Enhanced domain name generation and registration

• US 8,301,743 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company LLC (GoDaddy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company LLC (GoDaddy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Curran, Nathan, Jilg, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alexander, Jenee
• Application Number:
  US12/179,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 61/3025 Domain name generation or assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

Methods of the present inventions allow for generating and providing an enhanced domain name. An exemplary method may comprise providing an enhanced domain to a second party. The enhanced domain may comprise a domain name, a web space automatically enabled and associated with the domain name, and at least one application automatically enabled and associated with the domain name.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

the step of registering an enhanced domain name to a registrant, said enhanced domain name comprising;

a domain name;

a web space comprising a hosting service comprising at least one server computer having an IP address,

a bandwidth allotment, and a storage allotment,

said web space being automatically enabled and associated with said domain name upon registering said enhanced domain name by adding said IP address to a DNS A-record for said domain name; and

at least one application automatically enabled and associated with said domain name upon registering said enhanced domain name by installing said at least one application on said at least one server computer having said IP address,

wherein said at least one application comprises server-side software providing interactive functionality to a website resolving from said domain name.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said hosting service comprises a shared hosting service, a virtual-dedicated hosting service, a dedicated hosting service, a clustered hosting service, or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one application comprises an email account, a blog, a forum, an instant messaging application, a website building application, an online file storage service application, a shopping cart application, an SSL certificate, a website traffic improvement tool, an email marketing solution, an ecommerce solution, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one application is selected by said registrant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one application is selected by said registrant while registering said enhanced domain name.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one application is selected for said registrant.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

enabling the functionality of said hosting service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the functionality of said hosting service is enabled by provisioning said bandwidth allotment and said storage allotment.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

enabling the functionality of said at least one application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the functionality of said at least one application is enabled by setting said at least one application to default settings.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing a starter website resolving from said domain name, said starter website having a control panel allowing said registrant to configure and utilize said hosting service and said at least one application.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said control panel comprises a webpage on said starter website.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said control panel comprises a plurality of webpages on said starter website.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said control panel comprises at least one wizard application for said hosting service and each of said at least one application.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said control panel comprises a link to each of said at least one application.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said link comprises a URL.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said link comprises a widget.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of generating a unique URL for said at least one application by concatenating at least one subdomain to said domain name, wherein said at least one subdomain is descriptive of said at least one application and said unique URL points to said at least one application.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said control panel comprises a link to said unique URL.

20. A method, comprising the steps of:

a) identifying a domain name from a pool of available domain names;

b) associating at least one hosting service comprising at least one server computer having an IP address, a bandwidth allotment, and a storage allotment with said domain name by adding said IP address to a DNS A-record for said domain name;

c) associating at least one application with said domain name by installing said at least one application on said at least one server computer having said IP address;

d) enabling the functionality of said at least one hosting service, said bandwidth allotment, and said storage allotment;

e) enabling the functionality of said at least one application; and

f) providing a second party with an enhanced domain name comprising said domain name, said at least one hosting service, said bandwidth allotment, said storage allotment, and said at least one application, wherein said at least one application comprises server-side software providing interactive functionality to a website resolving from said domain name

wherein steps b) through e) are accomplished automatically upon registration of said domain name without said registrant'"'"'s further participation.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

g) providing a starter website resolving from said domain name, said starter website having a control panel allowing said second party to configure and utilize said at least one hosting service and said at least one application.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said identifying step a) further comprises registering said domain name to a registrant.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said second party comprises said registrant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said hosting service comprises a shared hosting service, a virtual-dedicated hosting service, a dedicated hosting service, a clustered hosting service, or any combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one application comprises an email account, a blog, a forum, an instant messaging application, a website building application, an online file storage service application, a shopping cart application, an SSL certificate, a website traffic improvement tool, an email marketing solution, an ecommerce solution, or any combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least one application is selected by said registrant.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one application is selected by said registrant while registering said domain name.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least one application is selected for said registrant.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said enabling step d) if accomplished by provisioning said predetermined bandwidth allotment and said predetermined storage allotment.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said enabling step e) is accomplished by setting said at least one application to default settings.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein said control panel comprises a webpage on said starter website.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein said control panel comprises a plurality of webpages on said starter website.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein said control panel comprises at least one wizard application for said hosting service and each of said at least one application.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein said control panel comprises a link to each of said at least one application.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said link comprises a URL.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said link comprises a widget.

37. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of generating a unique URL for said at least one application by concatenating at least one subdomain to said domain name, wherein said at least one subdomain is descriptive of said at least one application and said unique URL points to said at least one application.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said control panel comprises a link to said unique URL.