Dynamic IP address update

• US 20060168164A1
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Kevin M., Lemson, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention provides for a configuration tool that during configuration of a message server assists a user in registering, transferring, maintaining a domain name and/or automatically configuring a message system in accordance therewith. The configuration tool guides the user through a series of inquiries, and based on the user input utilizes a list of registrars for registering a new domain name, configuring the system in accordance with an existing domain name, or transferring an existing domain name to a registrar within the list. The system then automatically configures the messaging server and other systems accordingly. Further, the system is configured to update a DNS for dynamic IP addresses corresponding to a domain name by periodically having the server send connection request to itself. This identifies when IP addresses associated with the domain name have changed, and thus the server may initiate the update of the DNS records.

Claims

1. In a messaging system, a method of efficiently maintaining a domain name server record for a domain name with a dynamic IP address by utilizing the domain name'"'"'s message server in periodically determining when an IP address has changed, the method including acts of:

identifying a domain name corresponding to a message server;

sending a connection request addressed to the domain name;

after a predetermined time without receiving the connection request at the message server, determining that an IP address corresponding to the domain name has changed;

determining a new IP address corresponding to the domain name;

sending the new IP address to a server for updating one or more DNS records that map the domain name to an IP address such that messages are appropriately routed to the message server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the process is automatically programmed during setup.

3. The method of claim 1, the new IP address is first sent to a registrar, which routes the IP address to the domain name server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a call is made to the registrar'"'"'s update process for sending the new IP address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a password is used to authenticate the message server to the domain name service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an “

A”

record is updated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message server is one of a web server or mail server.

8. In a messaging system, a computer program product for implementing a method of efficiently maintaining a domain name server record for a domain name with a dynamic IP address by utilizing the domain name'"'"'s message server in periodically determining when an IP address has changed, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, can cause the messaging system to perform the following:

identify a domain name corresponding to a message server;

send a connection request addressed to the domain name;

after a predetermined time without receiving the connection request at the message server, determine that an IP address corresponding to the domain name has changed;

determine a new IP address corresponding to the domain name;

send the new IP address to a server for updating one or more DNS records that map the domain name to an IP address such that messages are appropriately routed to the message server.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the process is automatically programmed during setup.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, the new IP address is first sent to a registrar, which routes the IP address to the domain name server.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a call is made to the registrar'"'"'s update process for sending the new IP address.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein a password is used to authenticate the message server to the domain name service.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein an “

A”

record is updated.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the message server is one of a web server or mail server.