Message based network configuration of domain name purchase

• US 20060101155A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fishman, Neil S., Mazur, Leszek, Satkunanathan, Lingan, Damour, Kevin T., Manchester, Scott A., Roberts, Theodore H. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methodologies that facilitate purchase and/or transfer of a domain name and access of users to the internet, by using a well defined protocol to interact with a plurality of domain name registrars, via employing; a purchasing component, and a mapping component. Once a user has identified a domain name, the purchasing component can automatically query the provider(s) for terms of the service plan to obtain such domain name. The mapping component can then point to a DNS provider designated to host such domain name, to manage in-bound traffic. The subject invention can also be implemented in web services based hosted solutions directory, for example by designation of a trusted on-line registry that registers a plurality of service providers to supply services to clients, with a secure communication between the clients and the trusted on-line registry for selection of a service provider.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates a user interaction with a domain name registrar comprising:

a standardized message schema exchanged between the domain name registrar and a machine of the user, the schema comprising;

a purchasing component that characterizes a service agreement of the domain name registrar; and

a mapping component that points to a Domain Name Service (DNS) provider designated by the user to manage inbound traffic to the domain name.

2. The system of claim 1, the standardized message schema is in a form of an extensible mark up language.

3. The system of claim 1, the standardized message schema provides the user with a uniform presentation of plans when interacting with a plurality of domain name registrars.

4. The system of claim 1, the purchasing component characterizes at least one of a plan selection, renewal option, promotional call and a billing plan.

5. The system of claim 1, the mapping component supplies a pointer mechanism to a DNS provider that identifies an IP address for the user machine.

6. The system of claim 1, the machine and the domain name registrar communicate over the internet.

7. The system of claim 1, the machine of the user is at least one of a personal computer, work station, and an internet connection sharing device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a domain info component that provides a list of contacts to the domain name registrar.

9. The system of claim 8, the list of contacts comprise at least one of a technical contact, administrative contact and contact in case of host server failure.

10. A method that facilitates transfer or purchase of a domain name from a domain name registrar comprising:

automatically querying a domain name registrar for terms of service via a purchasing component of a standardized message schema that is exchanged between the domain name registrar and a user machine;

mapping the domain name to a DNS provider via a mapping component of the standardized message schema, the DNS provider to manage inbound traffic to the domain name.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a response by the user machine for plans offered by the domain name registrar.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising employing an XML as part of the standardized message schema.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a list of contacts to the domain name registrar via a domain name info component of the standardized message schema.

14. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 10.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending a mapping request to the domain name registrar by the user machine.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a mapping response by the user machine.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing hints to the domain name registrar to identify additional domain names.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying terms of the service agreement to the user in a uniform format.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving a user input for selection of an offered plan.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending a billing query to the domain name registrar.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising receiving a response to the billing query by the user machine.

22. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising:

a computer executable component that characterizes a service agreement of a domain name registrar, as part of a standardized message schema exchanged between the domain name registrar and a computer of an end user to purchase a domain name; and

a further computer executable component that maps the domain name to a designated DNS provider, to manage inbound traffic to the domain name.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the computer executable component further comprises a domain info component that provides a list of contacts to the domain name registrar.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the designated DNS associated with the domain name identifies an IP address of the computer.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, a received response by the computer is displayed to an end user via a uniform presentation such that the user enjoys a similar experience, regardless of which domain name registrar the user interacts with.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 the standardized messages employ an XML format.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further comprising an additional computer executable component that provides a list of contacts to the domain name registrar.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 22, the computer executable component provides for a transfer of the domain name.

29. A system that facilitates purchase of a domain name from a DNS provider comprising:

means for automatically characterizing a service agreement between a domain name registrar and an end user computer; and

means for mapping the domain name to a designated DNS provider.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising graphic interface means for providing a uniform experience regardless of which domain name registrar the user selects to interact with.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for providing a list of contacts to the domain name registrar.

32. A system that facilitates purchase of on-line services, comprising:

a trusted on-line registry that registers a plurality of service providers to supply services to clients; and

a client with a secure communication to the trusted on-line registry for selection of a service provider.

33. The system of claim 32, the client is automatically configured to receive requested services upon selection of the service provider.