Method for internet name sharing

• US 8,219,709 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolyn J. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Carolyn J. Hughes
• Inventors: Hughes, Carolyn J
• Primary Examiner(s): Chankong, Dohm
• Application Number:
  US10/190,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20040006597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,658 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 709201-203, 709/245, 709/238, 709/229, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/245
• 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 61/302 Administrative registration, e.g. for domain names at internet corporation for assigned names and numbers [ICANN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging

Abstract

The present invention allows similar named entities having trademarks or tradenames or other monikers in common, to market their complete electronic media identity, including web site and generic electronic mail boxes, using the same domain name which is shared without requiring sub-delegation. It satisfies both the uniqueness requirements of the current addressing system and sovereign trademark laws which have long been at odds.

Claims

1. A method for Internet name sharing within a name space of a name system, wherein:

the name space is structured hierarchically to organize a plurality of Internet names;

the name system operates in a distributed network;

the name system comprises a means of translating each of said plurality of Internet names into a plurality of underlying network identifiers;

each of said Internet name maps to an unique network identifier;

the name system comprises a means for using protocols to communicate identifying characteristics about each of said Internet names using a network record of a defined record type;

said identifying characteristics being recorded on said record;

said record belonging to a collection of records;

said collection residing in a computer storage media configured to said hierarchical organization;

said media residing in a storage device connected to said distributed network;

said record being retrievable by a client application;

the name system permits an assignment of said Internet names by a registration;

the registration being assigned by a registry;

the registration being assigned through a registrar;

the registration being assigned to a registrant;

said method comprising;

authorizing a plurality of distinct registrations for a desired Internet name selected from said plurality of Internet names;

assigning a status descriptor to said desired Internet name;

said status descriptor identifying said desired Internet name as a shared Internet name available for a shared registration;

transacting a first registration of said desired Internet name;

wherein the transacting step further comprises steps of;

accessing a computer registration interface of the registrar connected to the registry;

verifying the desired Internet name is available for said shared registration;

submitting a first profile for a first registrant;

said first profile comprising person contact information for said first registrant;

generating at least one of a first registrant record;

said at least one first registrant record associating the first registrant with the first registration of the desired Internet name;

said at least one first registrant record associating the first registrant with a first effective period for the first registration;

said first effective period extending from a first registration created date to a first registration expiry date;

obtaining confirmation that said first registration of the desired Internet name is successful;

adding said at least one first registrant record to at least one of said record collections in at least one of said computer storage media;

generating a first network record for the desired Internet name;

said first network record associated with the first registration of the desired Internet name;

adding at least one of said first network records associated with the first registration to at least one of a network record collection;

said network record collection residing in at least one of a computer encoded with a program directed to network resolution;

said computer connected to said distributed network;

transacting a second registration of said desired Internet name;

said second registration being hierarchically identical to the first registration;

said second registration having a second effective period;

said second effective period overlapping a portion of said first effective period of;

wherein the transacting step further comprises steps of;

accessing a computer registration interface of the registrar connected to the registry;

verifying the desired Internet name is available for said shared registration;

submitting a second profile for a second registrant;

said second profile comprising person contact information for said second registrant;

generating at least one of a second registrant record;

said at least one second registrant record associating the second registrant with the second registration of the desired Internet name;

said at least one second registrant record associating the second registrant with a second effective period for the second registration;

said second effective period extending from a second registration created date to a second registration expiry date;

obtaining confirmation that said second registration of the desired Internet name is successful;

adding said at least one second registrant record to at least one of said record collections in at least one of said computer storage media;

generating a second network record for the desired Internet name;

said second network record associated with the second registration of the desired Internet name;

adding at least one of said second network records associated with the second registration to said at least one network record collection;

accessing a Whois client application to query for current registrants of the desired Internet name;

retrieving a plurality of current registrant records contained in at least one of said computer storage media;

said plurality of current registrant records being retrievable by a single query;

said plurality of current registrant records comprising;

the first registrant record;

the second registrant record;

resolving an Internet address query for said shared Internet name;

wherein the resolving step further comprises steps of;

accessing a client resolver application in a computer connected to said distributed network;

querying for one of an address locator information for the shared Internet name;

receiving at least one of a reply;

said at least one reply comprising said address locator information contained in at least one network record belonging to the shared Internet name;

directing a browser application to utilize said address locator information to access a plurality of web sites;

said access requiring only a single user request;

said plurality of web sites corresponding to sold a plurality of registrations of the shared Internet name;

said plurality of registrations comprising;

the first registration;

the second registration;

such that;

a plurality of hierarchically identical registrations of a desired Internet name can exist in the name space without collision.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said unique network identifier is a DNS Internet protocol (IP) address.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said desired Internet name is a domain name;

said domain name being a plurality of hierarchically arranged name labels, said labels being separated by a dot;

said domain name comprising a top-level domain label and a second level domain label.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said desired Internet name is comprised of characters from a character type group comprising:

number digits, letters, symbols, hyphens, diacritical marks, Punctuation marks.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said authorizing comprises a designation by a stakeholder of the desired Internet name.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising executing a transaction agreement;

said agreement being between at least two parties;

each of said parties being an entity from a group comprising;

the registry, the registrar, the first registrant, the second registrant;

said agreement specifying terms and conditions of said Internet name sharing;

said terms and conditions comprising;

a duration of agreement;

a maximum number of entities allowed to share a single Internet name.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing a lookup service to request and retrieve at least one of a registrant contact person record for said desired Internet name;

said lookup service utilizing at least one of an Internet standards protocol for registration record query and retrieval;

said request being sent to at least one of a data repository within at least one of a network in a system;

said system optionally having a client-server architecture;

said system optionally having a query distribution architecture.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising said lookup service is a Whois client application.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a user accesses a plurality of the record collections contained in a plurality of the storage devices in the network in order to retrieve a complete set of said, network records for said desired Internet name;

said complete set of network records comprising;

first registration records, second registration records.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said lookup tool is a component of a composite program.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding said status descriptor to said first registrant record.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

accessing a computer medium comprising logic configured to generate registration records;

adding a new registration status repository;

generating at least one of a descriptor to indicate registration status;

adding said at least one descriptors to said registration status repository.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

accessing a computer medium comprising logic configured to generate registration records;

adding an additional of a contact person repository to at least one of said first registrant records;

populating said at least one contact person repository with at least one of a second contact person identifier associated with said second registration;

accessing said lookup service to request a contact person record for said desired Internet name;

retrieving a plurality of registrant contact identifiers for said desired Internet name;

said plurality comprising;

the first registrant, the second registrant.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

accessing a computer medium comprising a program directed to network resolution;

configuring said program to allow a plurality of identical type network records for the desired Internet name to co-exist in the network;

said plurality of identical type network records being associated with a plurality of registrations of the desired Internet name;

said plurality of registrations comprising;

the first registration, the second registration;

configuring said program to allow a resolution of a single query by a retrieval of said plurality of identical type network records.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a single request for records associated with the desired Internet name returns at least one record associated with each of the registrants of said desired Internet name.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a browser interface is used to generate said first and second registrant records.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of modifying a single registration of said desired Internet name to create a shared registration;

said steps comprising;

accessing a first registrant account at a registrar;

accessing said first registrant record of said desired Internet name;

adding said shared Internet name status descriptor;

adding a second registrant identifier to said registrant record.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of creating a new shared registration of said desired Internet name, said steps comprising:

verifying said desired Internet name is available for said shared registration;

accessing a user interface of a program comprising logic configured to register Internet names;

initiating a new registration of sold desired Internet name;

adding said shared registration status descriptor;

adding a second registrant identifier.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising said first registrant of said desired Internet name shares a single electronic mailbox address with said second registrant of said desired Internet name;

wherein;

said electronic mailbox address is hosted by a mail server;

said mail server comprises a search engine;

an electronic mail message sent to the electronic mailbox address comprises at least one of a keyword;

said at least one keyword is identified with at least one of said registrants;

said search engine matches one or more identified keywords in the electronic mail message against a set of keywords provided by at least one of said first and second registrants;

said server sends electronic mail message to an intended recipient at a designated mailbox;

such that electronic mail messages intended for a specific registrant entity and sent to a shared recipient mailbox at the desired Internet name, is received autonomously by the intended recipient with ease.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said at least one keyword is located in a subject field of the electronic mail message.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said at least one keyword is located in a body field of the electronic mail message.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said record collection comprises at least one of a DNS resource record set;

said set comprising at least one of a resource record.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of modifying a type classification of at least one of a DNS record type.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising a step of adding a selection mechanism for distinguishing between a plurality of identical type resource records belonging to said desired Internet name.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of creating at least one of a new resource record type;

each of said at least one new record type having a type name.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising said new resource record type is assigned a type number;

said number being an identifier code used to identify said record type in said name system;

said number being assigned by an Internet authority.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said resource record type is identified in the name system as a resource record (RR) of unknown type.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising extending DNS functionality to allow mapping said desired Internet name to a plurality of Internet sites;

said mapping utilizing an Internet protocol addressing scheme comprising steps of;

creating a first resource record set for said first registration;

creating a second resource record set for said second registration;

adding at least one of an identifier to a first specified record type belonging to said first registration resource record set;

adding at least one of an identifier to a second specified record type belonging to said second registration resource record set;

said first and second specified records having said selection mechanism for distinguishing between a plurality of identical type resource records belonging to said desired Internet name.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising a user request for access to an Internet site of said desired Internet name accesses said plurality of Internet sites associated with said desired Internet name;

each of said plurality of Internet sites being an unique Internet site;

each of said unique Internet site opening in a separate viewing area of a browser;

each of said unique Internet sites belonging to a unique registrant of said desired Internet name;

each unique Internet site being live;

such that a user can select and access an Internet site belonging to a specific registrant of the desired Internet name without having to request more than one address of said desired Internet name.

30. The method according to claim 28, further comprising a step of setting at least one of a browser preferences for management of said plurality of Internet sites in said browser display.

31. The method according to claim 28, further comprising a step of setting at least one of a DNS query preference for management of access requests for said desired Internet name addresses.

32. The method according to claim 28, further comprising a step of setting at least one of an authoritative server query preferences for management of access requests for said, desired Internet name addresses.

33. The method according to claim 22, further comprising steps of certifying at least one of said DNS resource records for said desired Internet name;

said steps comprising;

certifying a top level domain as a certificate authority by a trusted root certificate authority;

certifying at least one of a shared second level domain name under said top level domain by said certificate authority;

creating at least one of a retrievable DNS record set for each shared second level domain name;

said retrievable DNS record set having a verification data;

hosting at least one of a retrievable record of said retrievable DNS record set on at least one of an authoritative nameserver;

wherein said authoritative nameserver is known to an authoritative root server;

wherein said authoritative root server operates within a DNS root network;

such that a user can access and easily identify a certified shared top level domain address.