Method for provision of an address in a data network

Abstract

A method for provision of an address of an online computer which is connected to a data network for at least one receiving computer, in particular, a method for the provision of an address, particularly to a temporary IP address. The online computer carries out transmission of a first data set comprising the identification of at least one server structure globally accessible over the data network to the receiving computer, the server structure being selected from a plurality of available server structures. A second data set is transmitted which identifies at least one codeword to the receiving computer. The address of the online computer is stored together with the codeword on the identified server structure.

1 . A method for provision of an address of an online computer which is connected to a data network, for at least one receiving computer; wherein the method performed by the online computer comprises:
 transmitting a first data set comprising the identification of at least one server structure globally accessible over the data network, to the receiving computer, the server structure being selected from a plurality of available server structures;   transmitting a second data set which identifies at least one codeword, to the receiving computer; and   storing said address of the online computer together with said identified codeword on the identified server structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the receiving computer sending a query to the server structure, wherein said query contains the codeword.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the server structure sending back, as a response, the address of the online computer.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the server structure forwarding the response to the online computer, and the online computer sending back to the receiving computer, as a response, the address of said online computer.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data network is the Internet, and the address is an IP address. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data network is the Internet, and the address is an address unambiguously associated with an IP address. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , the method further comprising:
 the receiving computer determining the IP address of the online computer via a query which contains the associated address.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of a server structure globally accessible over the data network is the name of an IRC network. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a query sent by the receiving computer is a WHOIS command sent to the IRC server structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning a time-limited validity to the identification of a server structure globally accessible over the data network.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the first data set comprises a plurality of identifications of server structures globally accessible over the data network, which identifications have time-limited validity, the durations of such validities covering different time intervals. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning a time-limited validity to the codeword.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the second data set identifies a plurality of codewords having time-limited validity, the durations of such validities covering different time intervals. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identified codeword is computed by a defined algorithm with at least one variable; and
 wherein the second data set has at least one value for the at least one variable for computing the identified codeword.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the variable has a time-limited validity. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the second data set has a plurality of variables which have time-limited validity, the durations of such validities covering different time intervals. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the algorithm for computing the identified codeword employs time-dependent information. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identified codeword is a nickname for logging on to an IRC network. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the receiving computer to the online computer the following:   third data set, with the identification of one of the servers globally accessible over the data network, the server structure being selected from the plurality of available server structures;   fourth data set, identifying a second at least one codeword;   the receiving computer storing on the server structure the address assigned to said receiving computer, together with the second identified codeword.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to the initial transmission of the first and second data sets, providing a request is to a user of the online computer to input an entry indicating approval and acknowledgment of such transmission via an input device connected to the online computer..   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the approving and acknowledging input is a command to send an electronic mail (email) message, with the first and second data sets, wherein said email message is sent to a specified address. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , the method further comprising:
 after the online computer has received the aforesaid email message containing the first and second data sets, said online computer displaying an identity of a sender of the message on a display device connected to the online computer,   displaying a prompt on said display device, requesting that the user of the online computer input an acknowledgment by means of an input device connected to the online computer, and   sending the first and second data set back only if such an acknowledgment is input.   
     
     
         23 . A computer readable memory medium embodying program instructions for providing an address of an online computer wherein the program instructions are configured to perform a method comprising:
 transmitting a first data set comprising the identification of at least one server structure globally accessible over a data network, to a receiving computer, the server structure being selected from a plurality of available server structures;   transmitting a second data set which identifies at least one codeword, to the receiving computer; and   storing an address of an online computer together with the identified codeword on the identified server structure;   wherein the program instructions are executable to provide the address of the online computer, which is connected to the data network, to the receiving computer.