Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
  • G06F15/16—Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L61/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
  • H04L61/45—Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
  • H04L61/4505—Network directories; Name-to-address mapping using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols
  • H04L61/4511—Network directories; Name-to-address mapping using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols using domain name system [DNS]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L61/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
  • H04L61/45—Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
  • H04L61/4552—Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Definitions

• the Domain Name System is a system that stores information associated with domain names in a distributed database on one or more networks.
• the stored information includes the Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a domain name.
• IP Internet Protocol
• the domain name space may be thought of as a tree of domain names. Each node or leaf in the tree is associated with resource records, which hold information associated with the domain name.
• the tree is divided into zones.
• a zone is a collection of connected nodes that are authoritatively served by an authoritative DNS server.
• a DNS % server may host one or more zones. Resolving a domain name may entail recursing through several DNS servers to find the needed information.
• a domain name usually includes multiple parts separated by dots.
• encarta.msn.com has three parts: encarta, msn, and com.
• the rightmost part is the top-level domain.
• the top-level domain is com.
• Each part ' to the left of the top-level domain is a sub-domain.
• msn is a second- level domain.
• the left-most part of the domain name is the host name.
• the host name specifies the name of a specific machine with a specific IP address in a domain.
• encarta is the host name.
• a DNS server includes one or more lookup zones that store information, such as EP addresses, associated with domain names. These zones include a global names zone that stores data correlating host names to domain names.
• the DNS server When the DNS server receives a registration for a domain name, the DNS server checks whether it hosts the authoritative zone for the domain name. If so, then the DNS server checks the global names zone to determine whether there is a record for the host name. If there is no record for the host name in the global names zone, the domain name is registered in the authoritative zone as requested. If there is already a record for the host name in the global names zone, then the registration of the domain name may be rejected. [0006] When a name query is received from a client device, the DNS server determines whether it hosts the authoritative zone for the query. If not, then the name query may be forwarded to another DNS server that hosts the authoritative zone for the query.
• the DNS server checks the global names zone for a record associated with the host name. If there is no record for the host name in the global names zone, then the query is answered using the DNS records found in the local copy of the authoritative zone. If there is a record for the host name in the global names zone, then the query is answered using the DNS records found in the global names zone. In this case, any data in the authoritative copy of the zone is ignored.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for implementing a global names zone.
• FIG. 2 is a screenshot illustrating an exemplary user interface for managing DNS zones.
• FIG. 3 is a screenshot illustrating an exemplary user interface for displaying DNS zones.
• FIG. 4 is a screenshot illustrating an exemplary user interface for displaying resource records.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for resolving a name query.
• FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for registering a domain name.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computing environment in which certain aspects of the invention maybe implemented.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system 100 for implementing a global names zone.
• the system 100 includes a DNS server 102 and one or more zones, such as 110, 112, or 114.
• the zones store resource records that include information associated with domain names, such as an IP address associated with a domain name.
• One of the zones in system 100 is a global names zone 110.
• the global names zone 110 stores resource records correlating host names to domain names. For each record type, a host name stored in the global names zone 110 is uniquely correlated to one domain name.
• a client device such as 104
• the DNS server 102 will first check the global names zone 110 to determine whether there is already a record for the host name. In the example, the host name is "encarta”. If there is already a record for the host name, then the registration may be rejected. If there is no record for the host name, then the DNS server adds a record correlating the host name to the domain name.
• a record would be added that correlates "encarta” to "encarta.msn.com".
• the authoritative zone for the domain name such as 1 12, stores a record associating the domain name to the IP address.
• the authoritative zone 112 may store a record associating the domain name "encarta.msn.com” to the IP address "207.142.131.200".
• a client device wants to register a domain name "encarta.xyz.com"
• the registration may be rejected if an administrator has previously created an "encarta" record in the global names zone.
• the DNS server 102 checks to see if it hosts the authoritative zone for the name query 120. If it does not, then the DNS server 102 may forward the name query 120 to another DNS server that hosts the authoritative zone for the name query 120. [0021 ] If the DNS server 102 does host the authoritative zone for the name query
• the DNS server 102 will check the global names zone 110 to determine if there is a record for the host name. If so, the global names zone 110 will return the domain name associated with the host name. The DNS server 102 may then lookup a record for the domain name in the authoritative zone, such as 112, to determine the IP address associated with the domain name. The DNS server 102 may then return the IP address 122 to the client device 104.
• FIGS. 2-4 are screenshots illustrating exemplary user interfaces 200, 300, and 400 for managing DNS zones.
• FIG. 2 shows an example of a DNS system including one forward lookup zone 204 named "moondomain.nttest.microsoft.com".
• the forward lookup zone 204 stores resource records that include information, such as IP addresses, associated with domain names.
• To create a global names zone an administrator may add a new zone via a selection 202 on a pull-down menu. The administrator may choose various options for the new zone, such as whether the zone is a primary or secondary zone and whether the zone is to be f ⁇ led-backed or integrated with a directory system, such as an Active Directory ® system. The administrator may then choose a unique name for the zone, such as "Global Names".
• FIG. 3. shows the added Global Names zone 302.
• the Global Names zone stores records that correlate host names to domain names.
• FIG. 4. shows the records, 402 and 404, that are stored in the Global Names zone.
• Each record has a record type and data. Examples of record types include but are not limited to Start of Authority (SOA), Name Server (NS), Host (A), Mail Exchanger (MX), and Canonical Name (CNAME).
• SOA Start of Authority
• NSS Name Server
• A Host
• MX Mail Exchanger
• CNAME Canonical Name
• a host name stored in the global names zone 110 is uniquely correlated to one domain name.
• the DNS server will check the global names zone first when the DNS server receives a name query, registration, or update.
• the global names zone is checked to determine whether there is already a record with the same record type and same host name. If so, then the registration or update is rejected.
• the global names zone is checked to determine whether there is a record correlating the host name with a domain name. If so, then the domain name is returned to the DNS server and used to determine the IP address.
• FIGS. 5-6 are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary processes for implementing a global names zone. While the description of FIGS. 5-6 may be made with reference to other figures, it should be understood that the exemplary processes illustrated in FIGS. 5-6 are not intended to be limited to being associated with the systems or other contents of any specific figure or figures. Additionally, it should be understood that while the exemplary processes of FIGS. 5-6 indicate a particular order of operation execution, in one or more alternative implementations, the operations may be ordered differently. Furthermore, some of the steps and data illustrated in the exemplary processes of FIGS. 5-6 may not be necessary and may be omitted in some implementations. Finally, while the exemplary processes of FIGS. 5-6 contains multiple discrete steps, it should be recognized that in some environments some of these operations may be combined and executed at the same time.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for resolving a name query.
• a name query is received at a DNS server from a client device.
• the name query includes a host name.
• a determination is made as to whether the DNS server hosts the authoritative zone for the name query. If not, then at 525, the name query may be forwarded to another DNS server that hosts the authoritative zone for the name query.
• the DNS server does host the authoritative zone for the name query, then at 530, a determination is made as to whether there is a record for the host name in the global names zone. If not, then at 535, the query is answered using the DNS records found in a local copy of the authoritative zone. The EP address associated with the name is determined, and the DP address is returned to the client device at 560. [0027] If the global names zone does have a record for the host name, then at 530.
• the record for the host name in the global names zone is checked to determine the domain name associated with the host name.
• the IP address that is associated with the domain name is determined.
• the IP address associated with the domain name is returned to the client device.
• FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for registering a domain name.
• a registration or update for a domain name is received.
• the registration or update may be received at a DNS server that does not host the authoritative zone for the domain name.
• the registration or update may be forwarded to another DNS server that hosts the authoritative zone for the domain name.
• the DNS server checks the global names zone for a record associated with the host name. If there is no record for the host name in the global names zone, then at 650, the domain name is registered or updated in the authoritative zone as requested.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary computing environment in which certain aspects of the invention may be implemented. It should be understood that computing environment 700 is only one example of a suitable computing environment in which the various technologies described herein may be employed and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the technologies described herein. Neither should the computing environment 700 be interpreted as necessarily requiring all of the components illustrated therein.
• computing environment 700 includes a general purpose computing device 710.
• Components of computing device 710 may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 712, a memory 714, a storage device 716, input device(s) 718, output device(s) 720, and communications connection(s) 722.
• Processing unit 712 may include one or more general or special purpose processors, ASICs, or programmable logic chips.
• memory 714 may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two.
• Computing device 710 may also include additional storage (removable and/or non-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in Fig. 7 by storage 716.
• Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory 714 and storage 716 are examples of computer storage media.
• Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computing device 710. Any such computer storage media may be part of computing device 710.
• Computing device 710 may also contain communication connection(s)
• Communications connection(s) 722 is an example of communication media.
• Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media.
• the term 'modulated data signal' means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.
• communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct- wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency, infrared, and other wireless media.
• the term computer readable media as used herein includes storage media.
• Computing device 710 may also have input device(s) 718 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a voice input device, a touch input device, and/or any other input device.
• Output device(s) 720 such as one or more displays, speakers, printers, and/or any other output device may also be included.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Software Systems (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-02-28 US US11/276,447 patent/US7467230B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-01-25 KR KR1020087020987A patent/KR101159397B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-01-25 JP JP2008557261A patent/JP4460016B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-01-25 CN CN2007800068021A patent/CN101390087B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-01-25 WO PCT/US2007/001981 patent/WO2007100426A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-01-25 EP EP07709836.6A patent/EP1997026B1/en not_active Not-in-force

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