Internet domain name acquisition pending deletion

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention integrates a domain name monitoring and acquisition service with a registry system. The monitoring and acquisition service can receive a request from a registrar to acquire a domain name. The monitoring and acquisition service also can receive a pending delete notification from the registry for a domain name having a registration that is about to be deleted. The pending delete notification can be received before the registry issues a public delete notification or purges the domain name, at which point the domain name is registrable by the first-responding registrar. If the domain name that is the subject of the pending delete notification has a corresponding acquisition request received by the monitoring and acquisition service, the monitoring and acquisition service can request acquisition of the domain name for the requesting registrar.

1 . A method of internet domain name acquisition comprising: 
 receiving a request for a new registration of a domain name that is currently registered;    storing the request in a database;    receiving a pending delete notification for a currently registered domain name identified in the pending delete notification, from a registry system where the identified domain name is currently registered; the pending delete notification being received before the registry system purges the identified registration;    responsive to said receiving the pending delete notification, searching the database for a new registration request that matches the domain name identified in the pending delete notification; and    if a new registration request is found in the database for a domain name that matches the domain name identified in the pending delete notification, registering the domain name before the registry system purges the domain name.