Automated domain name registration

• US 8,356,081 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Broadhurst, Larry J., Johnson, Jeffrey W., Ho, Matt, Liberty, Matthew E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIDHALM, ANGELA M
• Application Number:
  US11/070,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20050203891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,875 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An automated system and method to permit users to find and register available domain names in numerous different ccTLDs. The system provides real-time searching of large numbers of ccTLDs for each user so that during a single web session, the user can simply select the available ccTLDs from the resultant list, and purchase the desired ccTLDs online. The system also formats the user'"'"'s information in the appropriate manner for each selected ccTLD and performs the necessary electronic transactions to register the ccTLDs.

Claims

1. A method for determining if a domain name is available for registration, comprising:

receiving a search request to determine the availability of a sublevel domain in a plurality of ccTLDs from a user, wherein the sublevel domain combined with a ccTLD represents a complete domain name;

prior to conducting a search based on the search request, dividing said search request into a plurality of subsearches;

assigning each subsearch to a search thread in a persistent search thread pool; and

conducting each subsearch in parallel, each subsearch querying a server responsible for determining the availability of a domain name for at least one ccTLD contained in the subsearch.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said search threads are defined as objects in an object oriented data model.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said pool of search threads has a fixed number of search threads.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said pool of search threads has an adjustable number of search threads.

5. A method according to claim 1, where the search threads contain a status flag, including but not limited to indicating, whether the search thread is active or inactive.

6. A method according to claim 1, where the user is required to enter user personal data only once per registration session.

7. A method according to claim 1, where the user is required to enter user personal data only once for a plurality of registration sessions.

32. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

completing the search, including each subsearch, in no more than 30 seconds from when the request was received.

36. A method according to claim 1, wherein each subsearch queries a DNS server.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a computer processor to cause an electronic system to perform steps including:

receiving a search request to determine the availability of a sublevel domain in a plurality of ccTLDs from a user, wherein the sublevel domain combined with a ccTLD represents a complete domain name;

prior to conducting a search based on the search request, dividing said search request into a plurality of subsearches;

assigning each subsearch to a search thread in a persistent search thread pool;

conducting each subsearch in parallel, each subsearch querying a server responsible for determining the availability of a domain name for at least one ccTLD contained in the subsearch.

9. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein said search threads are defined as objects in an object oriented data model.

10. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein said pool of search threads has a fixed number of search threads.

11. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein said pool of search threads has an adjustable number of search threads.

12. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein said search threads individually return the results of the subsearches during said search so that the user is kept apprised of the progress of said search.

13. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, where the search threads contain a status flag, including but not limited to indicating, whether the search thread is active or inactive.

14. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, where the instructions require the user to enter user personal data only once per registration session.

15. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, where the instructions require the user to enter user personal data only once for a plurality of registration sessions.

33. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the steps include:

completing the search, including each subsearch, in no more than 30 seconds from when the request was received.

37. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein each subsearch queries a DNS server.

16. An apparatus for determining if a domain name is available for registration, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to perform steps including;

receiving a search request to determine the availability of a sublevel domain in a plurality of ccTLDs from a user, wherein the sublevel domain combined with a ccTLD represents a complete domain name;

prior to conducting a search based on the search request, dividing said search request into a plurality of subsearches;

assigning each subsearch to a search thread in a persistent search thread pool; and

conducting each subsearch in parallel, each subsearch querying a server responsible for determining the availability of a domain name for at least one ccTLD contained in the subsearch.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said search threads are defined as objects in an object oriented data model.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pool of search threads has a fixed number of search threads.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pool of search threads has an adjustable number of search threads.

20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said search threads individually return the results of the subsearches during said search so that the user is kept apprised of the progress of said search.

21. An apparatus according to claim 16, where the search threads contain a status flag, including but not limited to indicating, whether the search thread is active or inactive.

22. An apparatus according to claim 16, where the instructions require the user to enter user personal data only once per registration session.

23. An apparatus according to claim 16, where the instructions require the user to enter user personal data only once for a plurality of registration sessions.

34. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the steps include:

completing the search, including each subsearch, in no more than 30 seconds from when the request was received.

38. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each subsearch queries a DNS server.

24. A system for determining if a domain name is available for registration, comprising:

means for receiving a search request over an electronic communication network to determine the availability of a sublevel domain in a plurality of ccTLDs from a user, wherein the sublevel domain combined with a ccTLD represents a complete domain name;

means for dividing said search request into a plurality of subsearches prior to conducting a search based on the search request;

means for assigning each subsearch to a search thread in a persistent search thread pool; and

a microprocessor configured to conduct each subsearch in parallel within a computer-readable database, each subsearch querying a server responsible for determining the availability of a domain name for at least one ccTLD contained in the subsearch.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein said search threads are defined as objects in an object oriented data model.

26. A system according to claim 24, wherein said pool of search threads has a fixed number of search threads.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein said pool of search threads has an adjustable number of search threads.

28. A system according to claim 24, wherein said search threads individually return the results of the subsearches during said search so that the user is kept apprised of the progress of said search.

29. A system according to claim 24, where the search threads contain a status flag, including but not limited to indicating, whether the search thread is active or inactive.

30. A system according to claim 24, with means for requiring the user to enter user personal data only once per registration session.

31. A system according to claim 24, with means for requiring the user to enter user personal data only once for a plurality of registration sessions.

35. A system according to claim 24, comprising:

means for completing the search, including each subsearch, in no more than 30 seconds from when the request was received.

39. A system according to claim 24, wherein each subsearch queries a DNS server.