Method and system for internationalizing domain names

• US 20070239865A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDN Technologies LLC (General Patent Corporation)
• Original Assignee: IDN Technologies LLC (General Patent Corporation)
• Inventors: Tout, Walid
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/32 containing non-Latin characters, e.g. Chinese domain names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

A method and system for internationalizing domain names is provided which allows domain names to be in any language without having to modify the existing Internet domain name servers. When a domain name includes non-English characters, a domain name transformer intercepts the domain name prior to reaching the resolver. The domain name is converted to a standard format which can represent all language character sets, such as UNICODE. The INICODE string is then transformed to be in a compliant format. Redirector information is then appended to the compliant string which identifies the delegation of authoritative root servers and/or domain name servers responsible for the domain name. The compliant domain string is then resolved by the authoritative domain name server just as any English domain name.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an international domain name, the international domain name having a format that is noncompliant with a name resolver format;

translating a system character code representation of the international domain name to a generalized representation of the international domain name;

applying a restricted mapping to the generalized representation of the international domain name to create a compliant domain name;

identifying a root server from the generalized representation of the international domain name;

appending redirector information associated with the root server to the compliant domain name to create a fully-qualified domain name (FQDN); and

passing the FQDN to a name resolver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the language in which the international domain name was received.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the root server comprises selecting a root server from a plurality of root servers, the selected root server being assigned to the identified language.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generalized representation is a UNICODE representation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the root server is associated with at least one of a language and a non-ASCII character set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the root server is selected from a group of root servers associated with a range of generalized representations of international domain names.

7. The method of claim 6, where the group of root servers is associated with a range of UNICODE representations of international domain names.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of applying a restricted mapping and identifying a root server is performed using a Unified Domain Mapper (UDM).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of translating, applying, identifying and appending are performed transparently to an end user.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an international domain name, the international domain name having a format that is noncompliant with a name resolver format;

translating a system character code representation of the international domain name to a generalized representation of the international domain name;

applying a restricted mapping to the generalized representation of the international domain name to create a compliant domain name;

identifying a root server from the generalized representation of the international domain name;

appending redirector information associated with the root server to the compliant domain name to create a fully-qualified domain name (FQDN); and

passing the FQDN to a name resolver.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, the method further comprising identifying the language in which the international domain name was received.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the root server comprises selecting a root server from a plurality of root servers, the selected root server being assigned to the identified language.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the generalized representation is a UNICODE representation.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the root server is associated with at least one of a language and a non-ASCII character set.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the root server is selected from a group of root servers associated with a range of generalized representations of international domain names.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, where the group of root servers is associated with a range of UNICODE representations of international domain names.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein at least one of applying a restricted mapping and identifying a root server is performed using a Unified Domain Mapper (UDM).

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the steps of translating, applying, identifying and appending are performed transparently to an end user.