Outsourcing of email hosting services

• US 8,244,812 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blinn, Arnold, Hagan, Cynthia, Gillett, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Haresh N
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, PETER C
• Application Number:
  US11/228,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,524 Days
• Field of Search: 709/100, 709/101, 709/102, 709/103, 709/105, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/206, 709/219, 709/226, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/401, 705/67, 713/200, 714/15
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging

Abstract

A system, a method and computer-readable media for initiating the hosting of email for an Internet domain name. A secure communication channel is established with an entity requesting email hosting services. After verifying that the requesting entity is authorized to control the domain name, information describing email accounts with the domain name is received, and email services are provided for the email accounts.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon to perform a method for initiating email hosting services for a domain name, said method comprising:

establishing a secure communication channel with an entity requesting email hosting services for one or more email accounts having said domain name;

communicating authentication information to said requesting entity via said secure communication channel, wherein said authentication information is a code to be published by said requesting entity in a publicly accessible Domain Name Service (DNS) record associated with said domain name, for making said code publicly accessible;

verifying that said requesting entity is authorized to control said domain name by determining whether said publicly accessible code was published in said publicly accessible DNS record associated with said domain name, as the ability to publish said publicly accessible code in said publicly accessible DNS record associated with said domain name demonstrates authorization to control said domain name;

providing a destination address to a network location configured to receive email addressed to at least one of said one or more email accounts;

receiving account information describing said one or more email accounts;

providing email services for said one or more email accounts; and

providing an account administration interface for providing said requesting entity a set of administrative controls over said one or more email accounts.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein said destination address is an Internet protocol address or a host name associated with a server configured to receive email.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises providing instructions for said destination address to be published in a DNS record associated with said domain name.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein said providing email services includes providing a network-based interface for accessing said one or more email accounts.

5. The media of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises verifying that a domain user requesting creation of one of said one or more email accounts is authorized to utilize said email services.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein said receiving said account information includes receiving information via an application program interface.

7. A computer-system, including one or more processors, for providing email hosting services for a plurality of domain names, said system comprising:

a service request component to receive one or more requests for initiation of email hosting services for at least one of said plurality of domain names;

an authorization component to verify that each of said one or more requests originates from an entity authorized to control at least one of said plurality of domain names, wherein said authorization component provides an authorization code to said entity and verify authority to control at least one of said plurality of domain names by determining whether said authorization code was published in a publicly viewable DNS record associated with at least one of said plurality of domain names for making said authorization code publicly viewable, as the ability to publish said authorization code in said publicly viewable DNS record associated with at least one of said plurality of domain names demonstrates authority to control at least one of said plurality of domain names;

a service initiation component to provide one or more network locations where domain email is routed;

an account access component to provide, via said one or more processors, domain email services for a plurality of user accounts having one of said plurality of domain names; and

an account administration interface for providing a set of administrative controls for said plurality of user accounts.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said service initiation component is configured to interact with a legacy email server.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an account administration component configured to receive account information describing at least a portion of said plurality of user accounts.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said account administration component is further configured to provide a user interface for receiving at least a portion of said account information.

11. A computer-system, including one or more processors, for initiating email hosting services for a domain name, said system comprising:

a service-request interface to receive a request to establish email hosting services in connection with an indicated domain name;

a DNS-editing interface to provide instructions for publishing at least one authorization code in a publicly viewable DNS record associated with said indicated domain name and available to the public via the Internet, for making said at least one authorization code publicly viewable;

a notification component to indicate acceptance of said request, wherein said acceptance is provided in response to verification that said at least one authorization code was published in said publicly viewable DNS record associated with said indicated domain name, as the ability to publish said at least one authorization code in said publicly viewable DNS record associated with said indicated domain name demonstrates control of said indicated domain name;

an account administration component to provide a user interface for receiving account information for creating and administrating one or more email accounts having said indicated domain name; and

an account access component to provide, via said one or more processors, domain email services for said one or more email accounts.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said account access component is configured to provide said domain email services in a network-based interface.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said user interface is accessible to one or more administrators appointed to control said one or more email accounts.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said user interface includes controls for removing at least a portion of said one or more email accounts.