Systems, apparatus and method for hosting and assigning domain names on a wide 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 forwards 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 comprising a provider subdomain and a content directory corresponding to the content label; and   providing the content address in response to the content request.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the content label is located in a wildcard portion of the requested address. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the determining the content address comprises:
 searching a database for a content address corresponding to the content label, the database comprising a plurality of additional labels each related to a corresponding content address;   retrieving content from a content storage system using the content address; and   serving the content in response to the content request.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 configuring a DNS database to direct the content request, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving the content for storage on a content storage system from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to register the content label; and   registering the content label in the database.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the receiving the request to register the content label further comprises:
 receiving a request to register the content label under the host name, wherein the host name is selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database.   
     
     
         47 . 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 comprising a provider subdomain and a content directory corresponding to the content label; and   providing the content address in response to the content request.   
     
     
         48 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 47 , wherein the content label is located in a wildcard portion of the requested address. 
     
     
         49 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 47 , wherein the determining the content address comprises:
 searching a database for a content address corresponding to the content label, the database comprising a plurality of additional labels each related to a corresponding content address;   retrieving content from a content storage system using the content address; and   serving the content in response to the content request.   
     
     
         50 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 48 , the operations further comprising:
 configuring a DNS database to direct the content request, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 47 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving the content for storage on a content storage system from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 47 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a request to register the content label; and   registering the content label in the database.   
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 52 , wherein the receiving the request to register the content label further comprises:
 receiving a request to register the content label under the host name, wherein the host name was selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database.   
     
     
         54 . 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 comprising a provider subdomain and a content directory corresponding to the content label, and 
 instructions to provide the content address in response to the content request; and 
   one or more processors configured to process the instructions.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the content label is located in a wildcard portion of the requested address. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the instructions to determine the content address comprise:
 instructions to search a database for a content address corresponding to the content label, the database comprising a plurality of additional labels each related to a corresponding content address,   instructions to retrieve content from a content storage system using the content address, and   instructions to serve the content in response to the content request.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , the instructions further comprising:
 instructions to configure a DNS database to direct the content request, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 54 , the instructions further comprising:
 instructions to receive the content for storage on a content storage system from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 54 , the instructions further comprising:
 instructions to receive a request to register the content label, and   instructions to register the content label in the database.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59 , wherein the instructions to receive the request to register the content label comprise:
 instructions to receive a request to register the content label under the host name, wherein the host name was selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database.   
     
     
         61 . A system comprising:
 a host computing device 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 comprising a provider subdomain and a content directory corresponding to the content label and to provide the content address in response to the content request.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the content label is located in a wildcard portion of the requested address. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the redirector is further configured to search a database for a content address corresponding to the content label, the database comprising a plurality of additional labels each related to a corresponding content address, to retrieve content from a content storage system using the content address, and to serve the content in response to the content request. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 a DNS database configured to direct the content request, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 a content storage system configured to receive the content for storage from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the host computing device is further configured to receive a request to register the content label and to register the content label in the database. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the host name was selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database.