Resolving host name data

• US 7,284,056 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ramig, Randal J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Chirag R
• Application Number:
  US10/074,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/246, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming

Abstract

Host name data is “looped-back” from a native host name resolver included in a requesting computer system to a name resolution port that is also included in the requesting computer system. A replacement host name resolver monitors the name resolution port for host name data that is incompatible with name resolution techniques utilized by a network. The replacement host name resolver modifies the otherwise incompatible host name data for compatibility with name resolution techniques utilized by the network. Modifying host name data may include changing a transmission protocol associated with the host name data or formatting non-secure host name data for resolution with secure host name resolution techniques. The replacement host name resolver redirects compatible host name data to a module that may cause the host name data to be resolved into a network address. The network address may be provided to the native host name resolver.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a requesting computer system that is network connectable to a network, the requesting computer system including a native host name resolver that is not capable of resolving a host name when the requesting computer system is connected to the network due to advances in or proprietary name resolution techniques, the method being for resolving a host name using a replacement resolver so as to extend the functionality of the computer system, extending the useful life of the computer system by allowing the computer system to be used on networks that it was not originally intended to be used with, the method comprising the following:

an act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system, wherein the requesting computer system is a single physical device docked to a resolving computer system;

an act of at a native host name resolver of the requesting computer system requesting resolution of a host name by sending host name data in a first protocol to the requesting computer system by sending the host name data to the name server assigned for the requesting computer system, the host name data being compatible for resolution of the host name by a DNS server, the first protocol being a native protocol of the requesting computer system that is incompatible for resolving host name data over a communication link connecting the requesting computer system to the network;

an act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol from the requesting computer system;

an act of rerouting the host name data in the first protocol to a replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system;

an act of sending the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system using a second protocol to a module at the resolving computer system for resolving the host name data, wherein the second protocol is compatible for resolving host name data over the communication link connecting the requesting computer system to the network; and

an act of receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data, wherein the resolving computer system forwards the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system to a name server, and wherein receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data comprises receiving the resolved address directly from the name server bypassing the resolving computer system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system comprises the following:

an act of utilizing a loop-back address to assign the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the act of utilizing a loop-back address to assign the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system comprises the following:

an act of utilizing a defined IP loop-back address to assign the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system comprises the following:

an act of assigning the requesting computer system as the primary name server for the requesting computer system.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system comprises the following:

an act of assigning the requesting computer system as a DNS server for the requesting computer system.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol comprises the following:

an act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system that is associated with an IP network.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system that is associated with an IP network comprises the following:

an act of monitoring port 53 of the requesting computer system.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in a host name resolution protocol comprises the following:

an act of monitoring a name resolution port for receiving host name data in a host name resolution protocol that is compatible with an IP network.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the act of monitoring a name resolution port for receiving the host name data in a host name resolution protocol that is compatible with an IP network comprises the following:

act of monitoring a name resolution port for host name data contained in one or more UDP packets.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol comprises the following:

an act of a replacement host name resolver monitoring a name resolution port for receiving host name data sent from a native host name resolver.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol comprises the following:

an act of a resolving computer system monitoring a name resolution port for receiving host name data sent from a native host name resolver.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first protocol is UDP and the second protocol is TCP.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first protocol is DNS and the second protocol is secure DNS.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system using a second protocol to a module for resolving the host name data comprises the following:

an act of the replacement host name resolver sending the host name data to a module that was identified by entering one or more parameters in a user interface.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an act of providing the requesting computer system with a network address by resolving the host name data that was sent to the module.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the act of providing the requesting computer system with a network address by resolving the host name data that was sent to the module comprises the following:

providing the requesting computer system with a numerical IP address by resolving a domain name that was sent to the module.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the requesting computer system is docked to the resolving computer system through a serial connection, wherein the resolving computer system ignores UDP, but does support TCP/IP.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the requesting system is a mobile device removably docked to the resolving computer system.

17. In a requesting computer system that is network connectable to a network, the requesting computer system including a native host name resolver that is not capable of resolving a host name when the requesting computer system is connected to the network due to advances in or proprietary name resolution techniques, a method for resolving a host name using a replacement resolver so as to extend the functionality of the computer system, extending the useful life of the computer system by allowing the computer system to be used on networks that it was not originally intended to be used with, the method comprising the following:

an act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system, wherein the requesting computer system is a single physical device docked to a resolving computer system;

an act of at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system requesting resolution of a host name by sending host name data in a first protocol to the name server assigned for the requesting computer system, the host name data being compatible for resolution of the host name by a DNS server, the first protocol being a native protocol of the requesting computer system that is incompatible for resolving host name data over a communications link connecting the requesting computer system to the network;

a step for resolving host name data that originated at the requesting computer system so as to locate a network address for a host system represented by the host name data by using a second protocol that is compatible for resolving host name data over a communications link connecting the requesting computer system to the network through the resolving computer system; and

an act of receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data, wherein the resolving computer system forwards the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system to a name server, and wherein receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data comprises receiving the resolved address directly from the name server bypassing the resolving computer system.

18. A computer program product for use in a requesting computer system that is network connectable to a network, the requesting computer system including a native host name resolver that is not capable of resolving a host name when the requesting computer system is connected to the network due to advances in or proprietary name resolution techniques, the computer program product for implementing a method for resolving a host name using a replacement resolver so as to extend the functionality of the computer system, extending the useful life of the computer system by allowing the computer system to be used on networks that it was not originally intended to be used with, the computer program product comprising the following:

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the requesting computer system, wherein the requesting computer system is a single physical device docked to a resolving computer system, cause the requesting computer system to perform the method, including;

assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system, wherein assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system comprises a native host name resolver of the requesting computer system listing the requesting computer system as the only server available for resolving host names;

at a native host name resolver of the requesting computer system requesting resolution of a host name by sending host name data in a first protocol to the name server assigned for the requesting computer system, the host name data being compatible for resolution of the host name by a DNS server, the first protocol being a native protocol of the requesting computer system that is incompatible for resolving host name data over a communications link connecting the requesting computer system to the network;

monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol from the requesting computer system;

rerouting the host name data in the first protocol to a replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system;

sending the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system using a second protocol to a module at the resolving computer system for resolving the host name data, wherein the second protocol is compatible for resolving host name data over a communications link connecting the requesting computer system to the network; and

receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data, wherein the resolving computer system forwards the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system to a name server, and wherein receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data comprises receiving the resolved address directly from the name server bypassing the resolving computer system.

19. The computer program product as recited claim 18, wherein the one or more computer-readable media include system memory.

21. A requesting computer system that is network connectable to a network, the requesting computer system including a native host name resolver that is not capable of resolving a host name when the requesting computer system is connected to the network due to advances in or proprietary name resolution techniques, the requesting computer system being configured to resolve a host name using a replacement resolver so as to extend the functionality of the computer system, extending the useful life of the computer system by allowing the computer system to be used on networks that it was not originally intended to be used with, the system comprising the following:

a processor;

one or more program modules stored on one or more computer-readable storage media, wherein the one or more program modules, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the requesting computer system to perform a method comprising;

an act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system, wherein the requesting computer system is a single physical device docked to a resolving computer system;

an act of a native host name resolver of the requesting computer system requesting resolution of a host name by sending host name data in a first protocol to the requesting computer system by sending the host name data to the name server assigned for the requesting computer system, the host name data being compatible for resolution of the host name by a DNS server, the first protocol being a native protocol of the requesting computer system that is incompatible for resolving host name data over a communication link connecting the requesting computer system to the network;

an act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol from the requesting computer system;

an act of rerouting the host name data in the first protocol to a replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system;

an act of sending the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system using a second protocol to a module at the resolving computer system for resolving the host name data, wherein the second protocol is compatible for resolving host name data over the communication link connecting the requesting computer system to the network; and

an act of receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data, wherein the resolving computer system forwards the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system to a name server, and wherein receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data comprises receiving the resolved address directly from the name server bypassing the resolving computer system.

23. A method for resolving a host name when a native host name resolver is unable to communicate with a resolving computer system inasmuch as the host name resolver formats address requests according to a protocol not supported by the resolving computer system, the method comprising the following:

at a requesting computer system that comprises a native host name resolver, a name resolution port and a replacement host name resolver, wherein the requesting computer system is communicatively coupled to a resolving computer system;

an act of the native host name resolver maintaining a list of name servers which can be contacted to resolve a host name, wherein an address of the requesting computer system is the only address in the list of name servers;

an act of the requesting computer system receiving host name data to be resolved into a domain address;

an act of the native host name resolver sending the host name data in an address request to the name resolution port, the address request being sent according to a first protocol;

an act of the replacement host name resolver monitoring the address request to the name resolution port;

an act of re-routing the address request to the replacement host name resolver, and such that the address request according to the first protocol are sent by the native host name resolver and received by the replacement host name resolver without the address request entering a network associated with the requesting computer system;

an act of determining that the resolving computer system does not support address requests in the first protocol;

an act of the replacement host name resolver reformatting the address request to include the host name data in an address request according to a second protocol which is supported by the requesting computer system; and

an act of the requesting computer system receiving a network address corresponding to the host name data in the address request sent according to the second protocol, wherein the resolving computer system forwards the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system to a name server, and wherein receiving a network address corresponding to the host name data in the address request sent according to the second protocol comprises receiving the resolved address directly from the name server bypassing the resolving computer system.