,752,260 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Web.com Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SnapNames.com, Inc.
• Inventors: King, Raymond, Bayles, Len Albert, Wiener, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti; Hussein
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALL, EL HADJI MALICK
• Application Number:
  US11/377,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/207, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 705/37
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention can accept an indication of a domain name or set of domain names from interested entity. The desired domain names are names that an interested entity desires to register through a domain name registration system or systems, such as that operated by a registry-accredited registrar. The system can closely monitor the domain name registry or registrar databases used to provide domain name resolution or registration over a distributed network, such as the Internet, and determine the expiration or availability of the name or names supplied by the interested entity. When a desired domain name appears to be available, the system can register or re-register the domain name through a domain registration service. If there is more than one interested entity for a domain name, the system can also facilitate an auction for the domain name.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for domain name management comprising the steps of:

arranging a computer for communications over a network;

receiving at the computer an electronic request from an interested entity to monitor a domain name registration sponsored by a registrar;

storing the request in an interested party electronic database;

monitoring a current status of the domain name registration by accessing a domain name registration database via the network;

detecting that the domain name registration has expired;

determining a deletion time period during which the expired domain name registration is expected to delete from the registry; and

during the expected deletion time period but prior to deletion, transmitting a request to the sponsoring registrar to enter a new registration of the domain name on behalf of a new registrant to succeed the expired domain name registration.

2. A method for domain name management according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring database records maintained by the registry in association with the said domain name registration.

3. A method for domain name management according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring expiration information maintained by a sponsoring registrar in association with the said domain name registration.

4. A method for domain name management according to claim 1 and further comprising transferring the new registration of the domain name to an interested entity.

5. A method for domain name management according to claim 1 and further comprising auctioning the new registration of the domain name among interested entities.