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 forwards the domain to the user computer.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a host computing device, upload content and a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to the host computing device, and 
 a content label in a wildcard portion of the requested address; 
   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; and   storing the upload content to a content storage system at the content address.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 configuring a DNS database to direct the upload content, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving the upload content from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to register the content label; and   registering the content label in the database.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 allocating reserved space in the content storage system; and   associating the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 comparing the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein 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.   
     
     
         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 upload content and a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to a host computing device, and 
 a content label in a wildcard portion of the requested address; 
   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; and   storing the upload content to a content storage system at the content address.   
     
     
         48 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 47 , the operations further comprising:
 configuring a DNS database to direct the upload content, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         49 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 47 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving the upload content from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         50 . 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.   
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , the operations further comprising:
 allocating reserved space in the content storage system; and   associating the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label.   
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , the operations further comprising:
 comparing the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique.   
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 50 , wherein 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 upload content and a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to a host computing device, and 
 a content label in a wildcard portion of the requested address, 
 
 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, and 
 instructions to store the upload content to a content storage system at the content address; and 
   one or more processors configured to process the instructions.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 instructions to configure a DNS database to direct the upload content, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 instructions to receive the upload content from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 instructions to receive a request to register the content label, and   instructions to register the content label in the database.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 instructions to allocate reserved space in the content storage system, and   instructions to associate the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label.   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 instructions to compare the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 57 , 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 upload content and a requested address, wherein the requested address comprises:
 a host name corresponding to the host computing device, and 
 a content label in a wildcard portion of the requested address; 
   a database comprising a plurality of additional labels each related to a corresponding content address, wherein the host computing device is further configured to search the database for a content address corresponding to the content label; and   a content storage system configured to store the upload content at the content address.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 a DNS database configured to direct the upload content, irrespective of the content label in the wildcard portion of the requested address, to the host computing device.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the content storage system is further configured to receive the upload content from a device authenticated with the content label. 
     
     
         64 . 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. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the host computing device is further configured to allocate reserved space in the content storage system and to associate the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the host computing device is further configured to compare the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the host name was selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database. 
     
     
         68 . 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 in a wildcard portion of the requested address; 
   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.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , 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.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising:
 receiving the content for storage on the content storage system from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to register the content label; and   registering the content label in the database.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising:
 allocating reserved space in the content storage system; and   associating the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising:
 comparing the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising:
 auctioning the content label for bids from one or more bidders.   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein 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.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein receiving the request to register the content label further comprises:
 receiving a request to register the content label comprising a first name level and a second name level.   
     
     
         77 . 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 in a wildcard portion of the requested address; 
   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.   
     
     
         78 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 77 , 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.   
     
     
         79 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 77 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving the content for storage on the content storage system from a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         80 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 77 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a request to register the content label; and   registering the content label in the database.   
     
     
         81 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 80 , the operations further comprising:
 allocating reserved space in the content storage system; and   associating the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label.   
     
     
         82 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 80 , the operations further comprising:
 comparing the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique.   
     
     
         83 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 80 , the operations further comprising:
 auctioning the content label for bids from one or more bidders.   
     
     
         84 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 80 , wherein 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.   
     
     
         85 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 80 , wherein receiving the request to register the content label further comprises:
 receiving a request to register the content label comprising a first name level and a second name level.   
     
     
         86 . 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 in a wildcard portion of the requested address, 
 
 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; and 
   one or more processors configured to process the instructions.   
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 86 , 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.   
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 instructions to receive the content for storage on the content storage system from   a device authenticated with the content label.   
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 instructions to receive a request to register the content label, and   instructions to register the content label in the database.   
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 instructions to allocate reserved space in the content storage system, and   instructions to associate the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label.   
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 instructions to compare the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique.   
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 instructions to auction the content label for bids from one or more bidders.   
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the host name was selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the request to register the content label comprises a first name level and a second name level. 
     
     
         95 . 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 in a wildcard portion of the requested address; 
   a database comprising a plurality of additional labels each related to a corresponding content address, wherein the host computing device is further configured to search the database for a content address corresponding to the content label; and   a content storage system, wherein the host computing device is further configured to retrieve content from the content storage system using the content address and to serve the content in response to the content request.   
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95 , 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.   
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the content storage system is further configured to receive the content for storage from a device authenticated with the content label. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 95 , 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. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the host computing device is further configured to allocate reserved space in the content storage system and to associate the reserved space in the content storage system with the content label. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the host computing device is further configured to compare the content label to the plurality of additional labels to confirm that the content label is unique. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the host computing device is further configured to auction the content label for bids from one or more bidders. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the host name was selected from a list of available host names configured in a DNS database. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the request to register the content label comprises a first name level and a second name level.