Automated domain name registration

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the systems and methodologies of a domain name registration system and, more specifically, to an automated registration method incorporating real-time searches to determine the availability of a proposed domain name in multiple countries, and the ability to handle multinational registration requests, thereby allowing a user to register a domain name in multiple countries within a single web session.

[0002] The Internet is an increasingly international network of computers that supports various forms and levels of communication. For instance, on the World Wide Web (“WWW”), information can be presented on universally available pages commonly known as “Websites.” The Internet also supports one-on-one communication between end-users via electronic email and/or Internet bulletin board services. The common denominator in every form of communication over the Internet, however, is the use of Domain names to identify the computer to be contacted. The Domain name, which is referred to as an Internet protocol (“IP”) number, is actually a unique combination of numbers separated by decimal points.

[0003] Because IP numbers can be cumbersome and difficult for Internet users to remember or practically use, the IP numbering system has been overlaid with the more user-friendly domain name system. This system allows Internet addresses to be assigned an alphanumeric designation or domain name, which directly correlates to the assigned IP number. Special computers known as domain name servers maintain tables linking domain names to their respective IP numbers.

[0004] The anatomy domain name consists of more than two parts is FIG. 6, called domain levels, separated by a period (called a “dot”). The Top-Level-Domain level (“TLD”), which is referred to by its Internet zone designation, “.com,” or “.gov.,” “.uk,”, etc., is found to the right of the dot. TLDs which represent a specific country are referred to as Country-Code TLDs, or ccTLDs. The Second-Level-Domain (“SLD”) or Third Level Domain, which is commonly referred to as the “domain name,” consists of characters (including letters, numbers, and hyphens) located immediately to the left of the dot.

[0005] For the domain name address system to operate properly, each “domain name” within a particular TLD must be unique, even if it differs from another “domain name” by only one character. In order to prevent duplicate “domain names” from being assigned, a single entity, commonly referred to as a “Registry,” is ultimately responsible for maintaining a complete database of all of the “domain names” in each particular TLD. In the majority of generic (e.g., .com, .net, .org) domain name (“gTLD”) registrations, there is little or no human intervention in the registration process. A computerized database maintained by the registry electronically records the assigned relationship between the more easily remembered domain name and its corresponding IP number (received from an international entity tasked with assigning all IP numbers) and reports this information to the TLD registry for recordation in the master database of all “domain names”. The registrar also enters into a registration agreement (contract) with each registrant, and records and maintains vital registrant contact and billing information.

[0006] Due to the vital role domain names play in Internet communication, the easy, immediate, secure, and dependable registration and maintenance of domain names is necessary to the continued rapid growth of the Internet. Traditionally, these tasks have been undertaken by a single registrar in each TLD. The Internet, however, continues to grow at unprecedented rates. For example, in 1993, there were only about one million computers linked to the Internet. By 1999, the number of Internet users had exceeded 200 million as businesses and individuals adopted the Internet for various personal and commercial uses. This phenomenal increase in the number of users obviously led to an equally impressive increase in the number of “domain name” registrations. This increase, coupled with the probable advantages brought about by free competition and choice in the registration process, has fostered and promoted the idea of multiple registrars in a single TLD.

[0007] Many companies are also realizing the importance of registering their “domain names” and trademarks in every possible TLD, including not only the gTLDs, but also the 350 plus ccTLDs across the globe. However, with over 350 possible ccTLD, each with unique registration requirements and availabilities, the registration process can be quite cumbersome. As an example, most ccTLD registries have different data formats for the registration process; and certain ccTLD registries have limited payment formats such as only accepting payments in their own country's currency. Because each ccTLD registry can have different registration processes, a global registration of a single domain name can take months.

[0008] The existing system at www.idnames.com, allows a user to search and register their “domain name(s)” in multiple ccTLDs, however the searching is not done in real-time and much of the backend registration process must be done manually by people.

[0009] As shown if FIG. 1, a typical conventional system is connected to the Internet 1 via the registrar's web server 2. The web server 2 can include multiple servers running in parallel. As users input search requests, the web server 2 compiles a search request file 11, and after a predetermined amount of time or requests are counted, web server 2 forwards the search request file 11 to the second tier, or application server 3. A typical amount of time between transfers has been approximately 30 minutes. Application server 3 combines the search request files 11 into cumulated search request file 12 and executes the search requests in seriatum against the Domain Name System (“DNS”) 6. The system can also accept and process payment information through credit card data base 7, and maintain internal records of the searches and registrations in database 8. When a particular search has been completed, the user is notified, e.g., by email or mail, so that the user can then select from among the available ccTLDs and send the selections with payment back to the registrar. Registrar personnel then orchestrate the necessary forms and payments to register the user's proposed “domain name” with each of the chosen ccTLDs.

[0010] Examples of existing online registration facilities which allow registration of domain names with several different ccTLDs can be found on the Internet at places such as, www.alldomains.com, www.register.com, www.completedomains.com, and www.netnames.com.

[0011] Of these facilities, www.completedomains.com appears to offer online submissions of payment for seemingly automated registration, but utilizes dropdown menus which require the user to select in advance a single ccTLD to search. In addition, the dropdown menu only lists the ccTLD, not the country. With over 188 ccTLDs, most users cannot easily determine which countries the ccTLD represents (i.e., is .au Austria or Australia). www.alldomains.com also requires the user to individually search every ccTLD of interest and requires the user to know the ccTLD-country correlation.

[0012] www.netnames.com only allows a user to search and register domain names online in the gTLDs (i.e., .com, net, org) or the ccTLD of the hosting company's country (in that case, the UK). The rest of the ccTLDs must be purchased offline. Similarly, www.register.com limits the user to searching for three ccTLDs at a time.

[0013] One reason why existing ccTLD searching is limited to single or small numbers of ccTLDs at any given time, is to protect the web site and associated backbone system from an overload situation. Because of the large number of ccTLDs, if numerous users attempted to search numerous ccTLDs, the existing search mechanisms would quickly bog down. Thus, providers of this type of service have either provided only offline, non-real-time searching, or limited the number of ccTLDs that can be searched at any given time to small numbers, to prevent users from inadvertently overloading their systems.

[0014] None of the existing web sites offer a complete online package that allows a user to automatically search and register available domain names in a large number of ccTLDs (e.g., 10 or more) from different countries.

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a highly automated online system and method for permitting users to find and register available domain names in more than 10 different ccTLDs.

[0016] It is also an object of the invention to provide real-time searching of over 100 different ccTLD for each user in a few minutes or less.

[0017] It is another object of the invention to provide a real-time searching mechanism for multiple ccTLDs that is scalable.

[0018] It is also an object of the invention to provide an online environment which allows the user to select the available ccTLDs from a list of available ccTLDs, and purchase the desired ccTLDs online.

[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide a system which formats a user's information in the appropriate manner for each selected ccTLD and automatically performs the necessary transactions to register each ccTLD.

[0020] As the international leader in the development of domain name registry and registrar procedures, protocol, and infrastructure, Network Solutions, Inc., through the named inventors, has developed a highly automated system and method to accomplish the above and other goals. The system permits users to find and register available domain names in over 100 different ccTLD options. This system provides real-time searching of large numbers (e.g., 10-hundreds) of ccTLDs for each user. The real-time nature of the searches allows completion of a search of approximately 100 registration options in less than a few minutes, and in a preferred embodiment, in less than 30 seconds. Thus, the entire search is completed in real-time, i.e., within a reasonable online website session. After the search, the user can simply select the available ccTLDs from the resultant list, and purchase the desired ccTLDs online. The system formats the user's information in the appropriate manner for each selected ccTLD and performs the necessary electronic transactions to register each ccTLD.

[0027] Aspects of the present invention, as depicted in FIGS. 2–5, provide an automated method for searching, selecting, and registering domain names with different ccTLDs.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a flowchart outlining the method of online registration according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the system accepts an inputted proposed “domain name” from a user via a website (s100). The system then searches for the proposed “domain name” (s101) in numerous (e.g., >=10) ccTLDs from different countries to determine if the proposed “domain name” is available in each of the ccTLDs. During the search process (s101), the system creates and updates a list of available ccTLDs based on the search results as the results are obtained (s102). The website can refresh its reading of the list to display the available ccTLDs for the proposed SLD, during the search.

[0029] When the search has completed, the system allows the user to select/deselect the available ccTLDs for registration from the website (s103). The system then accepts the user's inputted personal data, an indication of the ccTLDs that the user has selected for registration of the second/third level “domain name”, and payment information (s104). This information can be taken at any time during the process, but in this embodiment, the information is taken after the search so that the user can perform trial searches without feeling obligated or burdened. Using this information, the system generates registration templates for the registration of the selected ccTLDs. The registration templates are formatted based on the requirements of the appropriate ccTLD registries corresponding to the ccTLDs (s105). The templates are then forwarded to the appropriate registry for each selected ccTLD (s106).

[0030] Depending on the country, the processing at the registry could be manual or automated. However, that aspect is hidden from the user, as the present invention automates the process at least up to the point where the information is sent to the registry of the various countries. Notification of the user that a registration is complete can be done in any number of ways, including email from the system according to the present invention, or email directly from the individual ccTLD registry.

[0031] FIG. 3 depicts an overview of a system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, a user connects to the registrar's web server 32 via the internet 1. Application server 33 is programmed to maintain a pool of request threads for managing the requests and transferring information regarding the requests between web server 32 and application server 33. Web server 32 inputs the user's search request information and obtains a request thread 34 from application server 33. If the user inputs more than one “domain name” to be searched, the system will allocate additional request threads 34 as needed. Web server 32 then returns the request thread 34 containing search information such as the “domain name” and the ccTLDs to be searched (default can be all ccTLDs), to application server 33.

[0032] Application server 33 is programmed to break down the search request into batches of for example, 10–20 ccTLDs each. Each batch is assigned to a search thread 30, which in the preferred embodiment, are defined as objects in an object-oriented data model (using e.g., Java, C++, etc . . . ) so that they operate ‘independently’ of each other. Each search thread 30 searches a small number of ccTLDs (e.g., 10–20) on the DNS 6, so that a single thread does not bog down the system. Each search thread 30 sends the results of its search to results list 31, which web server 32 frequently rereads to update the user on the search progress. When a search thread 30 is done it waits in search thread pool 35 for the next search request or the next group of ccTLDs in the same search request.

[0033] Search thread pool 35 provides a robust, real-time search mechanism, because it allows the reuse of objects in an object oriented data model. The search threads 30 are kept ‘alive’ in thread pool 35, but enter a ‘sleep’ or inactive mode. This reduces time because the search threads 30 do not need to be recreated for each search.

[0034] The number of search threads 30 in pool 35 can be controlled. The number can be a limited number of search threads 30 based on system capabilities to help avoid overloading the system. In addition, the number of search threads 30 is dynamic and can be optimized by a system administrator (manually or automatically) to better serve the search requests.

[0035] The search thread pool 35 thus provides a scalable search mechanism. Since DNS 6 can be multiprocessor-based, and the search threads 30 can operate independently of each other, the search threads 30 can be carried out at the same time in parallel on different processors to speed up the overall search. And as demands increase, the search mechanism can be scaled along with the DNS 6, e.g., as more CPUs are added to the DNS 6, more search threads 30 can be allocated to the search thread pool 35.

[0036] FIG. 4 is conceptual illustration of a sample registration template 40 for use with a particular ccTLD. As shown therein, the template 40 includes user or registrant information 41 such as name, address, etc., the proposed “domain name” 42 and ccTLD 43, and payment information 44 according to the particular ccTLD.

[0037] FIG. 5 is an example of a screen 50 seen by a user during a search, according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown therein, the embodiment provides the user with the status 51 of the number of ccTLDs searched during the search. The system can also provide the user with a growing list 52 of search results. The search results in this embodiment are displayed with an indication of the country 53 corresponding to each ccTLD, along with an indication of the availability 54 of the ccTLD.

[0038] Another important aspect of the invention is the ability to automate the process of setting up the appropriate DNS Zone Files to support the submission of a domain name template to the appropriate ccTLD registry, (S107) in FIG. 2. To successfully process a submitted domain name template, many ccTLD registry's require that DNS Zone Files (DNS Zone Files contain the Primary and Secondary DNS server name and IP address) be set-up PRIOR to the acceptance of a domain name registration template.

[0039] There are two options provided to an end-user of the invention to set-up DNS Zone Files. Option A is the an Easy Set-Up option that will allow the user to elect that Network Solutions automatically set-up and host the necessary DNS Zone Files to support the domain name registration templates sent to all selected ccTLD registry's; the Primary and Secondary DNS information required is provided by NSI and displayed for the end-user in data entry fields that are shaded to indicate that the end-user is not required to input information in those fields. Option B is an Expert Set-Up option that allows the user to select the option and then enter the Primary and Secondary Name Server and IP Address they elect to use to support their requested domain name registrations.

[0040] If an end-user elects to choose Option B (Expert Set-Up) and enter the appropriate information, the invention will perform a DNS validity check to ensure that the DNS Zone Files are set-up in a manner that will resolve the requested domain name in the requested ccTLD properly to the Primary and Secondary DNS Server IP addresses. If the DNS information provided by the end-user is not set-up properly to allow Primary and Secondary IP address resolution a message will be returned to the user to identify the error. Additional information will be provided to the end-user to assist him/her in properly setting-up the necessary DNS Zone Files PRIOR to continuing in the automated ccTLD registration process.

[0041] Other modifications and variations to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure and teachings. Thus, while only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, parts of the present invention are preferably implemented using an object-oriented language such as the JAVA or C++ language, but is certainly not limited to either of these languages. Rather, the present invention includes any language that can practice the invention as outlined in the appended claims. In addition, the number, arrangement, and connectivity of the relevant computers including servers, databases, and network equipment, can be modified in many configurations and still practice the invention as claimed. Also, while the above registration process had been described as occurring within a single website session, the present invention contemplates providing a ‘park and return’ option so that the user can take a break from the session and return later without having to redo the entire session. Finally, while the above description refers to foreign registration entities as registries, it is within the scope of the invention to forward information to intermediaries which subsequently forward information to the appropriate registries, or to some other entity which performs the final registration of the domain name.