Systems, Apparatus and Method for Hosting and Assigning Domain Names on a Wide Area Network

Abstract

Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a domain management system, apparatus and method for hosting and assigning domain names. Embodiments of the domain management system comprise a name assignment system and a hosting system, wherein the hosting system comprises a domain retrieval system and a data storage apparatus. The name assignment system verifies availability and assigns domain names to requesting clients. The name assignment system comprises an input component, a confirmation mechanism and a name storage means. Preferred embodiments of the domain retrieval system comprise a scheduler, a parsing member having a plurality of redirectors and a plurality of servers. The domain retrieval system locates the domain referenced by the domain name by parsing header information and utilizing a wildcard DNS. Once the domain is located, the domain retrieval system for the domain to the user computer.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a host computing device, a content request comprising a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to the host computing device, and 
 a content label; 
   determining a content address corresponding to the content label, wherein the content address provides a location of corresponding content; and   providing a directive to retrieve the corresponding content from the content address in response to the content request.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the content label is a subdomain of a domain name system, the requested address further comprising at least one higher-level domain name. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 configuring a zone file of a domain name server to provide an address of the host computing device based on the requested address.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 configuring the zone file to provide a different address based on an additional requested address.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the content request is made in an HTTP request. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving a redirected content request comprising the content address; and   responding to the redirected content request by serving the corresponding content located at the content address.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the directive is provided in a computer language statement in a computer language document. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the document is configured to specify a layout including the corresponding content from the content address. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein determining the content address corresponding to the content label comprises using a redirector to determine the content address corresponding to the content label. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein receiving, by the host computing device, the content request comprises receiving the content request by a scheduler of the host computing device, the scheduler configured to select a redirector from a set of redirectors to handle the determining and providing the content address. 
     
     
         50 . A computer-readable storage device having computer program logic recorded thereon, execution of which, by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a content request comprising a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to a host computing device, and 
 a content label; 
   determining a content address corresponding to the content label, wherein the content address provides a location of corresponding content; and   providing a directive to retrieve the corresponding content from the content address in response to the content request.   
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , wherein the content label is a subdomain of a domain name system, the requested address further comprising at least one higher-level domain name. 
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , the operations further comprising:
 configuring a zone file of a domain name server to provide an address of the host computing device based on the requested address.   
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 52 , the operations further comprising:
 configuring the zone file to provide a different address based on an additional requested address.   
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , wherein the content request is made in an HTTP request. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a redirected content request comprising the content address; and   responding to the redirected content request by serving the corresponding content located at the content address.   
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , wherein the directive is provided in a computer language statement in a computer language document. 
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 56 , wherein the document is configured to specify a layout including the corresponding content from the content address. 
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , wherein determining the content address corresponding to the content label comprises using a redirector to determine the content address corresponding to the content label. 
     
     
         59 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , wherein receiving the content request comprises receiving the content request by a scheduler, the scheduler configured to select a redirector from a set of redirectors to handle the determining and providing the content address. 
     
     
         60 . A system comprising:
 a memory configured to store instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive a content request comprising a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to a host computing device, and 
 a content label, 
 
 instructions to determine a content address corresponding to the content label, wherein the content address provides a location of corresponding content, and 
 instructions to provide a directive to retrieve the corresponding content from the content address in response to the content request; and 
   one or more processors configured to process the instructions.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the content label is a subdomain of a domain name system, the requested address further comprising at least one higher level domain name. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 instructions to configure a zone file of a domain name server to provide an address of the host computing device based on the requested address.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 instructions to configure the zone file to provide a different address based on an additional requested address.   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the content request is made in an HTTP request. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 instructions to receive a redirected content request comprising the content address; and   instructions to respond to the redirected content request by serving the corresponding content located at the content address.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the directive is provided in a computer language statement in a computer language document. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the document is configured to specify a layout including the corresponding content from the content address. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein determining the content address corresponding to the content label comprises using a redirector to determine the content address corresponding to the content label. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein receiving, by the host computing device, the content request comprises receiving the content request by a scheduler of the host computing device, the scheduler configured to select a redirector from a set of redirectors to handle the determining and providing the content address. 
     
     
         70 . A system comprising:
 a host computing device comprising a scheduler, the scheduler configured to receive a content request comprising a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to the host computing device, and 
 a content label; and 
   a redirector configured to determine a content address corresponding to the content label, wherein the content address provides a location of corresponding content, and to provide a directive to retrieve the corresponding content from the content address in response to the content request.   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the content label is a subdomain of a domain name system, the requested address further comprising at least one higher-level domain name. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising:
 a domain name server comprising a zone file, the zone file configured to provide an address of the host computing device based on the requested address.   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the zone file is further configured to provide a different address based on an additional requested address. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the scheduler is configured to receive the content request in an HTTP request. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising:
 a content storage device configured to receive a redirected content request comprising the content address and to respond to the redirected content request by serving the corresponding content located at the content address.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the directive is provided in a computer language statement in a computer language document. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 76 , wherein the document is configured to specify a layout including the corresponding content from the content address. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the scheduler is configured to select the redirector from a set of redirectors to handle the determining and providing the content address.